cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Images of Self and Others as Computer Users: The Role of Gender and Experience.

Gender differences in the pursuit of technology careers are a current issue of concern. We report on two studies that use surveys, drawings and interviews to examine sixth- and eighth-grade students' perceptions of knowledgeable computer users and their self-perception as a computer-type person. In Study 1, participants were asked to generate representations of computer users in pictures or words. The results indicate that the majority of representations were of male users and they frequently wore glasses. Students of both genders were more likely to draw males. Eighth-grade students' representations included more stereotypical features than those of sixth-grade students. In Study 2, students were asked whether they believed that there was such a thing as a computer-type person and whether they perceived themselves to be one. Eighty per cent of students rejected this characterization. They differed from students who accepted it in their levels of past experience, their confidence, and the probability that they shared their knowledge with others. The results of both studies suggest that while there is a male image of computer science in general, it is not overly negative and students' self-perception is not governed by their own gender as much as by other variables.
Electricity and Conflict: Advantages of a Distributed System

With recent events having highlighted the need to consider deliberate attacks when planning electric power systems, it is pertinent to make a quantitative comparison of an electricity system based on distributed natural-gas-fired units to a traditional system based on large centralized plant. The distributed system proves to be up to five times less sensitive to measures of systematic attack.
Synthesis, separation, and resolution of cis‐ and trans‐3‐ethylproline

Synthese par addition de Michael de pentene-2al et de benzyloxycarbonylaminomalonate de diethyle ou de pentene-2oate d'ethyle et d'acetamidomalonate de diethyle
Management of distal anterior urethral strictures

Management of men with anterior urethral stricture disease is a relatively common issue faced by practicing urologists today. Anterior urethral strictures, which can be the result of congenital, idiopathic, iatrogenic or inflammatory causes, can affect patients of all ages and might present as some or all of the following disorders: difficulty with voiding, urinary tract infection, acute urinary retention and high bladder emptying pressures. A thorough understanding of the urethral anatomy and etiology of the stricture followed by effective treatment are crucial if successful outcomes for the patient are to be achieved. Historically, urologists viewed open repair as an option that should only be offered to patients who had failed to respond to repeated endoscopic treatments-the so-called reconstructive ladder. This dogma has, however, been scrutinized; urologists should be aware that this process may subject patients to repeated procedures with a low success rate, such as dilatation and internal urethrotomy, rather than one potentially curative operation, such as graft or flap urethroplasty.
An Essay on the Politics of Schooling and Educational Research

For a very long time, the process of schooling and the research on that process were thought of as above or beyond politics. The myth of a politics-free schooling was exposed beginning with the social movements of the 1960s. The myth of educational research as apolitical is now on its way to being exposed because of these movements and because of changes in our understandings of the nature of social and educational inquiry. The result of all of this has been so profound in the past few years that it is now clear that schools may be the most politicized institution in our society and, with the No Child Left Behind Legislation, governmental agencies now have a profound influence as to what is considered acceptable versus unacceptable educational research.
Penetration of Autoantibodies into Living Epithelial Cells

The ability of autoantibodies to penetrate living cells is controversial. We have identified immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies capable of penetrating an epithelial cell line, COLO-16, in five of 36 (14%) antinuclear antibody positive sera from patients with SLE. Thirty minutes following incubation of cells with dilutions of either whole sera, globulin fractions, or F(ab')2 fragments of IgG, approximately 80-90% of cells demonstrated intranuclear IgG by indirect immunofluorescence. Viability of cells prior to assay was > 98% as determined by trypan blue staining and penetration of IgG into the nuclei did not affect viability or DNA synthesis of the cells in short-term culture. Intracellular IgG could not be detected following exposure of the cells to high-titer reference autoantibodies of known specificities (against DNA, Ro, La, Sm, RNP, or ribosomes). Furthermore, absorption of the sera with either DNA or chromatin failed to abolish intranuclear penetration, indicating that the autoantibodies were not directed against DNA receptors or nucleosomes on the cell surface. Antibody uptake was relatively selective for epithelial cell lines, because intranuclear IgG was not detected in cell lines of lymphoid origin exposed to the sera. Two of the five sera immunoprecipitated proteins of molecular weight 88 kD with or without a 68-kD protein from COLO-16 cells labeled with 125I at the cell surface. These findings indicate that a subset of SLE patients have IgG capable of penetrating a cell line of epithelial origin. These antibodies, most likely, bind to cell surface proteins and are translocated into the cell nucleus. Although direct immunofluorescence of a skin biopsy obtained from one of the five patients with "penetrating IgG" also showed intranuclear staining for IgG, the biologic relevance of these findings remains to be determined.
Vibrational mode frequency calculations of chlorophyll-d for assessing (P740(+)-P740) FTIR difference spectra obtained using photosystem I particles from Acaryochloris marina.

Acaryochloris marina is an oxygen-evolving organism that utilizes chlorophyll-d for light induced photochemistry. In photosystem I particles from Acaryochloris marina, the primary electron donor is called P740, and it is thought that P740 consist of two chlorophyll-d molecules. (P740+-P740) FTIR difference spectra have been produced, and vibrational features that are specific to chlorophyll-d (and not chlorophyll-a) were observed, supporting the idea that P740 consists chlorophyll-d molecules. Although bands in the (P740+-P740) FTIR difference spectra were assigned specifically to chlorophyll-d, how these bands shifted, and how their intensities changed, upon cation formation was never considered. Without this information it is difficult to draw unambiguous conclusions from the FTIR difference spectra. To gain a more detailed understanding of cation induced shifting of bands associated with vibrational modes of P740 we have used density functional theory to calculate the vibrational properties of a chlorophyll-d model in the neutral, cation and anion states. These calculations are shown to be of considerable use in interpreting bands in (P740+-P740) FTIR difference spectra. Our calculations predict that the 31 formyl C–H mode of chlorophyll-d upshifts/downshifts upon cation/anion formation, respectively. The mode intensity also decreases/increases upon cation/anion formation, respectively. The cation induced bandshift of the 31 formyl C–H mode of chlorophyll-d is also strongly dependant on the dielectric environment of the chlorophyll-d molecules. With this new knowledge we reassess the interpretation of bands that were assigned to 31 formyl C–H modes of chlorophyll-d in (P740+-P740) FTIR difference spectra. Considering our calculations in combination with (P740+-P740) FTIR DS we find that the most likely conclusions are that P740 is a dimeric Chl-d species, in an environment of low effective dielectric constant (∼2–8). In the P740+ state, charge is asymmetrically distributed over the two Chl-d pigments in a roughly 60:40 ratio.
Second law analysis of combined heat and mass transfer phenomena in external flow

Abstract In this paper, a general expression is obtained for the entropy generation for combined convective heat and mass transfer in external flows. This expression accounts for irreversibilities due to the presence of heat transfer across a finite temperature difference, mass transfer across a finite difference in the chemical potential of a species, and flow friction. Minimizing the entropy generation in heat- and fluid-flow devices is a valuable criterion for optimum design. The present paper shows that the same philosophy can be used when in addition to heat transfer and fluid flow irreversibilities, mass transfer irreversibilities exist in the thermal system of interest. The general expression for entropy generation is applied to two fundamental problems of forced convection heat and mass transfer, namely, laminar and turbulent boundary layer forced convection from a flat plate and from a cylinder in crossflow. After minimizing the entropy generation, useful conclusions are drawn that are representative of the second law viewpoint for the definition of the optimum operating conditions for the specified applications.
A new heat transfer model to predict cooling rates for rapid freezing fixation

SUMMARY A simple heat transfer model is presented to show that convection from the cryogen to the specimen is the limiting step in rapid freezing of small samples for electron microscopy when the Biot modulus, which measures the ratio of convective to conductive heat transfer, (hd/k) < 1. In comparison to the commonly accepted conduction-limited model, the convection-limited model predicts that cooling rates are proportional to the surface area/volume ratio, independent of the sample thermal conductivity, and inversely proportional to the product of sample density and heat capacity. Literature values of experimentally measured cooling rates fit the convection limited model. Simple analogies to predict the heat transfer coefficient as a function of cryogen properties, specimen geometry and cryogen velocity are presented.
Alternative computational methods for Boltzmann and Wigner models in charged transport systems

We will discuss recent development in the simulation of Boltzmann-Poisson systems and Wigner transport by deterministic numerical solvers. We have proposed to solve linear transport problems using a Discontinuous Galerkin (DG) Finite Element Method (FEM) approach that allows adaptivity and accuracy by a flexible choice of basis functions, as well as numerical efficiency by parallelization and scalability. In the case of non-linear transport, spectral methods may be competitive for the calculation of anisotropic scattering. Such numerical schemes can be competitive to DSMC methods and have the advantage of an easy and accurate implementation of boundary conditions including charge neutrality at contacts and specular and diffusive reflection at insulating and interface boundaries. These deterministic solvers are able to resolve small scales (or order 10 -7 to 10 -6 ) that DSMC approach may not be able to handle.
The Photoprotective Properties of Adenine: Time-resolved Photoelectron Spectroscopy at Different Excitation Wavelengths

Competing deactivation pathways in Adenine are identified using wavelength-dependent time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy. Excited state lifetimes associated with ππ*→nπ*→ground state relaxation decrease with increasing excitation energies and an additional pathway is accessible around 6eV.
Shaped ductile fibers to improve the toughness of epoxy-matrix composites

Abstract Pull-out tests on ductile fibers embedded in epoxy resin have shown an additional component of pull-out work from the plastic deformation of the fiber, which component is not available in traditional brittle fibers. This additional deformation energy is available to improve the toughness of composite materials without sacrificing composite stiffness. The plastic deformation energy in ductile copper and nickel fibers is exploited by anchoring the fibers in the matrix through modification of fiber ends. Shaped fiber ends were produced by end-impacting and knotting fibers to facilitate anchoring, similar to previous work with ‘bone-shaped’ short (BSS) fibers. Both shaped and straight fibers were embedded in epoxy to various depths and angles, and pull-out tests were performed to determine whether an increase in pull-out work was evident for shaped fibers. Cold-working the fibers or treatment with release agent prior to embedment served as a tool to isolate the frictional component from the plastic deformation component of pull-out work during pull-out tests. The effect of fiber yield stress and hardenability on the pull-out work was also investigated. Calculations based on the test results and a model for predicting fracture toughness increment showed a 5–109% higher toughness increment for shaped fibers compared to straight fibers, dependent on material conditions and fiber orientation.
A study of growth and morphological features of TiOxNy thin films prepared by MOCVD

Abstract The growth and morphological features of MOCVD TiOxNy films have been characterized to evaluate the effect of various process parameters on film growth. XRD analysis of the films deposited at 600°C on Si(1 1 1) and mica show a TiN(1 1 1) peak at 2θ=36.6°, but only anatase peaks are detected below 550°C. Above 650°C, both anatase and rutile peaks are detected. The presence of ammonia is not effective below 550°C as the deposited film is mostly TiO2. Also, ammonia does not play any role in homogeneous nucleation in the gas phase, as evident by the deposition of anatase/rutile particles above 650°C. The following changes in the morphological features are observed by varying process parameters. By increasing the ratio of titanium-isopropoxide to ammonia flow, the cluster shape changes from angular to rounded; dilution of the flow results in larger elongated clusters; increase in flow rate at constant precursor to ammonia ratios, changes the cluster shape from rounded to elongated and the cluster size deceases. Deposition at higher temperatures results in finer clusters with a slower growth rate and eventually results in a very thin film with particle deposition at 650°C and above.
Application of light-emitting diodes for aerosol fluorescence detection

We demonstrate a proof-of-concept optical spectroscopic system for bioaerosol-particle fluorescence detection, in which a pulsed high-power laser is replaced by a highly compact linear array of sequentially fired light from blue light-emitting diodes. The results suggest that low-cost, compact optical aerosol detection may be feasible with the contemporary emergence of efficient UV light-emitting diodes.
Hydroxyurea therapy in SS children

Comment on Hankins et al, page [2269][1] Children with sickle cell anemia treated with hydroxyurea at 2 years of age maintain Hb F levels above 20% for 4 to 6 years with little hematologic toxicity and no increased risks of infection. Its ability to prevent subclinical organ damage, however, is yet
Assignment of resonances in the Escherichia coli 5 S RNA fragment proton NMR spectrum using uniform nitrogen-15 enrichment

The downfield proton NMR spectrum of aqueous uniformly nitrogen-15 enriched 5 S RNA fragment is presented. Selective nitrogen-15 decoupling difference proton spectroscopy revealed nitrogen-15 chemical shifts of fragment imino nitrogens. Nitrogen chemical shifts of nucleic acid guanine and uracil imino nitrogens have separate small ranges. Nitrogen-15 and proton chemical shift correlation by the heteronuclear decoupling permitted the identification of the base type of some previously unassigned imino proton resonances in the 5 S RNA fragment spectrum. Corresponding resonances in the natural isotopic abundance 5 S RNA fragment spectrum are assigned to base types by comparison with the enriched sample spectrum.
Continuous Load-Frequency Control for Interconnected Power Systems

Functioning in response to integrated deviation from a tuning fork-controlled standard frequency, and biased by deviation from scheduled tie-line load as telemetered to this location, this improved load-frequency control equipment provides continuous comparison of system frequency and tie-line load with their respective scheduled values. This continuous comparison, in conjunction with strict proportionality between deviation and correcting effect on the prime mover governor speed level adjustment, has proved in several years of service to be beneficial in minimizing governor and inlet valve movement and hence wear, as compared with the periodic intermittent correcting impulses used in earlier types of frequency controllers, even of the integrated-deviation type. The use of integrated frequency deviation as the quantity to which the controller responds inherently eliminates frequency deadband, but the tie-line load controller retainsi an adjustable deadband to render it oblivous of inevitable minor oscillations in tie line loading.
Gender differences in parents' perceptions of their adult children's and their families' emotional expressivity

Abstract Using a recently published self report measure of emotional expressivity (EES; Kring et al., 1994) and a measure of family expressiveness, we investigated gender differences in ratings of individual and family emotional expressivity. Participants included 27 undergraduate men and 80 undergraduate women who completed self report inventories of their own and their families' emotional expressivity. Mothers and fathers of participants used the same instruments to rate their children's, their own and their families' overall expressivity. Both mothers and fathers were more in agreement with their daughters on the daughters' emotional expressivity and the overall family expressivity than they were with their sons. Parents' ratings were uncorrelated with their sons' ratings of these variables. However, mothers and fathers differed with their offspring in the assessment of the level of positive and negative emotion in the family. For both male and female children, mothers' ratings of positive, but not negative, emotion were correlated with children's ratings. The opposite pattern was apparent for fathers. Fathers' ratings of negative, but not positive emotion in the family were correlated with both sons' and daughters' ratings.
Finite Element Based HWB Centerbody Structural Optimization and Weight Prediction

This paper describes a scalable structural model suitable for Hybrid Wing Body (HWB) centerbody analysis and optimization. The geometry of the centerbody and primary wing structure is based on a Vehicle Sketch Pad (VSP) surface model of the aircraft and a FLOPS compatible parameterization of the centerbody. Structural analysis, optimization, and weight calculation are based on a Nastran finite element model of the primary HWB structural components, featuring centerbody, mid section, and outboard wing. Different centerbody designs like single bay or multi-bay options are analyzed and weight calculations are compared to current FLOPS results. For proper structural sizing and weight estimation, internal pressure and maneuver flight loads are applied. Results are presented for aerodynamic loads, deformations, and centerbody weight.
White-light transmission holographic interferometry using chromatic corrective filters

An external corrective filter is used to achieve image reconstruction from transmission holograms in white light. In effect, the corrective filter re-distributes the light diffracted from a suitably oriented hologram by stretching it horizontally and perpendicular to the direction of the dispersion of the hologram. The corrective filter, that can be described as a one dimensional random diffuser, also serves as a projection screen upon which the real image from the hologram is displayed. The method has been applied to study distortion of surfaces and aberrations of optical systems.
“Hairy Polyp” of Infancy—Pathology, Embryology, and Differential Diagnosis:

“Hairy polyp,” or dermoid polyp, of the nasopharynx is a rare tumor of early life composed of ectodermal and mesodermal derivatives. We present a case, consider its embryological origins, and discuss the differential diagnosis of nasopharyngeal polypoid masses in infancy.
The notion of relevance (I)

Analysis of the problems of defining the mutual relevancies of queries and document-collections indicates that they essentially involve the problem of conceptual relatedness. In order to consider the latter problem, the question of concept-formation is first discussed, which in turn requires a definition of concept. An extensional interpretation is suggested whereby a concept is associated with a class of conceptually-similar documents. Users' similarity-judgments then provide the empirical data for formal definitions of concept and conceptual relatedness. It is found, however, that certain very general difficulties rule out the possibility of defining concepts and their relatedness by the method proposed. Since this method is based on human relevance-judgments, it seems a natural one to adopt, so that its collapse has serious practical and theoretical consequences. An alternative approach is therefore proposed whose elaboration will form Part II of this article.
Scheduling Multipipeline and Multiprocessor Computers

We develop good heuristics to schedule tasks on computers that have multiple pipelines or multiple asynchronous processors. We also consider the case when different pipes or processors run at different speeds.
Comparisons among vegetation indices and bandwise regression in a highly disturbed, heterogeneous landscape : Mount St. Helens, Washington

Abstract Spectral vegetation indices have been used extensively to predict ecological variables, such as percent vegetation cover, above-ground biomass, and leaf-area index. We examined the use of various vegetation indices and multiple linear regression using raw spectral bands for predicting vegetation cover in a landscape characterized by high variability in vegetation cover and soil properties. We were able to improve the explanatory value of several vegetation indices by using regression fitting techniques including log transformations and polynomial regressions. We expected soil-adjusted indices to perform better than nonadjusted indices. However, soil-adjusted vegetation indices based on a ratio of red and near-infrared bands explained 55–65% of the variability in vegetation cover, while two nonadjusted indices each explained 70%. An index using six spectral bands explained 40%. The best multiple regression model used the red and near-infrared bands and explained 75% of the variability in vegetation cover. Among the soil-adjusted indices, an index which used a computed soil line performed best. Ratio-based vegetation indices were less sensitive to shadow influences, but this influence was outweighed by the advantages of multiple regression against original bands.
Before refraining: Concepts for agency

A structure is described that can serve as a foundation for a semantics for a modal agentive construction such as “α sees to it that Q” ([α stit: Q]). The primitives are 〈Tree,≤,Instant, Agent, choice〉. Eleven simple postulates governing this structure are set forth and motivated. Tree and ≤ encode a picture of branching time consisting of “moments” gathered into maximal chains called “histories.” Instant imposes a time-like ordering. Agent consists of agents, and choice assigns to each agent and each moment in Tree a set of “possible choices”, where each possible choice is a set of histories. All of these ingredients are referred to in the semantics suggested for [α stit: Q]. The most complex part of the discussion is the motivation for the definition of what it means for a typically non-terminating chain of moments jointly to witness the truth of [α stit: Q] at a moment. The paper begins with an informal account of the “Refref conjecture”, which says that the only way to refrain from refraining from seeing to something is to see to it. The paper ends with a consideration of an argument of Prior's that in a certain sense contemplation and action are inconsistent.
Modern Chemotherapy of Infectious Diseases: Implications and Significance

SUMMARY The trends in modern chemotherapeutic practice have been examined, and the implications and significance of the widespread and frequently indiscriminate use of medicinals, all of which have potential toxicity, have been emphasized. The annual production of chemical agents in the United States for therapeutic use has attained a volume that is almost incredible, and it is estimated that 150,000 physicians issue a total of more than 300,000,000 prescriptions annually. The substantial value of modern chemotherapeutic agents is recognized. When used with circumspection, many synthetic and antibiotic agents have life-saving potentialities. However, many of these medicinals, if prescribed unwisely, are definitely hazardous. This is particularly true of agents having a broad antibacterial spectrum and in situations where chemotherapy is continued for prolonged periods of time. The points stressed in this paper include: 1) The vigilance of internists and of pathologists must be a continuing responsibility if patients who receive new drugs in the future are to do so with reasonable assurance of their safety. It is pointed out that the sites of predilection for toxic effects include some of the most vital organs of the body, and that the toxic impact in some instances may be violent or even catastrophic in nature. 2) Chemotherapeutic agents should be directed primarily against the cause of the disease and not against the symptoms. 3) Assuming that the infective agent is sensitive to the antibacterial substances prescribed, successful chemotherapy depends upon the united action of an effective antimicrobial agent of high specificity and of low toxicity, with the intrinsic defense mechanisms of the body operating at an effective level. Resolution of the cellular constitutents occurring as a consequence of the host's reaction to the infection is not the task of the chemotherapeutic agent per se. 4) The possibility of latent effects of drug therapy received months or years previously must be recognized. If the widespread use of chemotherapy continues, with a considerable percentage of the population receiving antimicrobial agents intermittently throughout life, structural changes of grave significance at present unpredictable may eventually ensue. 5) Chemotherapeutic agents should not be prescribed indiscriminately or promiscuously. Their use should be restricted for specific medications in doses below the toxic level and for periods of time no greater than necessary to suppress or render impotent the infective microorganisms.
Effects of acoustic heterogeneity on the breast thermoacoustic tomography

The effects of wavefront distortions induced by acoustic heterogeneities in breast thermoacoustic tomography (TAT) are studied. First, amplitude distortions are shown to be insignificant for different scales of acoustic heterogeneities. Next, the effects of phase distortions (errors in time-of-flight) in our numerical studies are investigated, and the spreads of point sources and boundaries caused by the phase distortions are studied. After that, a demonstration showing that the blurring of images can be compensated for by using the distribution of acoustic velocity in the tissues in the reconstructions is presented. Last, the differences in the effects of acoustic heterogeneity and the generation of speckles in breast TAT and breast ultrasound imaging are discussed.
Parton coalescence and the antiproton/pion anomaly at RHIC

Coalescence of minijet partons with partons from the quark-gluon plasma formed in relativistic heavy ion collisions is suggested as the mechanism for production of hadrons with intermediate transverse momentum. The resulting enhanced antiproton and pion yields at intermediate transverse momenta give a plausible explanation for the observed large antiproton to pion ratio. With further increasing momentum, the ratio is predicted to decrease and approach the small value given by independent fragmentations of minijet partons after their energy loss in the quark-gluon plasma.
Body mass index, leptin, and ambulatory blood pressure variability in healthy adults

Abstract Objective To investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) variability, and to assess whether leptin might act as a mediator of this association. Methods A cross-sectional study in healthy, normotensive men and women ( n =156). BMI was derived from direct height and weight measurements made on each participant. All participants underwent 24-h ABP monitoring, and two measures of ABP variability were derived – the weighted standard deviation (wSD) and the average real variability (ARV). Plasma leptin was measured using an enzyme lined immunosorbant assay. Results In linear regression models adjusted for demographic factors, glucose, creatinine, lipids, and mean ABP, BMI showed positive and statistically significant associations with diastolic wSD, and systolic and diastolic ARV. For those in the low, intermediate, and high BMI groups, mean values for diastolic wSD were 7.7, 7.9, and 8.5mmHg, respectively ( p =.02); mean values of systolic ARV were 8.2, 8.2, and 9.0mmHg, respectively ( p =.02); and mean values of diastolic ARV were 6.7, 7.0, and 7.5mmHg, respectively ( p =.01). Similarly, leptin showed positive and statistically significant associations with measures of wSD and ARV. When BMI was entered as an ordinal variable in regression models for wSD and ARV, adjustment for leptin attenuated significant ordinal BMI coefficients by as much as 60%, suggesting a mediating role for leptin. Conclusion In healthy adults, BMI and leptin show positive associations with ABP variability, and leptin may play a mediating role in this association.
Microbial Methanol Formation: A Major End Product of Pectin Metabolism

Various pectinolytic strains ofClostridium, Erwinia, andPseudomonas species produced methanol as a major end product during growth on pectin but not on glucose or polygalacturonic acid. Pectin metabolism ofClostridium butyricum strain 4P1 correlated with a final product concentration of 16 mM at the end of growth, and a 1:1 stoichiometry for methanol production and percent initial substrate methoxylation. Growth on pectin was associated with high activity of pectin methylesterase and the absence of methanol consumption. The ecological significance of pectin metabolism and the establishment of microbial methylotrophic metabolism in nature is discussed.
Multiple comparisons, explained.

The commentary by Savitz and Olshan (1) and the response by Thompson (2) form a fascinating contrast. Savitz and Olshan speak in the language of epidemiology, complaining about the seeming arbitrary and antiscientific dictates of conventional (frequentist) statistical methodology, particularly as it applies to the study of many associations. Thompson, speaking mainly in the language of statistics, takes us on a whirlwind tour of the foundations of statistical inference. He highlights, in particular, the problems with frequentist statistical methodology, supporting in spirit most of the points of Savitz and Olshan, but he ends up condemning the seeming arbitrary and antiscientific consequences of people disobeying the dictates of frequentist statistical methodology. Casual readers could be excused for being confused about what is actually being disputed. Perhaps more relevant, they may not see how the differences claimed here have any real meaning for how epidemiologists analyze, think, or write about their research. In this essay, I will try to show how the issue here is at the core of what epidemiology, and indeed science, is all about. The first step is to identify the real issue for which the methodological arguments are a proxy. The most telling clues are found in the conclusions of each paper. The final sentence of Savitz and Olshan's conclusion states that the context in which ideas originate and the perspective of the investigators "offer little guidance in assessing the study's scientific contribution" (1, p. 907). Thompson says that if p values are to be used, we need to adjust them to "preserve their one merit, the protection against type I errors" (2, p. 804). He says the failure to do so, combined with inattention to the method of hypothesis generation, would be "license to publish coincidences with a pseudoscientific gloss" (2, p. 804).
Nonlinear temporal-spatial surface plasmon polaritons

Abstract The propagation of temporal-spatial surface plasmon polaritons propagating along a flat dielectric/metal interface is investigated. The governing envelope equation for these surface plasmons is found to be the damped nonlinear Schrodinger (NLS) equation with two spatial-like dimensions and one evolution dimension. Depending on whether the dispersion is anomalous or normal the dispersion of this multidimensional nonlinear NLS equation can be elliptic or hyperbolic. In the elliptic case a localized initial mode is found to focus before damping effects begin to act. In the hyperbolic case the solution is found to be self-similar which also eventually decays due to damping.
Hydroxychloroquine for the prevention of acute graft-versus-host disease after unrelated donor transplantation

Abstract Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is an immunosuppressive agent that interferes with antigen presentation and with activity against graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). In a phase II trial assessing the GVHD prophylactic effects of HCQ, 51 consecutive unrelated donor transplant recipients received HCQ in addition to cyclosporin A, methylprednisolone, and methotrexate. HCQ was initiated on pretransplantation day −21 at 800 mg/d and continued until day +100 after transplantation. HCQ was extremely well tolerated and was not associated with side effects. Pharmacokinetic analyses demonstrated large inter- and intrapatient variability. The addition of HCQ did not affect posttransplantation immune recovery. Grade II to IV acute GVHD was observed in 56% of patients, and grade III and IV GVHD was observed in 17%. Day +100 mortality was 22%. When compared with a matched cohort of patients reported to the International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry, patients receiving HCQ had comparable cumulative incidences of grade II to IV acute GVHD. However, lower incidences of grades III and IV GVHD and better GVHD-free survival were observed in HCQ-treated patients (P = .01). We conclude that prophylactic HCQ is well tolerated and associated with a low incidence of severe acute GVHD. An ongoing placebo-controlled randomized trial will further determine what role HCQ plays in preventing GVHD after allografting.
The good productivity game: increasing work performance in a rehabilitation setting.

Simple reinforcement systems have been used to improve performance in a broad range of settings. For example, in classrooms, the “Good Behavior Game” has been shown to be very effective (Barrish, Saunders, and Wolf, Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1969, 2, 119–124). In industry, small bonuses were used to increase the punctuality of workers (Hermann, deMontes, Dominquez, Montes, and Hopkins, Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1973, 6, 503–572). In a sheltered workshop setting, Shroeder (Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1972, 5, 45–52) examined work rates under varying frequencies and amounts of reinforcement and response force. The present study involved the utilization of simple group contingencies to increase productivity in a rehabilitation industry. Four state hospital residents who were trainees at a rehabilitation industry participated in the study which examined the effects of feedback, and feedback plus the “Good Productivity Game” to improve work output. The task, for which the employees were paid a wage, involved sorting boards by size. When the employees were provided with feedback on the number of boards sorted during the observation period, productivity increased slightly over baseline. After a return to baseline, the “Good Productivity Game” was played. For performance, the game afforded the employees pseudo-competition (in that teams were paired against each other, but both teams always “won”) and simple rewards such as candy and early work termination. The game improved performance by 104% over the second baseline and by 64% over the third baseline. Data gathered on rates of on-task behavior by the employees correlate with the productivity rates. Data gathered on rates of staff attention paid to employees show little difference across conditions, thus corroborating the function of the “Good Productivity Game” in increasing work output. Although no formal data were collected, the staff continued to use the game with considerable success after the formal termination of the study. The “Good Productivity Game” appears useful in increasing work output in a rehabilitation setting. Further research should concentrate on the utility of the game throughout longer periods of the workday and over extended periods of time.
Stereotactic Radiosurgical Treatment of Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformations

Objective To assess the role of clinical factors, size of lesion, site of involvement, and radiation dose in patients with cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) who underwent stereotactic radiosurgical treatment. Design We reviewed the results in 121 patients with cerebral AVMs treated with the Leksell "Gamma Knife" between January 1990 and December 1993 at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Material and Methods The following strict dosevolume protocol was used: AVMs 2.0 cm or smaller in diameter (volume, 4.2 cm 3 or less) received 20 Gy to the margin of the nidus, those between 2.1 and 3.0 cm in diameter (4.3 to 14.1 cm 3 ) received 18 Gy to the margin, and those that exceeded 3.0 cm in diameter (more than 14.1 cm 3 ) received 16 Gy to the margin. Lesions that involved the brain stem received a radiosurgical dose of 18 Gy or less to the margin. Patients participated in regular follow-up clinical and imaging studies for up to 55 months. Results Follow-up cerebral angiography in 43 patients demonstrated total obliteration of the AVM nidus in 31 (72.1 %), including 5 of 7 (71.4%) who had AVMs with a volume larger than 10 cm 3 , Clinical follow-up revealed that 111 patients (91.7%) had a stable or improved outcome, 3 had a nonfatal AVM hemorrhage, 2 suffered a fatal hemorrhage, and 2 died of causes not directly attributed to the AVM or radiosurgical treatment. Two patients had new or increased, nondisabling neurologic deficits as a result of treatment, and one patient had a temporary partial evelid ptosis. Conclusion Our findings suggest that previous theories about the relationship between AVM size and rate of obliteration after radiosnrgical treatment may need revision. Our experience confirms that radiosurgical treatment for cerebral AVMs is safe and effective, even in cases for which the latency period before obliteration is longer than 2 years.
On the role of the corticotropin‐releasing hormone signalling system in the aetiology of inflammatory skin disorders

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH; previously known as corticotropin-releasing factor) is the central regulator of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is the main organizer of the body’s response to stress. 1–5 Stress induces the hypothalamic production and release of CRH, which then causes the activation of the CRH receptor (CRHR) type 1 (CRHR-1) in the anterior pituitary to stimulate ACTH release, as well as proopiomelanocortin (POMC) expression and processing. 1,2,6 ACTH stimulates the production and secretion of cortisol (humans) or corticosterone (rodents) by the adrenal cortex. These steroids regulate the body’s response to counteract effects of the stressor and suppress the HPA through the negative feedback mechanism. CRH/POMC expression can also be activated by the cytokines interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, thus involving the immune system in the central regulation of the HPA axis. 7 In addition, CRH together with related urocortin (URC) peptides regulate behavioural, autonomic, endocrine, reproductive, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and metabolic functions both on the central and on the peripheral levels, and CRH has immunosuppressive effects via the HPA. 6,8–12 It is also accepted that peripheral CRH and related peptides have predominantly proinflammatory functions, 13,14 and in this way differ from their central immunosuppressive activity. 2 However, recent data also suggest that the peripheral CRH may have dual effects: a direct, short-term proinflammatory function and an indirect, remote anti-inflammatory function. 15–18
Adaptive force reflecting teleoperation with local intelligence

Purpose – This paper aims to make an industrial robot intelligently and remotely cooperate with humans to work in unknown unstructured environments.Design/methodology/approach – Presents a bilateral adaptive teleoperation control approach involving a contact force driven compensation with an auto‐switching function, which utilizes a biologically motivated compliance function. Based on sensed contact force, the switching function can adjust its slave control input to decide how much robotic intelligences should intervene in the system by switching modes. Other schemes for robotic intelligence, robotic impedances and compensators, are investigated to guarantee good transparency without warranting human error and maintain a stable contact, based on the force feedback, in constrained motion while a communication delay exists.Findings – The simulation and experimental results demonstrate transparency and contact stability in the presence of constant and time‐varying communication delays, respectively. The prop...
Comment on “a new statistic for testing suspected outliers”

A new statistic proposed by Tiku (1975) is compared with the Ferguson (1961) and Pearson-Chandra Sekar (1936) statistics. A simulation suggests that the new statistic is not superior to the Pearson-Chandra Sekar statistic when performance is assessed by the power of the test against the Dixon (1950) alternative.
Apoptotic membrane blebbing is regulated by myosin light chain phosphorylation

The evolutionarily conserved execution phase of apoptosis is defined by characteristic changes occurring during the final stages of death; specifically cell shrinkage, dynamic membrane blebbing, condensation of chromatin, and DNA fragmentation. Mechanisms underlying these hallmark features of apoptosis have previously been elusive, largely because the execution phase is a rapid event whose onset is asynchronous across a population of cells. In the present study, a model system is described for using the caspase inhibitor, z-VAD-FMK, to block apoptosis and generate a synchronous population of cells actively extruding and retracting membrane blebs. This model system allowed us to determine signaling mechanisms underlying this characteristic feature of apoptosis. A screen of kinase inhibitors performed on synchronized blebbing cells indicated that only myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) inhibitors decreased blebbing. Immunoprecipitation of myosin II demonstrated that myosin regulatory light chain (MLC) phosphorylation was increased in blebbing cells and that MLC phosphorylation was prevented by inhibitors of MLCK. MLC phosphorylation is also mediated by the small G protein, Rho. C3 transferase inhibited apoptotic membrane blebbing, supporting a role for a Rho family member in this process. Finally, blebbing was also inhibited by disruption of the actin cytoskeleton. Based on these results, a working model is proposed for how actin/myosin II interactions cause cell contraction and membrane blebbing. Our results provide the first evidence that MLC phosphorylation is critical for apoptotic membrane blebbing and also implicate Rho signaling in these active morphological changes. The model system described here should facilitate future studies of MLCK, Rho, and other signal transduction pathways activated during the execution phase of apoptosis.
Phospholipid methyltransferase asymmetry in synaptosomal membranes

The sequential methylation of phosphatidylethanolamine to form phosphatidylcholine is carried out by two methyltransferases in rat brain synaptosomes. The first enzyme methylates phosphatidylethanolamine to form phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine. The second enzyme methylates the monomethylated phospholipid two additional times, forming phosphatidylcholine. Experiments comparing the rate of methylation between intact and lysed synaptosomes indicate that synaptosomes accumulateS-adenosyl-l-methionine and that the first methylation takes place on the cytoplasmic side of the membrane. Studies comparing trypsin digestion of proteins in intact and lysed synaptosomes indicate that the first enzyme is localized on the cytoplasmic side of the membrane and the second enzyme faces the external surface. Phospholipase C hydrolyzed phosphatidylcholine formed by methylation, suggesting its localization in the external layer of the phospholipid bilayer. A mechanism for an enzyme-mediated flip-flop of phospholipids from the cytoplasmic side to the outer surface of the synaptosomal plasma membrane is presented.
Critical issues in the use of sheltered content teaching in high school bilingual programs

Sheltered content teaching is perhaps the most influential instructional innovation in the field of U.S. bilingual education since the introduction of the New Current Approach to bilingual instruction in the late 1970s (see Faltis, 1989, and Jacobson, 1981, for descriptions of the NCA). One of the reasons sheltered content teaching is so special is that, unlike the majority of advances in bilingual education, which have focused on the elementary level, this one was developed almost exclusively for secondary education. As a result, for the first time since the introduction of bilingual education programs under Title VII of 1968, significant numbers of high school level English learners are being afforded access to and benefit from academic all-English content courses that are comparable to those of their native English-speaking peers. In fact, it may be that sheltered content teaching will become the preferred instructional model in secondary school for large numbers of speakers of languages other than English. Assuming the likelihood of this scenario, it is important to consider when and under what contexts sheltered content teaching is an appropriate means for educating English learners in secondary school. Accordingly, the purpose of this article is to examine the history and current uses of sheltered content teaching with the following questions in mind: (a) What are the key theoretical underpinnings of sheltered content teaching? (b) In what ways do the theoretical principles facilitate the development of critical communicative competence? That is, in addition to learning subject matter content, are students given opportunities
Mitochondrial Gene Sequences and the Molecular Systematics of the Artiodactyl Subfamily Bovinae

Abstract Nucleotide sequence evolution of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit II (COII) gene was used to examine the molecular phylogenetics and evolution of the Bovinae, a subfamily within the mammalian order Artiodactyla. The COII gene was sequenced in representatives of three bovine tribes (Bovini, Boselaphini, and Tragelaphini) and the outgroup taxon Capra (subfamily Caprinae). Although the phylogenetic analyses grouped Bison as sister to Bos, the genus Bison was paraphyletic, with the American bison being most closely related to species of Bos rather than to the European bison. COII data also supported a close relationship between African ( Syncerus ) and Asian ( Bubalus ) buffaloes, the monophyly of the tribe Bovini, and a sister-group relationship between the tribes Bovini and Boselaphini. Analysis of nucleotide substitutions in the COII gene prompted a system of differential weighting of nucleotide substitutions for inferring phylogenetic relationships across the range of divergence times examined here (2–20 million years). Rates of evolution in the COII gene are examined and compared to evolutionary rates in mtDNA tRNA/rRNA genes and the D-loop among other artiodactyl taxa.