cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Categories of Life: The Status of the Camp in Derrida and Agamben

This essay is an exploration of the relationship between Agamben's 1995 text, Homo Sacer, and Derrida's 1992 “Force of Law” essay. Agamben attempts to show that the camp, as the topological space of the state of exception, has become the biopolitical paradigm for modernity. He draws this conclusion on the basis of a distinction, which he finds in an essay by Walter Benjamin, between categories of life, with the “pro-tagonist” of the work being what he calls homo sacer, or bare life—life that is stripped of its humanity and value. Five years earlier, in 1990, Derrida had given a lecture at UCLA (later published in its entirety as “The Force of Law”) in which he had analyzed the very same essay by Benjamin and had highlighted the distinction between “base life” and “just life.” The implications of his analysis show a discomforting prox-imity between Benjaminian messianism and the Nazi “final solution,” a conclusion that Agamben dismisses entirely. In this paper, however, I demonstrate that the structures of the two works are quite similar in many important ways. I argue that, though the broad scope of Agamben's work is original in many respects, and I would not wish to reduce Agamben's work to Derridean repetitions, he nevertheless utilizes much more of Derrida's analysis, specifically with respect to the categori-zation of life, than he would like the reader to believe.
Directed antigen presentation using polymeric microparticulate carriers degradable at lysosomal pH for controlled immune responses.

The types of the immune responses generated against an antigen are determined by the intracellular fate of the antigen. Endogenous antigens are processed in the cytoplasm and initiate cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activation. In contrast, exogenous antigens are degraded in the lysosome (or phagolysosome) of antigen presenting cells (APCs), and induce antibody-mediated immune responses and assist CTL activation. Therefore, maximizing a desired response by controlling delivery pathways is indispensable in vaccine development and immunotherapy. New cleavable microparticles have been prepared for use as protein-based vaccine carriers by polymerizing water soluble monomers including a newly developed aliphatic monomer with a pendant primary amine group and a cleavable acetal linkage with a wholly aliphatic cleavable acetal cross-linker. Incorporation of the cleavable amine monomer in the polymerization mixture increased the encapsulation efficiency of a model antigen, ovalbumin. Ex vivo assays showed that the c...
Hyperparathyroidism, hypercalcemia, and calcified brain metastatic lesions in a patient with small cell carcinoma demonstrating positive immunostain for parathyroid hormone.

ABSTRACT Objective To describe a patient with metastatic small cell lung carcinoma, who presented with hypercalcemia, a high level of intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), and multiple calcified metastatic lesions in the brain. Methods We review the clinical findings, laboratory data, and results of imaging studies in our patient. In addition, we summarize the previously reported cases of ectopic iPTH-producing tumors. Results A previously healthy 50-year-old man had a 2-month history of back pain, hip pain, and weight loss. Physical examination revealed a confused patient with dehydration, cachexia, and tenderness of the neck and both hips. His serum calcium concentration was 19.1 mg/dL, and the serum iPTH level was 107 pg/mL (normal range, 10 to 65). Imaging studies revealed multiple bilateral calcified metastatic lesions in the brain, a cavitary mass in the right lung, and osteolytic lesions in the left femur, pelvis, and spine. Biopsy of the femoral lesion yielded histologic findings consistent with small cell carcinoma. An immunohistochemistry stain was strongly positive for iPTH in the biopsy tissue. Conclusion Previously, only seven cases of true ectopic production of iPTH from nonparathyroid malignant lesions had been reported, of which only two were in patients with small cell carcinoma. We report the eighth such case and describe an association between hypercalcemia and calcified metastatic lesions, which has not been previously reported. (Endocr Pract. 2003;9:40-44)
OUTCOMES FOLLOWING URGENT OR EMERGENT CORONARY ARTERY BYPASS GRAFTING IN PATIENTS WITH CARDIOGENIC SHOCK AND AN UNRESPONSIVE PRE-OPERATIVE NEUROLOGIC STATE

Although previous studies have supported the use of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) in patients with cardiogenic shock due to a recent myocardial infarction (MI), outcomes among patients with an unresponsive pre-operative neurologic state are unknown. In order to facilitate clinical decision
Design and implementation of a constant-current pulsed iontophoretic stimulation device

IONTOPHORESIS IS a form of enhanced transdermal drug delivery, which uses an electric field to force poorly absorbed ionised drugs through the skin. When in the skin, the charged drug moves down its concentration gradient from the tissue into the circulation. Iontophoresis may be used with a number of drugs to avoid using needles, to lower dosage requirements and to provide constant (zero order) therapy by continuous drug input. Drugs suitable for iontophoretic application must carry a charge, have moderate molecular mass, partition well in both hydrophilic and lipophilic environments, and be relatively potent. The skin is modelled as a capacitance C in parallel with the large resistance of the stratum corneum Rs, in series with the small deep tissue resistance. Conventional (DC) iontophoresis inevitably develops a skin polarisation (LAWLER et al., 1960; DAVIS and KENNARD, 1962) analogous to the charging of the skin model capacitance, which can lead to skin irritation (OKABE et al., 1986). In our research, conventional DC was compared to monophasic rectangular pulses and monophasic trapezoidal iontophoretic waveshapes (Fig. 1), used to deliver an antihypertensive drug*. These pulsed waveforms provide two major advantages over the DC signal used conventionally. Skin impedance is reduced with increased frequency as the magnitudes of both of the nonlinear frequency-dependent components Rs and C are decreased (YAMAMOTO and YAMAMOTO, 1976; ROSELL et al., 1988). The decrease in R~ is reflected as an increased permeability of the skin to ionic transport and an increased drug migration into the skin. Secondly, the pulsed waveform allows the skin to depolarise and return to its initial state before the onset of the next pulse, provided that the depolarisation phase is adequately long to
Measurement of Mitral Regurgitation in Man from Simultaneous Atrial and Arterial Dilution Curves after Ventricular Injection

Measurements of forward and regurgitant flow were obtained in 16 patients with rheumatic disease of the mitral valve by means of simultaneous systemic arterial and left atrial dilution curves after injection of Evans-blue dye into the left ventricle. The results indicate that satisfactory measurements of forward flow may be obtained with injections into the left ventricle and that the calculated regurgitant flow has a good correlation with the severity of mitral insufficiency, as estimated clinically and surgically. The mean and range of regurgitant flow, expressed as a per cent of estimated total left ventricular output, for patients with pure mitral stenosis, predominant stenosis with mild to moderate insufficiency, and predominant or pure insufficiency, were 6 per cent (0 to 11), 21 per cent (8 to 39), and 58 per cent (28 to 82), respectively. Eight studies in six patients, however, gave results that were either mathematically absurd, physiologically incredible, in conflict with diagnostic evidence, or...
A duality of mechanisms for the fragmentation of substituted benzyloxychlorocarbenes.

Substituted benzyloxychlorocarbenes (X-PhCH2OCCl) were generated photochemically at 25 °C in dichloroethane from appropriate diazirine precursors. Fragmentations of the carbenes produced were deter...
Triangle Pseudocongruence in Constraint Singularity of Constant-Velocity Couplings

Congruent triangles establish that a class of intersecting-shaft couplings is constant velocity. These mechanisms employ a pair of linkages in parallel: a spherical joint at the intersection of the shafts and the intersection of straight-line tracks away from the shaft center to transmit rotation. A proof of constant velocity follows from the congruence of an initial pair of triangles with two matching sides and one excluded angle. This side-side-angle (SSA) condition is a pseudocongruence because it allows two different values for the included angle, indicating that such shaft couplings have symmetric and skewed assembly configurations. If the other excluded angle happens to be 90 deg, the SSA condition guarantees congruence because there is a single solution for the included angle. The 90 deg condition, however, occurs at a posture with a constraint singularity, where the shaft coupling is unable to transmit torque. Motion screw analysis establishes the same geometric condition for a coupling based on a revolute-spherical-revolute Clemens linkage. An upper bound on shaft deflection imposed by hyperextension of that linkage, along with a bound on deflection where constraint singularity occurs, identifies couplings where the constraint singularity can occur within the physical limits.
Progress and authenticity: urban renewal, urban tourism, and the meaning(s) of mid-twentieth-century New York

This paper examines the relationship between urban renewal and patterns of urban tourism in mid-twentieth-century New York City. By the late 1930s charges that the ‘old’ New York was a chaotic and unhealthy environment in need of replacement gained greater currency just as private–public bodies such as the New York Convention and Visitors Bureau were promoting the sanitized ‘renewed city’ at the expense of its older districts. As a result of these developments, tourist practices underwent a transformation between the late 1930s and the mid-1950s as the old ‘slumming’ itinerary gave way to a more selective geography concentrated in midtown. Nonetheless, the growth of mass tourism sparked a counter-reaction amongst other visitors seeking historic landmarks and more ‘authentic’ experiences of the city in places like Greenwich Village and the Lower East Side. Pressure to preserve and expand New York's tourism market, which city officials had used to justify ‘renewing’ the city's built environment, now feature...
Mechanical test methodology for environmental exposure testing of biodegradable polymers

A test methodology was developed for exposing degradable polymer test specimens to a simulated chemical and mechanical body environment and then testing them periodically to detect changes in stress–strain behavior. Poly(ortho ester) specimens were exposed to cyclic loading in aerated tris-buffered saline (pH = 7.4) at 37°C. Specimens were removed at various time periods and the mechanical properties determined. To determine the effects of cyclic loading alone, additional specimens were cycled in air for the same cyclic periods and tested in the same manner. To determine the effects of a constant load on degradation rate, other specimens were subjected to a static load while exposed to trisbuffered saline. Additional specimens were subjected to immersion in tris-buffered saline without loading. Exposure to tris-buffered saline alone had a small effect on the rate of change of the mechanical properties of the poly(ortho ester) specimens while cyclic loading in air alone had no effect. However a combination of both exposure to tris-buffered saline and a static load decreased the flexural yield strength by 29% and the modulus of elasticity by 20% after 40 days, and a combination of both exposure to tris-buffered saline and cyclic loading decreased both the flexural strength and modulus by 75% after 40 days.
Silicon/electro-optic polymer hybrid directional coupler switch

A silicon waveguide in an electro-optic (EO) polymer cladding-based directional coupler switch was designed and fabricated. Optimal dimensions for efficient coupling and minimal crosstalk are found analytically (coupled mode theory) and numerically for 1550nm wavelength. Both coplanar electrode spacing and height are taken into account for most effective poling conditions and performance. The design consists of two 255nm wide waveguides separated by 500nm and is optimized for TE propagation. With an electrode separation of 4μm and coupling length of 1.7cm, a switching voltage ( V s ) r 33 of 250pm/V is expected.
CD4+ T Cells Modulate Expansion and Survival but Not Functional Properties of Effector and Memory CD8+ T Cells Induced by Malaria Sporozoites

CD4+ helper T cells are critical orchestrators of immune responses to infection and vaccination. During primary responses, naive CD8+ T cells may need “CD4 help” for optimal development of memory populations. The immunological factors attributed to CD4 help depend on the context of immunization and vary depending on the priming system. In response to immunization with radiation-attenuated Plasmodium yoelii sporozoites, CD8+ T cells in BALB/c mice fail to generate large numbers of effector cells without help from CD4+ T cells – a defect not observed in most systems. Given this unique early dependence on CD4 help, we evaluated the effects of CD4+ cells on the development of functional properties of CD8+ T cells and on their ability to abolish infection. First, we determined that this effect was not mediated by CD4+ non-T cells and did not involve CD1d-restricted NKT cells. We found that CD8+ T cells induced by sporozoites without CD4 help formed memory populations severely reduced in magnitude that could not limit parasite development in the liver. The inability of these “helpless” memory T cells to protect is not a result of defects in effector function, as their capacity to produce cytokines and undergo cytotoxic degranulation was indistinguishable from control memory T cells. These data indicate that CD4+ T help may not be necessary to develop the functional attributes of CD8+ T cells; however they are crucial to ensure the survival of effector and memory cells induced in primary responses.
Uses of 13C- and 15N-labeled RNA in NMR of RNA-protein complexes.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the uses of 13 C- and 15 N-labeled RNA in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) of RNA-protein complexes. Sequence-specific recognition of RNA, by a protein, can potentially use all the hydrogen bond donors and acceptors on each nucleotide base that participates in the association. These interactions are different than those associated with DNA-protein associations by the nature of the RNA structure involved. The regions of an RNA that can be used by a protein to provide sequence-specific recognition are those sequences that are not stably base paired, such as internal loops, hairpin loops, or single-stranded segments, or that have unusual structural features, such as base bulges or base triples. In these regions of the RNA, all moieties of the base are available for interaction with a protein. As an example, the interaction, with a guanosine base, could involve hydrogen bonding to the N7 and N3 positions and the C6 carbonyl oxygen as well as hydrogen bonds from the N1 imino proton and the two protons at the C2 amino group. The N7 of adenosine and guanosine is a frequent hydrogen bond acceptor in complex RNA structures and it may be anticipated to fill this role in RNA-protein complexes as well.
Special Surgical Considerations for Functional Brain Mapping

In order to carry out the most effective and safe neurosurgical interventions for patients with brain lesions, precise information about the unique structural and functional anatomy of that patient is essential. Eloquent cortical areas cannot be recognized solely by identifying known anatomical landmarks even in non-lesional brains [1-3]. In patients with mass lesions or longstanding epilepsy, physical distortion or compensatory reorganization can further alter normal relationships [4-6]. In order to select patients for surgery, plan the operative approach, and successfully execute the surgical goal, detailed information regarding the individual structural and functional anatomy and the relationship to the lesion is potentially very useful. Thus a number of brain mapping methods which have been developed for neuroscientific brain mapping efforts have been adapted to serve neurosurgical considerations. There are fundamental differences in how these methods are applied to neurosurgical patients and problems. Unlike group studies for neuroscience in which inferences are made about a population based on a sample, neurosurgical planning requires single-subject specific information, spatial precision, adequate accommodation for impaired task performance, prioritization of sensitivity over specificity, and robustness in the face of mass lesions. In the last decade much progress has been made towards fulfilling these needs using several techniques. In this chapter, we will elaborate on the particular opportunities and challenges associated with brain mapping as it applies to patient selection, presurgical planning and intraoperative guidance. We will discuss the principal methods briefly noting in particular relative strengths and weaknesses. We will then review approaches for mapping cortical motor, sensory and language areas, as well as the associated white matter connections. We will also discuss some practical and technical considerations including patient-specific concerns, issues related to data acquisition, analysis and interpretation, and visualization considerations for planning and intraoperative use. We will then discuss the specific role of brain mapping in patients with specific pathologic processes including brain tumors, vascular malformations, and medically refractory epilepsy.
The Absorption of Ultraviolet Energy by the Peptide Linkage

The absorption spectra of the proteins, egg albumin, lactalbumin, and gelatin were studied and compared with those of related amino acids and simple peptides; the effect of various solvents on these compounds was investigated. A region of selective absorption at about 280 mμ, common to proteins and to simple peptides, indicates that the seat of absorption is the peptide linkage which is the main bond in such compounds. This region coincides with that characteristic of tryptophane and tyrosine. The band consists of two components, whose separation in proteins and amino acid peptides is approximately 1200 wave numbers and in anilides about 850 wave numbers. The breaking of the peptide linkage is the cause of denaturation; the energy required is about 4.4 electron volts and varies with the solvent.
Maintenance therapy to prevent recurrence of depression: summary and implications of the PREVENT study.

The need for maintenance therapy in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) is underscored by the high likelihood of recurrence after short-term treatment. Current recommendations include treatment to remission and long-term treatment to prevent relapse and recurrence. This article will summarize the design and results of the Prevention of Recurrent Episodes of Depression with Venlafaxine for Two Years (PREVENT) study, which have been published elsewhere. PREVENT evaluated venlafaxine extended release (ER) versus placebo in two 1-year maintenance phases for prevention of recurrence in patients with MDD who responded to acute and continuation therapy. Venlafaxine ER was effective in preventing long-term recurrence when compared with placebo, with a significant reduction in likelihood of recurrence and significantly longer time to recurrence after both 1 and 2 years of maintenance therapy. Recurrence rates in the first and second maintenance periods for patients receiving placebo were similar (42 vs 4...
Trends in Overweight and Obesity Among 18-Year-Old Applicants to the United States Military, 1993–2006

Abstract We examined trends in overweight and obesity among 756,269 18-year-old civilian applicants to the United States military from 1993–2006. The prevalence of overweight increased from 22.8% in 1993 to 27.1% in 2006, and obesity increased from 2.8% to 6.8%.We conclude the U.S. military is recruiting from an increasingly overweight population.
Fluorinated Lipid Constructs Permit Facile Passage of Molecular Cargo into Living Cells

Fluorinated lipids get rapidly internalized into living cells and are also displayed on the cell surface. The uptake of lipids is energy dependent and is likely via the clathrin-mediated endocytic pathway. Fluorinated lipids are 3−5-fold more efficient in acting as molecular transporters of noncovalently bound proteins than their hydrocarbon counterparts. These materials could serve as efficient molecular transporters for molecules that function in the cytoplasm such as short interfering RNAs (siRNAs)
Solidification behavior of γ'-Ni3Al-containing alloys in the Ni-Al-O system

Abstract The chemical activities of Al and Ni in γ′-Ni 3 Al-containing alloys were measured using the multi-cell Knudsen effusion-cell mass spectrometry technique, over the composition range 8–32 at.% Al and temperature range T = 1400 to 1750 K. From these measurements a better understanding of the equilibrium solidification behavior of γ′-Ni 3 Al-containing alloys in the Ni–Al–O system was established. Specifically, these measurements revealed that (i) γ′-Ni 3 Al forms via the peritectiod reaction, γ + β (+Al 2 O 3 ) = γ ′ (+Al 2 O 3 ), at 1633 ± 1 K; (ii) the { γ + β + Al 2 O 3 } phase field is stable over the temperature range 1633–1640 K; and (iii) equilibrium solidification occurs by the eutectic reaction, L (+Al 2 O 3 ) = γ + β (+Al 2 O 3 ), at 1640 ± 1 K and a liquid composition of 24.8 ± 0.2 at.% Al (at an unknown oxygen content). When projected onto the Ni–Al binary, this behavior is inconsistent with the current Ni–Al phase diagram and a new diagram is proposed. This new Ni–Al phase diagram explains a number of unusual steady-state solidification structures reported previously and provides a much simpler reaction scheme in the vicinity of the γ′-Ni 3 Al phase field.
Sensitivity of FL cells to polio- and adenoviruses.

Poliovirus plaque counts on the FL strain of human amnion cells were almost double the counts on rhesus monkey kidney for the same virus preparation, repeatedly assayed over more than six months. FL cells gave more consistent results in virus assay than monkey kidney cells. Plaque counts obtained with FL cells were 2 1/2 to 5 times higher than those obtained with HeLa, Chang's conjunctiva and Detroit-6 cells. Using the chick embryo-adapted MEF-1 strain of poliovirus, FL cells and primary human amnion cells reacted similarly in respect to plaque count and morphology, while no distinct plaques were seen on monkey kidney or HeLa monolayers under comparable conditions. For infectivity assays of adenovirus suspensions based on cytopathogenic effect, FL cells were found suitable, although no plaque formation was obtained.
Feedback: Computed tomography and lumbar puncture for the diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage: The importance of accurate interpretation

Abstract [Schwartz DT. Feedback: computed tomography and lumbar puncture for the diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage: the importance of accurate interpretation. Ann Emerg Med. February 2002;39:190-192.]
Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy with intra-abdominal manipulation

SummaryA technique of performing a laparoscopically guided radical nephrectomy using a Pfannenstiel incision is described. We believe that this minimally invasive approach can ease the transition between the standard open method and pure laparoscopic trocar surgery and is applicable to a variety of intra-abdominal problems. Results in this series were comparable to those of a standard radical nephrectomy with the advantages of an improvement in access morbidity (post-operative comfort and respiratory compromise) and consequently decreased hospitalization time.
Advances in Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment

Alcohol and other drug use among adolescents has been a public health problem for decades. Although some substance use may be developmentally routine, a concerning number of adolescents meet criteria for a substance use disorder and could greatly benefit from a quality treatment experience. However, parents and health care providers want evidence of the efficacy of adolescent-specific treatment programs. This review summarizes four factors surrounding the efficacy of current adolescent treatment programs: 1) adolescent-specific treatment services; 2) the variety of therapeutic modalities; 3) relapse and recovery rates; and 4) the need for evidence-based, quality assessments and research. Current adolescent treatment efforts are summarized, and the recent literature regarding the efficacy of adolescent treatment and recovery rates is discussed.
Denitrification Studies with 13N-Labeled Nitrate.

Nitrate labeled with 13N (13NO3–) was produced in a cyclotron by the 16O(p, α)13N reaction with protons having energies of 14.5 million electron volts. The 13NO3– was used as a tracer for direct quantitative measurements of denitrification rates in soils from flooded rice fields. The 13N technique provides a new tracer method for the measurement of denitrification rates in natural systems over short time intervals, without changing the concentration of NO3–in the system.
Understanding preferences for tree attributes: the relative effects of socio-economic and local environmental factors

Urban plant biodiversity is influenced by both the physical environment and attitudes and preferences of urban residents for specific plant types. Urban residents are assumed to be disconnected from their immediate environment, and cultural and societal factors have been emphasized over environmental factors in studies of landscaping choices. However, we postulate that local climatic and environmental factors can also affect preferences for plant attributes. Therefore, spatial and temporal patterns in urban tree biodiversity may be driven not only by the direct effect of environmental variables on plant function, but also by the effect of environmental variables on attitudes toward trees and associated choices about which types of trees to plant. Here, we tested the relative effects of socio-economic and local environmental factors on preferences toward tree attributes in five counties in southern California in and surrounding Los Angeles, based on 1,029 household surveys. We found that local environmental factors have as strong an effect on preferences for tree attributes as socio-economic factors. Specifically, people located in hotter climates (average maximum temperature 25.1 °C) were more likely to value shade trees than those located in cooler regions (23.1 °C). Additionally, people located in desert areas were less likely to consider trees to be important in their city compared with people located in naturally forested areas. Overall, our research demonstrates the inherent connections between local environmental factors and perceptions of nature, even in large modern cities. Accounting for these factors can contribute to the growing interest in understanding patterns of urban biodiversity.
Innovative approaches for teaching children with chronic conditions.

Abstract The use of a wide range of innovative teaching tools and approaches has helped the pediatric diabetes education program at this center. Unique presentations of standard information generate enthusiasm for learning about any chronic illness and help develop self-management skills. The resources are fun and provide laughter and jokes during what is often a very stressful and difficult period of adjustment for children and their families.
Electrochemical oxidation behavior of titanium nitride based electrocatalysts under PEM fuel cell conditions

Abstract Titanium nitride (TiN) is attracting attention as a promising material for low temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells. With its high electrical conductivity and resistance to oxidation, TiN has a potential to act as a durable electrocatalyst material. Using electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques, the electrochemical oxidation properties of TiN nanoparticles (NP) are studied under PEM fuel cell conditions and compared with conventional carbon black supports. It is observed that TiN NP has a significantly lower rate of electrochemical oxidation than carbon black due to its inert nature and the presence of a native oxide/oxynitride layer on its surface. Depending on the temperature and the acidic media used in the electrochemical conditions, the open circuit potential (OCP) curves shows the overlayer dissolved in the acidic solution leading to the passivation of the exposed nitride surface. It is shown that TiN NP displays passive behavior under the tested conditions. The XPS characterization further supports the dissolution argument and shows that the surface becomes passivated with the O–H groups reducing the electrical conductivity of TiN NP. The long-term stability of the Pt/TiN electrocatalysts is tested under PEM fuel cell conditions and the trends of the measured electrochemical surface area at different temperatures is shown to agree with the proposed passivation model.
DEFENDING EVOLUTION, AS STRANGE AS IT MAY SEEM1

The wake-up call has been sounded many times, and yet scientists and science educators keep trying to ignore it: turning the other cheek, asleep in their ivory towers. Creationists have made steady advances since the 1960s, despite having been repeatedly and soundly defeated in the courtrooms (the last time they won a legal battle was at the Scopes trial in Tennessee in 1925). The advances are being made at the level that is farthest from the everyday concern of most evolutionary biologists: the grassroots level of junior and high school students, their parents and—astoundingly—their teachers. As unbelievable as it may seem, poll after poll not only confirms that only about 10% of Americans believe that evolution occurs and is entirely a natural phenomenon, but that about a third of high school biology teachers rejects the theory of evolution. Worse, about 56% of science teachers nationwide disagree with or are undecided about the statement ‘‘evolution is scientific fact.’’ Even among the biology teachers who would actually like to teach evolution in their classrooms, my first-hand experience is that they simply don’t know it. They are themselves the product of an educational system that focuses on how to teach instead of what to teach, with the result that they are full of innovative pedagogical ideas that they have no way of implementing because they don’t know well enough the subject matter they are supposed to teach. In the public arena, creationism is evolving rapidly. Although many Americans are still enchanted with dinosaurs such as John Morris and Duane Gish (Arthur 1994) of the oxymoronically named Institute for Creation Research, a brand new wave of intelligent design ‘‘theorists’’ has been making inroads—with the media, politicians, and even one academic press (Cambridge)—mostly because of the large influx of money from the Seattle-based Discovery Institute and the Templeton Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Religion (Holden 1999). There is nothing scientific about scientific creationism, with its medieval claims of a universal flood that killed the dinosaurs 4,000 years ago, that the earth was created in six days a couple of thousand years earlier than that, and that there were once only two ancestral erect humans walking on this planet: Adam and Eve. Yet the degree of scientific illiteracy among the U.S. public is so great that half the pop-
Preparing Families With Children for International Travel.

ra “T veling is a brutality. It forces you to trust strangers and to lose sight of all that familiar comfort of home and friends. You are constantly off balance. Nothing is yours except the essential things—air, sleep, dreams, the sea, the sky...” (Cesare Pevase). This romanticized statement from the early 1900s still captures the essence of many peoples’ approach to international travel, that is, until they or their children develop traveler’s diarrhea and wish that at some point they had made better preparations for their trip. Pre-travel medical care can play a crucial and often overlooked role in preventing illness and injury. With the globalization of society, this role has become increasingly important. Although we do not have vaccines or therapies for every risk that can be encountered, we have compiled a massive amount of evidence-based research that can help the traveler to minimize their risks. As stated in the introductory article, there are over 1 billion airplane trips involving international travel annually to the U.S. Although generalizations can be made, advice is more pertinent when tailored to the traveler. The majority of patients presenting for a travel appointment are preparing for vacation. Identifying high-risk groups such as patients with chronic illnesses, visits to friends and relatives (VFR), relief workers, and adventure seekers is important because they have unique risk factors associated with their travel plans.
Evidence for the existence of antistructure defects in bismuth telluride by density measurements

Abstract Crystals of both n and p type bismuth telluride in equilibrium with various liquid compositions ranging from 59 at. % tellurium to 66 at. % tellurium have been prepared. Precision density measurements reveal the existence of antistructure defects with an approximate energy of formation of 0.40 eV for p type material.
Characterization and modeling of a piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer with a very large length/width aspect ratio

The objective of the current study was to characterize and model the performance of piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducers (pMUTs) with large length/width aspect ratios. Single-element pMUTs with 20 different dimensions corresponding to aspect ratios ranging from 5:1 to 23:1 were designed. Multiple samples were fabricated for each design so that statistically meaningful data could be obtained. The pMUTs were characterized by the impedance measurement combined with an equivalent circuit analysis. A one-dimensional composite beam model was also used to correlate the equivalent circuit components with the structural parameters, and gain insight into the performance characteristics of pMUTs. The resonant frequencies were observed to decrease with the width of the membrane, but have no appreciable length dependence. With the correction of parasitic capacitance, the effective coupling coefficients were observed to increase with the width up to around 150 µm and then decrease. However, they did not show clear and consistent length dependence. The variation of the coupling coefficient as a function of width of the membrane was shown to be mainly due to the relative ratios between the electrode and membrane widths rather than membrane width itself. Although the model presented in this study was a simple one-dimensional electro-mechanical model, it did seem to offer both good qualitative and quantitative insights into the performance of pMUTs and provide a convenient tool for designing thin membrane transducers with a large aspect ratio. The model can also take into consideration the residual stress effect and offer an even more realistic prediction.
Improved Maximum Likelihood Estimation of Target Position in Wireless Sensor Networks using Particle Swarm Optimization

Estimation of target position from multi-frame binary data provided by a wireless sensor network (WSN) can be done by optimizing a complex multimodal likelihood function. Deterministic quasi Newton- Raphson (QNR) schemes with line search are typically used for optimization in maximum likelihood estimation. However, these methods often find a local minimum, which leads to large estimation errors. This paper presents an approach that employs particle swarm optimization (PSO) techniques for global optimization of the likelihood function. Simulation results comparing the performance of a maximum likelihood target position estimation scheme employing QNR and PSO algorithms are presented. It is seen that the PSO algorithm provides significantly higher position estimation accuracy throughout the sensor field.
Techniques for the translation of MATLAB programs into Fortran 90

This article describes the main techiques developed for FALCON's MATLAB-to-Fortran 90 compiler. FALCON is a programming environment for the development of high-performance scientific programs. It combines static and dynamic inference methods to translate MATLAB programs into Fortran 90. The static inference is supported with advanced value propagation techniques and symbolic algorithms for subscript analysis. Experiments show that FALCON's MATLAB translator can generate code that performs more than 1000 times faster than the interpreted version of MATLAB and substantially faster than commercially available MATLAB compilers on one processor of an SGI Power Challenge. Futhermore, in most cases we have tested, the compiler-generated code is as fast as corresponding hand-written programs.
Modern Regression Discontinuity Analysis

Abstract This article provides a detailed discussion of the theory and practice of modern regression discontinuity (RD) analysis for estimating the effects of interventions or treatments. Part 1 briefly chronicles the history of RD analysis and summarizes its past applications. Part 2 explains how in theory an RD analysis can identify an average effect of treatment for a population and how different types of RD analyses—“sharp” versus “fuzzy”—can identify average treatment effects for different conceptual subpopulations. Part 3 of the article introduces graphical methods, parametric statistical methods, and nonparametric statistical methods for estimating treatment effects in practice from regression discontinuity data plus validation tests and robustness tests for assessing these estimates. Section 4 considers generalizing RD findings and presents several different views on and approaches to the issue. Part 5 notes some important issues to pursue in future research about or applications of RD analysis.
Genetic variation of the renin-angiotensin system and chronic kidney disease progression in black individuals in the atherosclerosis risk in communities study

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) regulates BP and may affect chronic kidney disease (CKD) through induction of tissue growth and fibrosis. The angiotensinogen (AGT) promoter G(6) allele lowers transcription and is inversely associated with hypertension. In white individuals, the A1166C 3-UTR variant of angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) has been associated with CKD. CKD associations with these RAS genes are uncertain in high-risk black populations. A prospective populationbased study of CKD risk was conducted among 3706 black individuals without severe renal dysfunction at baseline (serum creatinine >177 mol/L [2.0 mg/dl] for men, >159 mol/L [1.8 mg/dl] for women) to examine associations with AGT and AT1R. Incident CKD progression was defined as kidney disease hospitalization or increase in serum creatinine level >35 mol/L (0.4 mg/dl) above baseline. During mean follow-up of 10.2 yr, CKD progression incidence rate (per 1000 person-years) was 8.2 (n 312 cases). Risk was lower for AGT G(6) carriers compared with A(6) (incidence 6.9 versus 9.0; log-rank P 0.03) and nonsignificantly higher among AT1R C1166 carriers. Adjusting for hypertension and major CKD risk factors, AGT G(6)decreased risk (relative risk 0.75; 95% confidence interval 0.57 to 0.98). AT1R C1166 increased risk only among those with hypertension (relative risk 1.65; 95% confidence interval 1.14 to 2.39). The AGT G(6)A polymorphism may play a role in CKD progression in black individuals, consistent with in vitro effects on AGT levels and renal remodeling but independent of BP. The AT1R C1166 allele may increase susceptibility but only in the presence of hypertension.
Fine structure of the photosensitive iris of the toad, Bufo marinus

The iris of the toad Bufo marinus is directly photosensitive and will constrict in response to light striking only the iris. This is true even when the iris is isolated from the rest of the eye, and therefore from reflex neuronal influences initiated in the retina. This autonomous response is probably mediated by the sphincter pupillae muscle, since no specialized photoreceptors are present in the iris, nor does the sphincter exhibit any specializations likely to subserve a purely photoreceptive function. The photosensitive sphincter appears typical of smooth muscle and, like mammalian sphincters, possesses many intercellular junctions. The iris possesses a well-developed neuronal plexus with fibers projecting into the sphincter muscle layer. Nerve terminals contain small, agranular (30-70nm) and large, dense-cored (80-120nm) vesicles. No consistent postsynaptic specializations are seen on any cells of the iris, including the cells of the sphincter muscle. The anterior pigment epithelial cells of the iris appear specialized and resemble the myoepithelial dilator muscle described by Kelly and Arnold ('72) for the iris of rats.
Free-Flight Base Pressure Measurements on 8 deg Cones

Abstract : Base pressure measurements are presented on two 8 deg half angle, right circular cones with a tip bluntness ratio of 1%. Data are obtained at three radical base locations: r/R sub b = 0, r/R sub b = .5, and r/R sub b = . 917. A unique free-flight technique was employed to obtain the data. The cones were launched nearly vertically from special guns and the data were telemetered to ground stations. The launch Mach numbers were approximately 3 with corresponding Reynolds numbers of 35 million. Both the Mach number and the Reynolds number decreased monotonically from their launch value reaching 400 and 250,000 respectively at apogee. In the laminar flow regime, the centerline base pressure is measured to be a few percent higher than either of the other two. At early times in the trajectory, where the boundary layer was expected to be turbulent, the opposite effect is noted.
Infants' eyewitness testimony: Effects of postevent information on a prior memory representation

In eyewitness testimony research, postevent information impair retention of the original event and increases the probability that interpolated information will be identified as part:of the original event. The present experiments studied these effects with 3-month-olds. Infants learned to kick to move a particular crib mobile and then were briefly exposed to information about a novel mobile. The novel postevent information impaired recognition of the-original mobile when it immediately followed training but not when it was delayed by 1 day. Like adults, infants treated the postevent information as part of the original training event, continuing to do so for at least 2 weeks. We propose that postevent information displaces conflicting information coactive with it in primary memory and creates a new, updated memory token of the event. Once the new token leaves primary memory, however, it is protected; only a copy can be retrieved and modified in the future.
Freezing tolerance in relation to cooling rate in an adult insect.

Abstract In the adult tenebrionid beetle Upis ceramboides unusually low cooling rates are required to demonstrate maximum freezing tolerance, and a very slight change in rate can reduce survival from 100 to 0%. Freezing to −50 °C results in 100% mortality at rates above 0.35 °C/min, but no injury is apparent if the cooling rate is 0.28 °C/min. The lower lethal temperature, determined with a cooling rate of 0.17 °C/min, is about −60 °C. The maximum cooling rate which allows full survival is nearly identical to optimal cooling rates previously found for mouse embryos and some lymphocytes, but the striking sensitivity to very slight changes in rate is unique to Upis . Most studies dealing with insect freezing tolerance have utilized rates of 1 °C/min or faster, and the failure of some of these laboratory studies to observe freezing survival may be due to the use of lethal cooling rates.
Methods for comprehensive experimental identification of RNA-protein interactions

The importance of RNA-protein interactions in controlling mRNA regulation and non-coding RNA function is increasingly appreciated. A variety of methods exist to comprehensively define RNA-protein interactions. We describe these methods and the considerations required for designing and interpreting these experiments.
An efficient sequential procedure for detecting changes in multichannel and distributed systems

In the conventional formulation of the change-point detection problem, there is a sequence of observations whose distribution changes at some unknown point in time, and the goal is to detect this change as quickly as possible, subject to false alarm constraints. It is known that in the case where the observations are i.i.d. and the change point is modeled as deterministic but unknown, the cumulative sum (CUSUM) detection procedure of Page (1954) and the randomized Shiryaev-Roberts detection procedure proposed by Pollak (1985) minimize the expected detection lag, subject to a constraint on the false alarm rate. In this paper, we are interested in the two generalizations of this problem. The first is the generalization regarding multichannel systems. Here all the channels are either statistically identical or the change occurs in one of them at unknown point in time. It is necessary to detect the change in distribution as soon as possible after it occurs, while controlling the rate of false alarms at a given level. The second generalization corresponds to the multi-sensor situation where the information available for decision-making is distributed across a set of sensors. The sensors send quantized versions of their observations to a fusion center where the change detection is performed based on all the sensor messages. We propose multi-channel and distributed versions of the CUSUM procedure and prove that they are asymptotically optimal as the average frequency of false alarms goes to zero. The general results are applied to the two important application areas-target detection in surveillance systems and attack/intrusion detection in distributed computer networks. Experimental results show that the proposed detection methods are highly efficient.
System-Level Dynamic Thermal Modeling and Simulation for an All-Electric Ship Cooling System in VTB

A system-level dynamic simulation of a thermo-electrical coupled model for a ship cooling system was developed in the virtual test bed (VTB) platform. This paper presents dynamic simulations for two most essential cooling schemes used in the ship thermal management. One configuration is freshwater cooling with seawater as the secondary coolant. The other configuration is chilled water cooling from the ship's air conditioning plants. Details of some major thermal components used in the simulations are identified. The results from these simulations clearly demonstrate the ability of the VTB environment to simulate the dynamic behavior of complex and coupled devices. The work presented in this paper provides the first step to use VTB as a potential system-level dynamic simulation platform for an all-electric ship thermal management.