cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
‘I set out to Entertain....': An Interview with Túndé Kèlání

With over twenty titles as cinematographer or director, Nigerian filmmaker Tunde Kelani’s place in the country’s cinema industry is secure. Starting with his work as director-cinematographer on the...
Waterless Urinals Remove Select Pharmaceuticals from Urine by Phase Partitioning.

We investigated the potential for waterless urinal sealants fluids to remove pharmaceuticals from urine. 1H NMR, FTIR, and GC/MS characterization of the fluids indicated that they are mostly composed of aliphatic compounds. Removal of ethinyl estradiol was >40% for two of the three sealant fluids during simulated urination to a urinal cartridge but removal of seven other compounds with greater hydrophilicity was 3.5. At equilibrium with synthetic urine, removal ranged widely from 2% to 100%. Kow was poorly correlated with removal for both matrices at equilibrium, but Dow was correlated with removal from synthetic urine for two of the three sealants, indicating that ionization and hydrophilicity control partitioning between the urine and sealant phases. To improve removal during urination, where equilibrium is not achieved, we increased the hydraulic retention time 100-fold over that of typical male urination. Removal of specific hydrophobic compounds increased, indicating that both hydrophobicity and kinetics control removal. Removal of ethinyl estradiol was ≥90% for all sealants in the increased hydraulic retention time experiment, demonstrating the potential for implementation to female urinals.
Compression bases in effect algebras

We generalize David Foulis’s concept of a compression base on a unital group to effect algebras. We first show that the compressions of a compressible effect algebra form a compression basis and that a sequential effect algebra possesses a natural maximal compression basis. It is then shown that many of the results concerning compressible effect algebras hold for arbitrary effect algebras by focusing on a specific compression base. For example, the foci (or projections) of a compression base form an orthomodular poset. Moreover, one can give a natural definition for the commutant of a projection in a compression base and results concerning order and compatibility of projections can be generalized. Finally it is shown that if a compression base has the projection-cover property, then the projections of the base form an orthomodular lattice.
The Landscape of Cardiovascular Clinical Trials in the United States Initiated Before and During COVID-19.

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has taken an unprecedented toll on the American healthcare system and economy. While numerous COVID-19 clinical trials have been initiated in hopes of curtailing its impact, most pre-existing clinical trials have been forced to suspend or limit activity, which itself can have significant consequences. Missed or postponed trial-related assessments may hinder data quality, and heterogeneity in data collection both across the country and over time introduces bias. In addition, COVID-19 may lower specific event rates due to patients avoiding the healthcare system that could result in underpowered outcome analyses, or conversely, some endpoints (mortality) may be inflated.
Coffee Consumption and Invasive Breast Cancer Incidence among Postmenopausal Women in the Cancer Prevention Study-II Nutrition Cohort

Background: There is limited evidence of a potential inverse association between coffee, particularly caffeinated coffee, consumption and postmenopausal breast cancer risk, and few studies have examined this association by tumor hormone receptor status. To provide further evidence, we examined total, caffeinated, and decaffeinated coffee consumption in relation to postmenopausal invasive breast cancer incidence overall, and by tumor estrogen receptor (ER) and/or progesterone receptor (PR) subtype. Methods: Among 57,075 postmenopausal women in the Cancer Prevention Study-II Nutrition Cohort who were cancer free and reported coffee intake in 1999, we identified 2,980 women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer during follow-up through June 2015. Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression was used to compute hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Neither total, caffeinated, nor decaffeinated coffee consumption was associated with invasive breast cancer risk; HRs (95% CIs) comparing consumption of ≥2 cups per day with Conclusions: These findings do not support an association between coffee consumption and invasive breast cancer risk among postmenopausal women. Impact: This large prospective study contributes to the limited evidence on coffee consumption and breast cancer risk, finding no association overall or by tumor receptor subtype.
The Extreme Physics Explorer

Some tests of fundamental physics - the equation of state at supra-nuclear densities, the metric in strong gravity, the effect of magnetic fields above the quantum critical value - can only be measured using compact astrophysical objects: neutron stars and black holes. The Extreme Physics Explorer is a modest sized (~500 kg) mission that would carry a high resolution (R ~300) X-ray spectrometer and a sensitive X-ray polarimeter, both with high time resolution (~5 μs) capability, at the focus of a large area (~5 sq.m), low resolution (HPD~1 arcmin) X-ray mirror. This instrumentation would enable new classes of tests of fundamental physics using neutron stars and black holes as cosmic laboratories.
2019-02 Does a guaranteed basic income encourage entrepreneurship?: evidence from Alaska

While the concept has been around for years, recently the policy notion of a “guaranteed basic income” (GBI)—or universal basic income—has had a resurgence of interest. In addition to rationales that relate to fairness and response to structural employment shifts due to automation and globalization, another motivation that is sometimes put forward for these plans is to encourage risk-taking by providing a safety net: There would be greater entrepreneurial activity if an unsuccessful entrepreneur had the GBI to fall back on. In this paper we investigate a rare long-standing example similar to a GBI in the US: the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend program. This was not put forth as a GBI, and the annual amount is too small to allow an individual to rely fully on these funds; but for a moderate-to-large family the APF can replace a large share of a poverty-level income. Receipt of the APF also does not preclude a family from receiving other safety net benefits—food stamps, unemployment compensation—which suggests that the downside risk for a potential entrepreneur may be lower than in other US states. We initially examine trends in small-firm births in Alaska over time from the Census Bureau’s Business Dynamics Statistics 1977–2014—before and after the institution of the APF program (the first payment was in 1982)—relative to other US states to investigate a possible impact on entrepreneurship; the results suggest a positive effect—which appears to dissipate over time. We then turn to micro data from the Current Population Survey to examine changes in self-employment behavior in Alaska, with somewhat similar findings.
Human-Collective Collaborative Target Selection

Robotic collectives are composed of hundreds or thousands of distributed robots using local sensing and communication that encompass characteristics of biological spatial swarms, colonies, or a com...
Assessing motivations and gender as factors in college students’ views of nonmedical prescription stimulant use

Introduction: Two prominent motivation categories of college student nonmedical prescription stimulant use (NMUPS) are for academic and recreational purposes. However, little research focuses on these motivations' association with college students' NMUPS views. Further, limited research assesses if user gender influences views. Methods: The current online scenario study implemented a 2 × 2 factorial design assessing 148 college undergraduates' (75% females; Mage = 19.18; SDage = 1.30) NMUPS views based on user motivation and gender. Participants reported their drug use stigmatization, prescription stimulant expectancies (ie, anticipated drug use beliefs and outcomes), and personal substance use. Results and Discussion: Results showed that user gender did not influence participants' NMUPS views; however, participants viewed academic use less negatively compared to recreational use, thus highlighting the need to educate students on the negative consequences of NMUPS, even when use is for academically related tasks. Furthermore, exploratory analyses showed drug use stigmatization and prescription stimulant expectancies predicted participant NMUPS views.Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2021.1942005.
Sprint and Distance Zone Analysis by Position of Division I Women’s Lacrosse

Sprint zones are measured by the number of sprints conducted in zones 1 through 5 (Sprint 1 - Sprint 5) and the distance traveled in each zone (Dist 1 - Dist 5). Zones are determined by percentage of maximum sprint speed (1<60%, 2=60-69%, 3=70-79%, 4=80-89%, 5≥90%). The purpose of this study was to compare sprint zones and speed by position in Division I women’s lacrosse during practices and games. Players (n=13) wore a vest with microtechnology (global positioning unit and heart rate monitor) to track movement and speed during 9 games and 41 practices. Players included four attackers, four midfielders, and five defenders. There were no main effect differences between training and games (p=0.288), or by an interaction with position (p=0.396). Univariate analyses showed differences between training and games for average speed (p<0.001) max speed (p=0.021), Sprint 1 (p<0.001), Sprint 2 (p<0.001), Sprint 3 (p<0.001), Sprint 4 (p<0.001), Sprint 5 (p=0.031), Dist 1 (p<0.001), Dist 2 (p<0.001), Dist 3 (p=0.001), and Dist 5 (p=0.003). All variables were higher in games than training except Sprint 5 and Dist 5 where training was higher. For the interaction between activity type and position there was a difference in Sprint 4 (p=0.032) and Sprint 2 (p=0.046), with attackers logging higher values during practice in Sprint 5 and Dist 5. There was a mismatch in sprint demands between training and games, with a greater game demand for efforts in zones 1-4 in games for all positions. These data indicate no need to train differently by position, but coaches and support staff can utilize this information to alter the structure of training to meet the demands of the game.
Description of Ruehmaphelenchus juliaen. sp. (Tylenchina: Aphelenchoididae) isolated from an ambrosia beetle, xylosandrus crassiusculus (Motschulsky), from South Florida.

During a survey of nematode associates of ambrosia beetles from dead and dying red bay and avocado trees affected by the laurel wilt epidemic in southern Florida, a Ruehmaphelenchusspecies was isolated from the non-native ambrosia beetle, Xylosandrus crassiusculus. The new species is characterised by its possession of an oral disc at the stoma opening, three lines in the lateral field, male spicule with clear dorsal and ventral limbs connected by elongated triangular cuticle, thin membrane-like tissue and cuticular bridge-like structure, conical tail with pointed tip of males and conical tail with digitate mucro of females. The new species is very similar to four previously described species: R. asiaticus, R. digitulus, R. thailandaeand R. sirisus, and can be distinguished only by some minor morphological differences in male tail characters, i.e., spicule morphology, position of genital papillae and tail tip shape, and morphometric values. However, the new species is phylogenetically unique, i.e., it is the basal taxon of the Ruehmaphelenchusclade and close to Bursaphelenchusspp. Ruehmaphelenchus juliaen. sp. is therefore proposed based on its morphological diagnostic characters and molecular sequences of near-full-length of SSU, internal transcribed spacer region, D1, D2 and D3 expansion segments of LSU ribosomal RNA and partial mitochondrial COI genes.
Single incision laparoscopic total proctocolectomy with ileopouch anal anastomosis

Aim We present our initial experience of a single port laparoscopic total proctocolectomy with ileoanal J pouch anastomosis. The single incision laparoscopic surgery (SIL), (Covidien, Norwalk, Connecticut, USA) device with a multichannel cannula and specially designed curved laparoscopic instrumentation were used. Method A patient with familial adenomatous polyposis underwent restorative proctocoectomy. A colonoscopy had demonstrated nearly 1000 polyps in the colon with several 1-cm polyps in the rectum. The abdomen was entered through a 2.5 cm incision sited preoperatively for the temporary ileostomy. The single port device was inserted and a total proctocolectomy was performed. Ligation of the vessels was performed with the Ligasure (Covidien). The colon and rectum were extracted through the SIL site. An 18-cm ileoanal J pouch was created extracorporeally. The pouch anal anastomosis was performed intracorporeally and a diverting loop ileostomy created through the SIL port site. Results The operating time was 172 min. Blood loss was 100 ml and the hospital stay was 4 days without any complication. The patient had a virtually scar-less abdomen other than the site of the loop ileostomy. Conclusion Single port laparoscopic surgery may allow complex colorectal surgery to be performed resulting in a virtually scar-less procedure.
Patient Portal Readiness (PPR) among the Underserved: Impact of PHIM Activities, Health Information Seeking, and Patient Attitudes towards Record Keeping

Patient portals are increasingly becoming a solution for healthcare providers to provide patients with access to parts of their medical records such as lab results as well as to offer services such as customized educational materials, appointment scheduling, etc. However, the use of patient portals is still very low [1] especially among the underserved population. The objective of this study is to develop an understanding of the factors that may impact patient portal readiness among the underserved population. We consider three main factors that will impact Patient Portal Readiness (PPR): (a) PHIM (Personal Health Information Management) activities, (b) attitude towards keeping personal health record, and (c) access to and use of Internet for health information seeking. Findings from a survey of 132 patients of free clinics in northern Virginia support the study hypotheses related to the impact of the above three factors on PPR. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Abstract 2058: Molecular imaging of glutaminolysis as a tool for evaluating therapeutic response in preclinical models of colorectal cancer

The metabolic repertoire of cancer cells diverge significantly from that of normal cells. Energy production in cancer cells tends to depend on aerobic glycolysis, a feature that is routinely monitored by positron emission tomography (PET) imaging using 2-[ 18 F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose ([ 18 F]FDG). In addition to predilection for glycolysis, cancer cells may possess other unique metabolic characteristics, such as increased consumption of glutamine. As with glucose, glutamine also serves as a key carbon source for ATP production and biosynthesis. Given this, quantitative measures of glutaminolysis may reflect critical processes in oncology. Accordingly, PET agents targeting glutamine uptake, such as 4-[ 18 F]fluoro-glutamine ([ 18 F]4F-GLN), have been reported and used in preclinical models of cancer. The goal of this study was to elucidate the feasibility of using [ 18 F]4F-GLN PET to predict response to targeted therapy within the context of colorectal cancer (CRC). Initially we validated expression of SLC1A5, the primary plasma membrane transporter of glutamine, in tumor and normal colon specimens for 58 patients with primary and advanced CRC. We found that SLC1A5 expression was elevated in over 80%of primary tumor specimens but did not correlate with grade or gender. Furthermore, elevated SLC1A5 expression correlated strongly with elevated Ki67, a molecular marker of proliferation. Given this, we evaluated [ 18 F]4F-GLN PET in preclinical models of V600E BRAF-expressing CRC as a means of detecting anti-proliferation responses to targeted therapeutics. Simulating a clinical study within the context of the Vanderbilt GI SPORE, the regimen included an inhibitor of mutant BRAF, a PI3K/mTOR inhibitor, and a combination there of. Strikingly, [ 18 F]4F-GLN PET was found to correlate more closely to markers of anti-proliferative responses in vivo than analogously performed [ 18 F]FDG PET imaging studies. We believe that these findings not only provide a greater understanding of the role that glutaminolysis plays in CRC but also illuminate the potential impact that glutaminolysis derived PET could have towards guiding drug development clinical trials as an imaging metric of early therapeutic response detection. Citation Format: Matthew R. Hight, Michael L. Schulte, Samir Saleh, Gregory D. Ayers, Frank L. Revetta, M. Kay Washington, Robert J. Coffey, H. Charles Manning. Molecular imaging of glutaminolysis as a tool for evaluating therapeutic response in preclinical models of colorectal cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 2058. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2058
Effects of uniform anisotropy on wavelet fractionation and electrogram simulations in a computer model of fibrillation

Using a 10000-element modified Moe computer model of a fibrillating cardiac tissue sheet, cases of isotropic and uniformly anisotropic conduction were implemented and compared to determine how uniform anisotropy contributes to wavelet fractionation. In this model, a bipolar electrogram calculation based on the Ploney volume-conductor equations is implemented in several simple test cases and in a fibrillating, isotropic model sheet. It is shown that in this computer model, the role of uniform anisotropy in wavelet fractionation is less significant than effects due to overall velocity changes. Bipolar recordings in this model can approximate many characteristics in both the time and frequency domains of fibrillation cardiac tissue. >
Testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in maternal and cord blood and in amniotic fluid

Abstract Maternal and umbilical arterial and venous plasma and amniotic fluid testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) were measured by radioimmunoassay. Maternal plasma T was 690 ± 80 pg. per milliliter (mean ± S.E.) in early pregnancy ( 20 weeks). DHT was 113.0 ± 18.8 pg. per milliliter in early pregnancy and 179.8 ± 30.5 pg. per milliliter in late pregnancy. Both umbilical arterial (UA) and umbilical venous (UV) plasma T were significantly higher in 11 male infants (UA T = 135.6 ± 16.5 pg. per milliliter; UV T = 227.5 ± 40.8 pg. per milliliter) than in 12 female infants (UA T = 92.1 ± 9.7 pg. per milliliter; UV T = 89.6 ± 12.6 pg. per milliliter) (p =
Levels of Desired, Actual, and Perceived Control of Employee Involvement in Decision Making: An Empirical Investigation

Using data obtained from 826 non-managers, this paper explores the effects of age, education and gender on the desired and actual levels of employee involvement in decision making. Analysis of five decision-making dimensions indicated that, though age and education appear to have an effect on desire for employee's involvement in decision-making processes, gender does not appear to be an influence. A discussion of this study's implications for human resource practice and suggestions for future research are presented.
Modeling the nitrogen and carbon cycling in Marguerite Bay, Antarctica: Annual variations in ammonium and net community production

Abstract A quasi-two-dimensional biogeochemical model was applied to Marguerite Bay to investigate differences in the seasonal cycles of nitrogen and carbon of the plankton communities between 2000–2001 and 2001–2002. The impetus for the modeling effort came from observations made during the US SO Southern Ocean Global Ocean Ecosystem dynamics (SO GLOBEC) program field surveys in 2001 and 2002 that showed a two-fold decrease in net community production (NCP) and ammonium stocks. Simulated nutrient fields matched these observations, indicating that NCP was mainly controlled by the availability of light to phytoplankton. Greater sea-ice cover led to a shorter phytoplankton bloom in 2001–2002 than in 2000–2001. Furthermore, the simulated lower primary production led to smaller bacterial ammonification during the second year. Additionally, smaller zooplankton stocks were observed that led to less simulated excretion of ammonium during 2002. The results of the numerical simulations showed that remineralization of organic matter to ammonium by bacteria accounted for up to 45% of the ammonium production during each year.
Pharmacokinetics of Methylprednisolone Hemisuccinate and Methylprednisolone in Chronic Liver Disease

The disposition of methylprednisolone (MP) and its prodrug hemisuccinate (MPHS) was assessed in six middle-aged patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) and compared with six younger, healthy subjects after a single IV dose of 25.4 mg of MPHS. Blood and urine samples were collected over 12 hours. Plasma and urine concentrations of MPHS and MP and plasma cortisol were measured by HPLC. MPHS clearance (CL) was significantly reduced in the CLD group (495 vs. 1389 mL/hr/kg) whereas volume of distribution (Vss) of MPHS (about 0.35 1/kg) did not differ. The elimination half-life, t1/2 beta, was significantly longer in CLD (0.61 vs. 0.32 hr). The percent recovery of unchanged MPHS in urine was similar (about 9%) in both groups. The kinetic parameters of MP did not differ between the two groups for: clearance (about 370 L/hr/kg IBW), Vss (about 1.3 L/kg), and t1/2 beta (about 3.0 hr). The suppression t1/2 of cortisol after MPHS was longer (3.9 vs. 1.9 hr) indicating metabolic pathways for cortisol and MP are affected differently in CLD. Reduction in MPHS CL may reflect altered hepatic blood flow due to both cirrhosis and age effects. However, good availability of MP from MPHS and lack of perturbation of MP pharmacokinetics in CLD patients may provide therapeutic advantages in selection of this glucocorticoid. This is the first study that characterizes the disposition of the prodrug MPHS and the formation of MP simultaneously in CLD patients.
COMPUTATIONAL GEOMETRY AND GEOGRAPHY

New developments in computational geometry are applicable to geographic data processing. Computationally efficient procedures incorporating logarithmic searches over appropriate data structures, and other shortcuts, can yield important savings in computation time and data storage space. There are “fast”methods for two-dimensional problems such as point inclusion, nearest-neighbor and two-nearest-neighbors determination, and grid overlay. Worst-case analysis of algorithms provides useful performance bounds for the developers of geographic production software.
p73 mutations are not detected in sporadic and hereditary breast cancer

Recently, a novel tumor suppressor gene, p73, was isolated and mapped to chromosome 1p36, a region commonly associated with loss of heterozygosity in neuroblastoma and other human malignancies, including breast cancer. The p73 gene shares considerable homology with the common tumor suppressor gene p53, both in composition and function. This study examines the potential participation of p73 in the pathogenesis of sporadic and hereditary breast cancers. Mutation analysis of 29 hereditary breast cancer cases revealed five independent silent mutations in the hereditary cases that are unlikely to play a role in tumor development. Mutation analysis of 48 sporadic breast tumors did not identify any unique variants. Eleven common polymorphisms scattered throughout the gene were also detected. Thus, mutations in the p73 gene appear to play little if any role in hereditary or sporadic breast cancer.
Significance of thrombocytopenia in myelodysplastic syndromes: associations and prognostic implications.

Purpose To analyze the incidence and significance of thrombocytopenia in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).
Two-Dimensional Field Analysis of Cylindrical Machines with Permanent Magnet Excitation

The design of the magnetic circuit of permanent magnet machines differs from that of conventional wound field machines mainly due to the low magnetic permeability of the magnets. A two-dimensional field analysis is presented which takes the magnet leakage, the distribution of magnet MMF along its height, and the changing magnet width into consideration. The fundamental component of flux calculated by the model is compared with results obtained by finite element analysis for different magnet configurations covering a practical range of magnet dimensions. A comparison of machine performance predicted using this method with test results is also given.
Sphingosine-1-phosphate stimulates human glioma cell proliferation through Gi-coupled receptors: role of ERK MAP kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase β

The regulation of glioma cell proliferation by sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) was studied using the human glioblastoma cell line U-373 MG. U-373 MG cells responded mitogenically to nanomolar concentrations of S1P, and express mRNA encoding the S1P receptors S1P1/endothelial differentiation gene (EDG)-1, S1P3/EDG-3 and S1P2/EDG-5. S1P-induced proliferation required extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation and was partially sensitive to pertussis toxin and wortmannin, indicating involvement of a Gi-coupled receptor and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. Moreover, S1P1, S1P3 and S1P2 receptors are expressed in the majority of human glioblastomas as determined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis. Thus, S1P signaling through EDG receptors may contribute to glioblastoma growth in vivo.
Abstract A06: A novel cell line model of the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) telomere maintenance mechanism

Unlimited replicative capacity is a key hallmark of cancer that requires the abrogation of telomere attrition due to the end-replication problem. The vast majority of tumors maintain telomere lengths by expressing the enzyme telomerase; however, a subset utilizes a cancer-specific, telomerase-independent telomere maintenance mechanism, termed Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT). We recently uncovered a strong correlation between ALT and recurrent cancer-associated somatic inactivating mutations in the ATRX and DAXX genes. The ATRX and DAXX proteins form a chromatin remodeling complex with histone chaperone activity, targeting incorporation of the histone variant H3.3 to G-rich repetitive regions of the genome, including the telomeres, which are known to normally be maintained in a repressed heterochromatic state. Here, we have developed an isogenic cell line pair derived from first generation telomerase knock-out (KO) mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Compared to early-passage telomerase KO cells and late passage WT control cells, late-passage telomerase KO cells spontaneously developed the ALT phenotype. These ALT(+) cells display increased DNA damage, as observed by dramatically increased accumulation of γH2AX foci. We plan to use this unique cell line to identify drugs exhibiting selective toxicity for ALT(+) cells. Preliminary results indicate that ALT(+) late-passage telomerase KO cells exhibit an increased sensitivity to the DNA-PK inhibitor NU7441 compared to the isogenic early-passage ALT(-) telomerase KO cells. The identification of bona fide ALT-specific drugs will pave the way for the development of new targeted treatments for the significant number of cancers that harbor this unique molecular phenotype. Citation Format: Christopher M. Heaphy, Michael C. Haffner, Alan K. Meeker. A novel cell line model of the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) telomere maintenance mechanism. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Chromatin and Epigenetics in Cancer; Jun 19-22, 2013; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(13 Suppl):Abstract nr A06.
The bilingual routes of Paul Muldoon/Pól Ó Maoldúin

Under the signature of Pol O Maolduin, Paul Muldoon has published poems in Irish, promulgated Gaelic literature and culture on radio, and emerged as the most prominent of Nuala Ni Dhomhnaill's eminent poet-translators. Drawing on the Emory University archive and an in-depth personal interview, this article examines Muldoon's juvenilia in Irish (reproduced here with permission) and affiliation to his eighteenth-century precursors, the Gaelic poets of the Fews. I compare his 1970 and 1998 translations of Seamus Dall MacCuarta's ‘An Londubh Baite’ (‘The Drowned Blackbird’), in part to illustrate Gaelic prosody and to weigh the claim in interview that the form of ‘tri rainn agus amhran’ shapes Muldoon's abiding interest in the sonnet. I argue that his bilingual poetic apprenticeship at St Patrick's Grammar School (1962–69) nurtured his morphological virtuosity, high regard for cryptic obliquity, improvisatory approach to received poetic forms, and a waywardness that is characterised, tellingly, as ‘adolescent’.
Silver Trees: Chemistry on a TEM Grid

The copper–carbon substrate of a transmission electron microscopy (TEM) grid reacted with aqueous silver nitrate solution within minutes to yield spectacular tree-like silver dendrites, without using any added capping or reducing reagents. These results demonstrate a facile, aqueous, room-temperature synthesis of a range of noble metal nano- and meso-structures that have widespread technological potential in the design and development of next-generation fuel cells, catalysts, and antimicrobial coatings.
Numerical experiments on subcritical transition mechanisms

A spectral algorithm for simulating three-dimensional, incompressible, parallel shear flows is described. It applies to the channel, to the parallel boundary layer, and to other shear flows with one wall-bounded and two periodic directions. Simulations performed for the channel identify the one nonlinear interaction which is crucial to the secondary instability. Moreover, it is shown that subharmonic instability ensues for Reynolds numbers as low as 1500. Simulations performed for the heated water boundary layer reveal the operation of the secondary instability in this controlled flow.
A Comparison of Length‐, Weight‐, and Age‐Specific Fecundity Relationships for Cunner in Cape Cod Bay

Abstract Understanding reproduction and recruitment is essential for the successful conservation of a species. An estimate of the fecundity of cunner Tautogolabrus adspersus is critical for assessing population dynamics and perturbation effects. In this study, we estimated length-, weight-, and actual age-specific fecundity relationships for cunner in Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts. We used the gonadosomatic index to assist with selection of mature, prespawning-size fish for estimating fecundity. We then gravimetrically estimated fecundity for 205 fish 69–185 mm in total length that were collected in May and June 1994. Quadratic models on log10-transformed length and weight data each explained 71% of the variance in fecundity, and age data explained 57% of the variance. In a test of age-specific fecundity precision, three age-specific models (actual age, age back-calculated from the von Bertalanffy equation, and a calculated age estimate that was expanded to include additional data) produced consistent fecun...
The Agrippan Problem, Then and Now

Skeptical arguments (or problems) fall into two categories: “Agrippan” and “Cartesian.” The former revolve around what is commonly thought of today as the problem of the regress of justification; the latter make essential use of skeptical hypotheses. Cartesian arguments have no place in Pyrrhonian skepticism. By contrast, the Agrippan Problem seems to play a vital role. Nevertheless, there are reasons to think that Sextus and contemporary epistemologists understand the problem in very different ways. Whereas, in contemporary discussions, the Agrippan argument is taken to lie at the heart of a fully general “problem of knowledge,” it is questionable whether Sextus even considers such a problem. In explaining and defending this claim, I bring out some vital limitations and shortcomings of the Pyrrhonian stance—in particular, Sextus’s radical epistemic quietism—and their implications for the tenability of the Pyrrhonian stance in both Sextus’s time and ours.
Improving Writing Literacies through Digital Gaming Literacies: Facebook Gaming in the Composition Classroom

Abstract Composition continually evolves as new technologies emerge and newer generations transform digital literacies. As the concept of literacies is being defined and redefined by the technologies our students use, we as instructors can tap into this resource to engage students in the excitement of writing. Through digital literacies, students are networking and learning to match social mediums to the information they generate and audiences they address. I propose the integration of gaming and composition as a way to develop students’ writing practices. In this article, I show how areas of composition—such as engagement, problem solving, collaboration, and audience—connect to the Facebook gaming world. Through the use of gaming in composition instruction, we can build bridges between students’ interests and help them develop scholarly purposes of writing. Mafia Wars functions as a vehicle to further enhance students’ writing and as a way to demonstrate how gameplay contributes to what students learn in composition. Additionally, I suggest assignments that exemplify how Mafia Wars is applicable to the development of writing. By including gaming in composition, students can learn how the skills they already use in gaming are relevant to writing and develop an awareness of how they are cultivating these skills.
The effect of pyrimidines on the incorporation of purines into riboflavin and RNA by Eremothecium ashbyii.

Abstract 1. 1. The distribution of radioactivity from [2- 14 C]adenine between riboflavin and RNA produced by Eremothecium ashbyii changed upon the addition of uracil to the medium. Less riboflavin was produced and a larger share of the adenine activity appeared in the RNA. 2. 2. The radioactivity from [2- 14 C]uracil and from [2- 14 C]guanine increased in the RNA when unlabeled adenine and cytosine, respectively, were added. 3. 3. Analysis of the bases recovered from the hydrolysis of RNA showed that the transfer of radioactivity from adenine to guanine was less in the presence of uracil. Similarly, the transfer of radioactivity from labeled guanine to adenine was diminished when cytosine was provided. 4. 4. The increased uptake of labeled precursors into RNA appears to be related to the specific base pairing, but the mechanism by which it occurs remains obscure.
Incremental permeabilities for transient analysis of large turbine generators by the finite-element method

The results of measurements of the incremental permeabilities on a sample rotor steel from a large turbine‐generator are given. The use of the incremental permeability in finite‐element solution of small signal, diffusion equation problems is described.
Otto Neugebauer: Reminiscences and Appreciation

I first met Otto Neugebauer in the fall of 1963 when I joined the faculty of Brown University. For many years prior to his return to the Institute for Advanced Studies in the mid '80s, I ate lunch with him fairly regularly in the Brown cafeteria known as the Ivy Room. We were not infrequently joined by other members of the History of Mathematics Department or their visitors. The conversation was relaxed but lively, often very general, and was terminated promptly when the last person had finished lunch. Neugebauer was not one to twiddle his spoon leisurely in a second cup of coffee. He had that soft outward appearance and low-decibel manner that I associate with Austrians. Inwardly, he held firm opinions and prejudices, and would occasionally burst out in anger and irritation. Not unlike Mark Twain, he perceived the human world as consisting largely of fools, knaves, and dupes; and when he was overwhelmed by this perception, he took refuge in his love of animals which was tender and deep. He had his roster of The Greats in his profession, and though his ratings were not as finely tuned as those of G. H. Hardy, anyone who ate lunch with him would find out after a week which of the great names were really great and which were asses. As regards the past, he thought that Copernicus was overrated-he called him Koppernickel. Kepler was much better, and he loved Arthur Koestler's popularization of Kepler in The Sleepwalkers. Ptolemy was a great hero. As regards contemporaries, he expressed his views candidly. He could not abide philosophy; he thought it a great waste of time and rarely discussed it. I would guess, though, that his largely unspoken philosophy of science was that of the logical positivism promulgated by the Vienna Circle in the 1920s. He parodied Hegel. He could not abide religious ritual or theological dogmas, and though he was a considerable student of these matters, he parodied them all mercilessly. As a relaxation, he read the Lives of the Ethiopic Saints, and made a dossier of the individual Devils those fellows had to contend with. He was given to playful irony and loved Anatole France's ironic fantasies. I recall his being greatly amused by this: he said he found in some ancient Near Eastern medical text that crocodile droppings were prescribed for such and such a medical condition. The patient applied it without success and went back to the practitioner with a complaint. The practitioner asked "What was the sex of the crocodile?" "A male, I think." "Then try with a female." To this story, Neugebauer commented with a twinkle in his eye, "You see, the ancients knew all about hormones!"
Ultraviolet B(UVB)-induced cox-2 expression in murine skin: an immunohistochemical study.

Abstract Cyclooxygenase (COX) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the production of prostaglandins from arachidonic acid. This enzyme exists in at least two isoforms, COX-1 and COX-2. COX-1 is constitutively expressed in most tissues and plays various physiological roles. However, COX-2 expression is induced by a variety of agents, which include pro-inflammatory agents and mitogens. Evidence exists to indicate that increased expression of COX-2 occurs in several types of epithelial neoplasms. In this study, we show the effect of chronic exposure of murine skin to carcinogenic UVB on cutaneous COX-2 expression. SKH-1 mice were irradiated with 180 mJ/cm2 UVB daily for five days a week for periods ranging from 1 to 20 weeks. Nontumor bearing skin areas of irradiated mice, skin of age-matched controls and benign papillomas and malignant tumors were assessed immunohistochemically for COX-2 expression in these mice. No epidermal staining occurred in any of the non-UVB-treated controls throughout the experiment. Epidermal COX-2 expression only occurred in UVB-irradiated mice. After 1 and 5 weeks of irradiation, patchy epidermal staining mostly confined to the granular layer and stratum corneum was observed. At week 9, staining intensity had increased, particularly in the granular layer. At week 13, staining was uniformly seen in all epidermal layers with particular prominence in the basal cell layer underlying areas of visible epidermal hyperplasia. It is of interest that the most intense staining was seen in the perinuclear region of keratinocytes and at the plasma membrane. At week 20, COX-2 staining was predominant in the granular layer, although in some tissue sections, the entire epidermis was positive. In benign papillomas, staining was confined to the superficial layers of the epidermis and in squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), patchy staining in the granular and spinous layers predominated. In general, COX-2 expression was more intense in well-differentiated SCCs than in papillomas. In summary, our results indicate that COX-2 serves as an early marker of epidermal UVB exposure and its expression increases in benign papillomas and in SCCs. These results suggest that pharmacological intervention using specific COX-2 inhibitors could have anticarcinogenic effects in UVB-induced human skin cancer.
Testing the Acceleration Hypothesis: Fluency Outcomes Utilizing Still-Versus Accelerated-Text in Sixth-Grade Students With Reading Disabilities

The acceleration hypothesis views reading rate simultaneously as both an independent and dependent variable that can be manipulated to encourage increases in reading indicators (Breznitz, 2006). Within this conceptualization, reading rate represents all the component sub-processes required for proficient reading and presents the opportunity for a potential training regimen where the student is prompted to maintain a faster than normal reading rate. Potential for improvement in reading indictors is based on the theory that by increasing the amount of text available to working memory, increased comprehension processing may occur. This random assignment study found increases commensurate with a regimen of repeated reading with traditional still-based text.
Experimental and theoretical investigation of the high‐pressure behavior of concrete

The results of an experimental study aimed at characterizing the behavior of concrete for high confining pressures (up to 500 MPa) are reported. The main characteristics of the response under deviatoric conditions are quasi-linearity in the elastic regime, stress-path dependency, and gradual change from compressibility to dilatancy under increasing deviatoric stress. By performing the cyclic triaxial compression tests with several load–creep–unload and reload cycles, the time influence on the overall behavior was detected. Further, whether the main features of the observed behavior can be described within the framework of elastic/viscoplasticity theory was investigated. For this purpose, Cristescu's (Rock Rheology. Kluwer Academic Publishers: The Netherlands, 1989) approach was used. It was shown that the proposed elastic/viscoplastic model captures the main features of concrete behavior at high pressures. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Neutron radiation damage in tungsten single crystals

Abstract Tungsten single crystals were neutron irradiated to exposures of 0·46, 2·4, 4·0 and 7·3×1019 nvt (E> 1 Mev) and examined by transmission electron microscopy. Defect clusters, observed after 2·4×1019 nvt, increased in size and concentration with increasing neutron exposure. One specimen irradiated to 7·3×1019 nvt was subsequently annealed for one hour at 1090°c in argon. The defect cluster density was substantially reduced and some loops were produced. Neither the loops nor the defect clusters were analysed, but are presumed to be interstitial in nature.
A comparative study of three methods of eliciting preference information

Abstract The study reported in this paper compared three methods of eliciting preference information from a decision maker and estimating weights with this information for use in a multiple objective decision making model. The design of the study included issues of implementing computerized interactive models vs more traditional question and answer techniques in the light of different decision models (in terms of level of complexity) and differing levels of decision maker experience. Results indicate that decision makers, regardless of prior exposure to computer terminals, are not intimidated by their use. Additionally, methods which required non-quantitative statements of preferences were preferred over techniques which requested numerical estimates of tradeoffs or marginal rates of substitution between objectives.
A New Approach to Name-Based Link-State Routing for Information-Centric Networks

The Link State Content Routing (LSCR) protocol is presented, which supports routing over multiple paths to named content using link-state information. LSCR uses two types of link-state advertisements (LSAs): a RouterLSA that contains information about links connected to each router, and an AnchorLSA that carries information regarding a name prefix and the router that advertises being attached to that name prefix, also called an anchor of the prefix. AnchorLSAs are propagated selectively based on a diffusing mechanism. In contrast to prior content routing solutions based on link- state information, LSCR allows routers to establish multiple routes to name prefixes, without requiring each router to know about all the instantiations of each prefix. LSCR is shown to avoid permanent routing loops and to have better performance compared to traditional link-state routing protocols when a name prefix is replicated at multiple sites in the network.
Modification of 1,1-dichloroethylene hepatotoxicity by hypothyroidism

Abstract Exposure of fasted male rats for 4 hr to 2000 ppm of 1,1-dichloroethylene (1,1-DCE), which decreases hepatic contents of reduced glutathione (GSH), resulted in severe liver injury by 2 hr as manifested by morphologic and histochemical (i.e., Ca and glucose-6-phosphatase) alterations, elevation of serum alanine-α-ketoglutarate transaminase activity, increases in hepatic contents of Na and Ca, and decreases in K and Mg. Thyroidectomy, which increases hepatic amount of GSH, and, to a lesser extent, administration of antithyroid drugs minimized each parameter of liver injury while thyroxine injection to thyroidectomized animals restored susceptibility to 1,1-DCE. Three-day survival experiments demonstrated that thyroidectomy abolished the mortality and significantly decreased the total extent of hepatic necrosis caused by 1,1-DCE. Elevated concentrations of reduced GSH in the livers of the hypothyroid animals may be a factor in their resistance to this reactive molecule.
Photoinduced cross-linking of RNA by cis-Rh(phen)2Cl2+ and cis-Rh(phen)(phi)Cl2+: A new family of light activatable nucleic acid cross-linking agents

Abstract The metal complexes, cis-Rh(phen)2Cl2+ and its more hydrophobic analog cis-Rh(phen)(phi)Cl2+, have been shown to photocross-link the 120-base 29-encoded pRNA. Primer extension on the cis-Rh(phen)(phi)Cl2+-photocross-linked RNA revealed that guanines are responsible for the interstrand cross-links.
Adenosine Triphosphate Catabolites as Flavor Compounds and Freshness Indicators in Pacific Cod (Gadus macrocephalus) and Pollock (Theragra chalcogramma)

Postmortem formation of 5′-inosine monophosphate, inosine and hypoxanthine in Pacific cod and pollock fillets during chilled storage was monitored over a two week period. Accumulation of hypoxanthine in Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) fillets proceeded more slowly than has been reported for Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) but similar to North Sea cod (Gadus callarias L.). For both both cod and pollock, hypoxanthine was negatively correlated with flavor and desirability (p < 0.01), while both inosine and 5′-inosine monophosphate were positively correlated with overall desirability (p < 0.01).
The Road Ahead: The Sustainability Transition and Coastal Research

Although the organizing committee for the 2007 Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation (CERF) Biennial Conference and its international members supported the inclusion of sustainability science as a thematic element of the meeting, a preliminary review of program abstracts, conducted by entering various combinations of key words into the conference search engine, identified only 50 individual abstracts that incorporated one or more of the key words, or 3.8% of the 1,300 papers presented. Moreover, only 25 abstracts (1.9%) made specific reference to the integration of the natural and social sciences in emerging coastal research priorities. In this context, a framework is presented for incorporating the concepts of sustainable development, sustainability science, especially for the urban coast, and human dimensions into the amalgam of future US and international CERF research.