cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cross-national comparisons of mathematics curriculum materials: what might we learn?

In most of the world, there is a broad public interest in cross-national comparisons. Despite the myriad difficulties inherent in such comparisons, and despite the fact that most studies explicitly acknowledge limited generalizability, news media representatives, policy makers, politicians and educators often take the findings at face value as providing solid scientific evidence of the achievement of students in the countries studied. This often leads in turn to superficial commentaries and unhelpful recommendations. Our task as scholars of mathematics education is to demonstrate the nuanced complexity of such comparisons. The papers in this issue of ZDM succeed in this regard. Using a range of scholarly perspectives (mathematical, psychological and socio-cultural), the authors offer many insightful observations regarding curriculum and curriculum materials in East Asian countries (especially China) and the USA, with careful attention to the central role of curriculum in the teaching and learning of mathematics in schools. In this commentary study I discuss a few of these insights and develop one illustrative example of how cross-national comparative analyses such as these could be used to sensibly inform policy discussions related to changes in mathematics curriculum, teaching, or teacher preparation.
Minor protein content of the gene V protein/phage single-stranded DNA complex of the filamentous bacteriophage f1

Abstract The gene V protein/phage single-stranded (SS) DNA complex is an intermediate in the assembly of the filamentous bacteriophage f1. The minor protein content of this complex isolated from wild-type and amber mutant phage-infected Escherichia coli bacteria has been analyzed. Other than the gene V protein, none of the proteins found in purified samples of the complex correspond to any known phage gene products. In particular, the minor coat proteins found in the mature phage particle do not appear to be components of the cytoplasmic gene V protein/f1 SS DNA complex. However, approximately 1–3 molecules of E. coli single-stranded DNA binding protein (SSB) copurify with the complex and may be stably associated with this structure in vivo .
Fatigue load monitoring in steel bridges with Rayleigh waves

Fatigue load monitoring is a useful tool for safety assessment of highway bridges. Monitoring has been conventionally done using strain gages. Installation of these gages is labor-intensive and requires safety precautions. Noncontact electromagnetic-acoustic transducers (EMATs) offer an attractive alternative. EMATs were used to transmit and receive Rayleigh Waves (RW). Changes in time of flight of RW due to the acoustoelastic effect can in principle be used to monitor stresses resulting from vehicular traffic. We have performed proof-of-concept experiments to demonstrate the feasibility of this approach. Specimens were subjected to bending to simulate the load environment in bridges. RW EMATs were used to measure the relatively low stresses (less than 14 MPa) typically experienced by bridge girders. The signal-to-noise ratio achievable with our system should allow adequate stress resolution for fatigue load monitoring. Factors which could impede technology transfer were considered. The primary obstacle appears to be variability in time of flight (TOF) due to magnetostriction. If the magnetic state is changed (e.g., by scanning of the EMATs) the TOF can change, even at constant stress. We have characterized this effect. If a proper installation procedure is followed, fatigue load monitoring with RW EMATs is feasible.
LACK OF HETEROGENEITY OF RESIDUAL ISOVALERYL-COA DEHYDROGENASE ACTIVITIES IN FIBROBLASTS FROM PATIENTS WITH ISOVALERIC ACIDEMIA

Fibroblasts from patients with isovaleric acidemia (IVA), a disorder of leucine catabolism, have deficient activity of iso-valeryl-CoA dehydrogenase (IVDH), as demonstrated by Rhead and Tanaka (PNAS 77:580, 1980) with a tritium release assay using [2,3-3H]isovaleryl-CoA as substrate. They found 12% of control activity using mitochondria isolated from 5 IVA lines. However, in crude homogenates of IVA cells they measured 50-60% of normal activity, while [2-14C]leucine oxidation by the intact cells was 1-2% of normal. While this demonstrated a specific deficiency of mitochondrial IVDH activity in IVA cells, the magnitude of residual dehydrogenating activity could not be accurately determined. To resolve this problem, we improved the assay by using (methylenecyclopropyl)acetyl-CoA, an inhibitor of IVDH and several other acyl-CoA dehydrogenases, in paired assays, to determine the amount of tritium non-specifically released from the substrate. With this improved assay IVDH in crude cell homogenates of all nine fibroblast lines tested from patients with IVA had less than 3.5% residual activity (range 0 to 0.67 pmole/mg/min vs. 19.4 ± 8.0 for controls), and clinical severity did not correlate with residual activity. The uniformly low residual activities do not imply the existence of only one type of mutant allele, but do suggest that differences in clinical severity are not related to the magnitude of the residual IVDH activity.
Taxpayer-subsidized resource extraction harms species.

cit has brought about closer scrutiny of a number of federally subsidized programs. Among them are subsidies for natural resource extraction-particularly hard-rock mining, logging, and livestock grazing-on federal lands and for federal water development projects. The US government's own figures reveal the magnitude of the subsidies. For example, according to the US Department of Agriculture's Forest Service (USFS), timber sale programs in most national forests lose money every year; in 1992 alone, 95 of the 120 national forests operated at a loss-totaling $174.9 million-because the agency spent more money preparing and administering timber sales than it received in revenue from those sales (USFS 1993). The losses are even higher when transfer payments to
Stannous-ion quantitation in pyrophosphate and polyphosphate radiopharmaceutical kits using differential pulse polarography.

Stannous salts are used as reducing agents in many radiopharmaceutical kits. Differential pulse polarography, with 1M sulfuric acid as the supporting electrolyte, is a relatively simple and effective technique for stannous quantitation and can be used in the quality assurance testing of pyrophosphate and polyphosphate radiopharmaceutical kits.
Predictors for Asthma at Age 7 Years for Low-Income Children Enrolled in the Childhood Asthma Prevention Study

Objective To identify the predictive factors of early childhood wheezing in children of low socioeconomic status. Study design The Childhood Asthma Prevention Study enrolled 177 low-income children (9-24 months old) with frequent wheezing. At age 7 years, presence of asthma was assessed through caregiver reports of physician diagnosis of asthma (CRPDA) and corroborated by assessment of bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR). Lung function, inflammatory markers, and asthma symptom severity were compared for children with ±CRPDA, ±BHR, and asthma. Baseline predictors for CRPDA, BHR, and asthma at 7 years of age were examined. Results Maternal symptom report strongly differentiated children with +CRPDA (49%) despite comparable airflow measurements ( P P Conclusions This low-income, multi-ethnic group of wheezing infants represents a unique population of children with distinct characteristics and risks for persistent asthma. Determination of asthma status at 7 years of age required objective measurement of BHR in addition to CRPDA. The association of maternal psychological resources with +CRPDA may represent a previously unrecognized factor in the determination of asthma status among low-income groups.
The role of context in young children's comprehension of negation

Abstract Negation is an important concept in human language, yet little is known about children’s ability to comprehend negative sentences. In this paper, we explore how 2–5-year-old children’s comprehension of negation changes depending on the context in which a negative sentence occurs. We collected eye-tracking data while children watched a video in which they heard positive and negative sentences. Negative sentences, such as “look at the boy with no apples,” referred to a boy with nothing (Experiment 1) or a boy with an alternative object (Experiment 2). All children showed greater difficulty in resolving the referent when negative sentences referred to the boy with nothing, despite suggestions that nonexistence negations of this type are produced early in development. In addition, 3- and 4-year-old children showed an initial tendency to look away from the target and towards the named noun when the referent of the negative utterance was an alternative object. We argue that the processing of negation in young children is influenced by the cognitive demands of the pragmatic context in which the negative utterance occurs.
The Oceans as the Common Property of Mankind from Early Modern Period to Today

Today's Law of the Sea is the result of multiple attempts to organize the utilization of marine resources since the Early Modern period. Starting with Hugo Grotius, the concept of the Freedom of the Seas and an open access approach, the author describes the development of territorial waters and fisheries limits until today. Special consideration is given to the Cod Wars between distant-water fishing nations and coastal nations like Iceland as well as to Arvid Pardo's vision of the oceans as a Common Heritage of Mankind, the United Nations Conferences on the Law of the Sea and the development of the 200 nautical mile (nm) Exclusive Economic Zones. Based on an historical analysis in the context of the theories of the Tragedy of the Commons and de-colonization the author discusses why all systems of the Law of the Sea until today failed and could not safeguard a responsible and sustainable use of marine resources. Furthermore the article provides a set of mechanisms that can be applied to the regulation of all open-access resources.
Response to Comment on “Evidence of Abundant Purifying Selection in Humans for Recently Acquired Regulatory Functions”

Green and Ewing propose corrections to our methodology, which we incorporate and extend here. The improved methodology supports our initial conclusion of extensive lineage-specific constraint concentrated in ENCODE elements. We clarify that our estimate is dependent on the constrained and neutral references used, which can further increase the number of nucleotides involved, because a particularly stringent definition was initially used.
Biology of tumors of the peripheral nervous system

Tumors of the peripheral nervous system include neuroblastomas, pheochromocytomas, and neuroepitheliomas. Neuroblastomas and pheochromocytomas are adrenergic in origin and share certain genetic features, whereas neuroepitheliomas are thought to be cholinergic and are characterized by distinct genetic features. Neuroblastomas are characterized by deletion of the short arm of chromosome 1 (1p), amplification of theMYCN proto-oncogene, and hyperdiploidy in subsets of tumors. All three of these genetic features have prognostic value in subsets of patients. Allelic loss of 14q also occurs with increased frequency, but the prognostic importance of this abnormality is not known yet. Pheochromocytomas have not been studied as extensively, but allelic loss for 1p appears to be a frequent change, and no clear examples of oncogene activation have been identified to date. Neuroepitheliomas are characterized by translocation between chromosomes 11 and 22. Although they have a characteristic pattern of proto-oncogene expression, it is not clear that any of these oncogenes are activated specifically, and no sites of allelic loss have been identified to date. Thus, cytogenetic and molecular analysis of neuroblastomas, pheochromocytomas, and neuroepitheliomas are useful in distinguishing them from each other and from other tumors in selected cases. Furthermore, certain genetic markers are useful in predicting clinical behavior, especially for neuroblastoma.
Long-lived solitary wave in a precompressed granular chain

Kinetic energy fluctuations of a non-dissipative 1D granular chain held between perfectly reflecting walls with various precompressions are numerically investigated. The dynamics of the system is explored for three cases, i) for a weakly precompressed chain which admits only solitary waves that break down into secondary waves under wall collisions, which is consistent with other findings in the literature; ii) for a strongly precompressed chain which exhibits mostly acoustic waves; and iii) for a chain with intermediate precompression. Case iii) accommodates a nearly stable solitary wave that travels unaffected through the acoustic waves and bounces back and forth between the walls for extremely long times.
Calcium and magnesium levels in tissues and serum of hibernating and cold-acclimated hamsters.

Abstract Calcium and magnesium levels were examined in serum, heart, skeletal muscle, and bone of hibernating, cold-acclimated, and room-temperature control hamsters. Relative to the controls, Ca levels in hibernating hamsters increased significantly in the serum, heart, and skeletal muscle while Mg levels increased in the serum but decreased in the heart and skeletal muscle, and did not change in the bone. In comparing hibernators to cold-acclimated animals, Ca was higher in heart tissue while Mg was lower in heart and muscle and higher in the serum. These results support the hypothesis that calcium might accumulate in muscle tissue (especially the heart) during hibernation where it might serve to enhance the contractile process.
Blast Resistant Elastomeric Polymer-by-Design

The essence of this research is to mitigate shock through material design. Here we seek to develop a thorough understanding of the material through experimental characterization methods that lend themselves to creating verifiable constitutive relations, all while working towards the development of a new blast resistant elastomeric composite material. The host elastomer, polyurea, is created by reacting Versalink P-1000 with Isonate 143L. This study evaluates the impact of both chemistry modifications and the integration of micro-scale additives on the polyurea material system properties and performance. The properties of the resultant elastomers and elastomeric composite materials are mechanically and thermally characterized using durometer testing, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) testing, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) testing in order to determine the hardness, storage and loss moduli, and glass transition temperature of the composites, respectively. Preliminary results indicate that the durometer and dynamic mechanical properties of the material can be significantly altered through such modifications. The work described here is part of an ongoing effort to develop and verify rules and tools for creating elastomer-based composite materials with optimally designed compositions and characteristics.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
The Relation between Efficient Risk‐Sharing Arrangements and Firm Characteristics: Evidence from the Managed Care Industry

This study examines contracts between HMOs and Primary Care Physicians. These contracts represent one important component of HMOs' management control systems. I argue that HMOs design contracts to minimize agency costs that arise from the physician moral hazard problem. The agency costs and resulting HMO‐physician‐payment arrangements depend on an HMO's organizational form, customer mix, and environment. Physicians can work as HMO employees or as independent contractors operating individually or in group practice. These features, together with the HMO ownership structure, determine the HMO's organizational form. The level of Medicare enrollment characterizes the HMO's customer mix. The empirical results presented in this study are generally consistent with the theory.
Surface modification of alumina ceramics with needle-like mullite

On examine les conditions de croissance et quelques proprietes de la mullite aciculaire formee sur une plaque d'alumine en vue de la modification superficielle de l'alumine par de fins cristaux aciculaires de mullite
Institutions come before markets

The Theory of Institutional Design. Edited by Robert E. Goodin. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996. Pp.x + 288, name and subject indexes. £16.95 (paper); £35/$49.95 (cloth). ISBN 0–521–63643–4 and 47119–2. The Political Economy of Public Administration. Institutional Choice in the Public Sector. By Murray J. Horn. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995. Pp.ix + 263, biblio., name and subject indexes. £14.95/$21.95 (paper); £35/$59.95 (cloth) ISBN 0–521–48436–7 and 48201–1. The Future of Governing : Four Emerging Models. By B. Guy Peters. Lawrence, KS: The University Press of Kansas, 1996. Pp.ix + 179, biblio., index. £11.95 (paper); £27.95 (cloth). ISBN 0–7006–0794–3 and 0793–5. Public Management and Administrative Reform in Western Europe. Edited by Walter J. M.Kickert. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, 1997. Pp.xv + 278, 6 figures, 19 tables, biblio., index. £49.95 (cloth). ISBN 1–85898–553–6.
A Community Study of the Relation of Alpha1-Antitrypsin Levels to Obstructive Lung Diseases

Abstract Since it is still uncertain whether moderate degrees of alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency predispose to the development of lung disease, data obtained from a stratified random sample of white households in Tucson, Arizona, consisting of 2586 subjects over five years of age, were analyzed. No relation was found between serum alpha1-antitrypsin levels, measured as trypsin inhibitory capacity, and ventilatory function, respiratory symptomatology, or frequency of diagnosed pulmonary diseases even among cigarette smokers. The data indicate that an intermediate level of alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency (i.e., inhibitory capacity between 20 and 62 per cent of the population's mean value) is not an important risk factor for the development of chronic obstructive lung diseases. The data militate strongly against the use of any quantitative determination of alpha1-antitrypsin as a test to identify subjects with moderate deficiency for the purpose of predicting later development of chronic respiratory disorders. T...
Antenna Radiation Enhancement By Increasing Main To Side Lobe Ratio

A novel technique for increasing the main lobe level and reducing the side lobes of monopoles, aperture and reflector antennas over ground planes is proposed. The technique employs a compensating loop which is physically close and parallel to each diffracting edge, and is arranged to have the reverse current distribution of the edge. It is anticipated that with proper optimization of the various design parameters, the improvement in the main to first side lobe ratio will exceed the recently observed experimental value of about 7 dB.
Molecular screening of the lipoprotein lipase gene in hypertriglyceridemic members of familial noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus families.

Hypertriglyceridemia is common among individuals with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), and heterozygous lipoprotein lipase (LPL) mutations may result in the syndrome of familial hypertriglyceridemia and low levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. To test the hypothesis that heterozygous LPL mutations predispose to the hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL cholesterol levels observed among members of familial NIDDM families, we examined 36 members and 3 unrelated spouses selected from members of 20 pedigrees for triglyceride levels exceeding the age- and sex-specific 95th percentile. Eighteen pedigree members and 2 spouses were diabetic. LPL exons 1-9 were screened by single strand conformation polymorphism analysis. Six different variants were detected in exons 2, 3, 4, 8, and 9, including 4 (exons 3, 4, and 8) silent nucleotide substitutions. A common nonsense mutation (exon 9; Ser-->Ter) was present in 2 pedigrees, and a missense mutation (exon 2; Asp-->Asn) was also present in m...
Relationship of Youth Involvement in Diabetes-Related Decisions to Treatment Adherence

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship of youth's involvement in diabetes-related decisions to adherence. Children and adolescents (8-19 years) and their parents (N = 89) completed the Decision Making Involvement Scale and the Self Care Inventory, a self-report measure of adherence. After controlling for youth age, the degree to which youth expressed an opinion and information to parents was associated with better parent- and youth-reported adherence. The degree to which parents expressed an opinion and information to youth was associated with worse parent-reported adherence. Joint decision-making behaviors (e.g., negotiation; provision of options) also were associated with better youth-reported adherence. Encouraging youth to express opinions and share illness-related information with parents during illness management discussions may improve adherence. Additional research is needed to identify mechanisms of effect and determine associations between decision making involvement and health behaviors and outcomes over time.
Differential effects of the mitochondrial uncoupling agent, 2,4‐dinitrophenol, or the nitroxide antioxidant, Tempol, on synaptic or nonsynaptic mitochondria after spinal cord injury

We recently documented the progressive nature of mitochondrial dysfunction over 24 hr after contusion spinal cord injury (SCI), but the underlying mechanism has not been elucidated. We investigated the effects of targeting two distinct possible mechanisms of mitochondrial dysfunction by using the mitochondrial uncoupler 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP) or the nitroxide antioxidant Tempol after contusion SCI in rats. A novel aspect of this study was that all assessments were made in both synaptosomal (neuronal)- and nonsynaptosomal (glial and neuronal soma)-derived mitochondria 24 hr after injury. Mitochondrial uncouplers target Ca(2+) cycling and subsequent reactive oxygen species production in mitochondria after injury. When 2,4-DNP was injected 15 and 30 min after injury, mitochondrial function was preserved in both populations compared with vehicle-treated rats, whereas 1 hr postinjury treatment was ineffective. Conversely, targeting peroxynitrite with Tempol failed to maintain normal bioenergetics in synaptic mitochondria, but was effective in nonsynaptic mitochondria when administered 15 min after injury. When administered at 15 and 30 min after injury, increased hydroxynonenal, 3-NT, and protein carbonyl levels were significantly reduced by 2,4-DNP, whereas Tempol only reduced 3-NT and protein carbonyls after SCI. Despite such antioxidant effects, only 2,4-DNP was effective in preventing mitochondrial dysfunction, indicating that mitochondrial Ca(2+) overload may be the key mechanism involved in acute mitochondrial damage after SCI. Collectively, our observations demonstrate the significant role that mitochondrial dysfunction plays in SCI neuropathology. Moreover, they indicate that combinatorial therapeutic approaches targeting different populations of mitochondria holds great potential in fostering neuroprotection after acute SCI.
A project task coordination model for team organization in concurrent engineering

In a concurrent engineering environment, product design needs to simultaneously consider various downstream activities throughout the entire product life cycle, in addition to meeting the functional requirements of the products. To accomplish this, multifunctional design teams are organized with team members from different functional departments interacting in every phase of development tasks. However, without proper task coordination and team organization, communication and cooperation among a large number of dependent or interdependent tasks and team members could seriously delay project completion. This calls for the intention of this research to study the underlying structure of the project tasks. The objectives of this research are: (1) to develop a project task coordination model that identifies the sequence of all project tasks and reveals the underlying structure of the design process; (2) to decompose large interdependent task groups into smaller and manageable task groups by transforming the bin...
ASSESSMENT OF MACHINING MODELS: PROGRESS REPORT

Abstract Progress in developing and assessing predictive modeling of machining processes has been hindered by the extremely localized nonlinear physical phenomena that occur in machining and the many different types of models ranging from theoretical to empirical. The difficulty in assessing models has been cited by industry as the major barrier to use of modern machining models. Current practice in industry is to machine and change tools conservatively, or to conduct costly empirical studies for a limited selection of tools and coolants. The Assessment of Machining Models project will assess the ability of modern machining models to predict the outputs of machining processes based upon a consistent, well measured calibration data set. The data set is nearly complete and is to be used in benchmarking the predictive capability of machining models in blind tests. This paper presents the project motivation, goals, and representative calibration data set results. The next steps in the effort include release o...
Larvae of deep-sea fishes (Stomiatoidea) from Biscayne Bay, Florida, USA, and their ecological significance*

Twenty stomiatoid fish larvae (3.1 to 21,9 mm) belonging to the genera Bathophilus, Cyclothone, and Stomias were collected in plankton nets from surface waters over depths of 3 to 4 m from Biscayne Bay, Florida, USA. The adults are mesopelagic in the open water of the Florida Current and, therefore, these larvae were presumably advected in parcels of high salinity water into the shallows of Biscayne Bay by winds, tides, or currents. The presence of these larvae suggest that sewage discharged into the Florida Current may be recycling into coastal waters as well as into Biscayne Bay.
Harmonic distortion of the four-terminal MOSFET in non-quasistatic operation

This paper deals with the large-signal analysis of four-terminal MOS transistors from DC to frequencies where the operation is nonquasistatic. The numerical evaluation of harmonic distortion in such operation is considered. The results presented are verified through comparisons with measurements and provide (a) a sensitive indicator of how well the device physics is modelled, (b) benchmark results against which to compare future work on computationally efficient models and (c) an initial understanding of distortion in non-quasistatic operation, for circuit design purposes.
Effects of estimation methods, number of indicators per factor, and improper solutions on structural equation modeling fit indices

(1995). Effects of estimation methods, number of indicators per factor, and improper solutions on structural equation modeling fit indices. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal: Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 119-143.
Mitochondrial plasmid DNAs of broad bean: nucleotide sequences, complex secondary structures, and transcription.

Three circular plasmid DNA molecules of 1704, 1695 and 1476 nucleotide pairs from broad bean mitochondria (mt-plasmids 1–3) have been sequenced. Within a highly homologous segment of mt-plasmid 1 and 2 are found a series of six directly repeated, inverted repeat sequences, separated by unique sequences. Mt-plasmid 3 contains a series of four inverted repeat sequences, unrelated to the inverted repeat sequences of mt-plamids 1 and 2. Two RNA molecules of about 440 and 320 nucleotides that are complementary to mt-plasmid 2 were detected. Mapping of 5′ and 3′ termini of these complementary RNA molecules indicated that all transcription from mt-plasmid 2 occurs within a 441 nucleotide region of the molecule. Evidence for transcription of mt-plasmids 1 and 3 was not found.
Electron beam inactivation of selected microbial pathogens and indicator organisms in aerobically and anaerobically digested sewage sludge

Microbial pathogens in municipal sewage sludges need to be inactivated prior to environmental disposal. The efficacy of high energy (10 MeV) e-beam irradiation to inactivate a variety of selected microbial pathogens and indicator organisms in aerobically and anaerobically digested sewage sludge was evaluated. Both bacterial and viral pathogens and indicator organisms are susceptible to e-beam irradiation. However, as expected there was a significant difference in their respective e-beam irradiation sensitivity. Somatic coliphages, bacterial endospores and enteric viruses were more resistant compared to bacterial pathogens. The current US EPA mandated 10 kGy minimum dose was capable of achieving significant reduction of both bacterial and viral pathogens. Somatic coliphages can be used as a microbial indicator for monitoring e-beam processes in terms of pathogen inactivation in sewage sludges.
To Be, Or Not To Be More Scientific? That Is the Question: Yes, Absolutely, But…

SUMMARY I use a systems theory approach to address the question of whether or not to become more scientific in our professions of pastoral education and chaplaincy. While acknowledging and discussing the many tensions and issues raised by this important question, I provide a rationale for why we must become more scientific. I reflect on the costs of both becoming more scientific and not becoming more scientific in our professions.
An empirical study of the design and implementation of object equality in Java

Applications built on top of an existing design and implementation are in general expected to collaborate well with that design and respect all of its intent. Failure in achieving this may result in buggy, fragile, and less maintainable code in the applications. When the dependence on an existing design becomes more wide-spread, this requirement on proper extension obviously becomes even more critical. As an instance of this general problem, the design for object equality in Java as well as its extensions is examined in detail and empirically. By examining how object equality is extended in a large amount of Java code, a set of typical problems are detected and their root causes analyzed. A set of design guidelines for object equality is proposed, which, if followed, will help programers systematically design and evolve rather than hack on a solution. Examples are drawn from a case study of multiple industrial and open source projects to illustrate the identified problems and how the proposed guidelines can help solve these problems.
Rearrangement of nucleosome structure during excision repair in xeroderma pigmentosum (group A) human fibroblasts.

Rearrangements of chromatin structure during excision repair were examined in xeroderma pigmentosum (XP; complementation group A) human fibroblasts treated with the small-molecule alkylating agent methyl methanesulfonate (MMS). In agreement with past reports, we observed normal levels of repair synthesis in these cells during the first 12 h after exposure to 1.5 mM MMS, in contrast to the near zero incorporation of repair patches following exposure to 12 J/m2 u.v. light. Our results indicate that the relative nuclease sensitivity of newly repaired regions in MMS-treated nuclease sensitivity of newly repaired regions in MMS-treated XP (group A) cells is quantitatively similar to that of newly repaired regions in MMS-treated normal human fibroblasts. This enhanced sensitivity is accompanied by a marked under-representation of repair-incorporated nucleotides in isolated nucleosome core DNA. Pulse-chase experiments demonstrated that these regions rapidly undergo rearrangements in chromatin structure, and both the rate and extent of these rearrangements are similar (but not identical) to those observed in normal cells. This was also the case for the rate and extent of ligation of repair patches, as measured by the sensitivity of these regions to exonuclease III digestion. If the changes in nuclease sensitivity of newly repaired regions in DNA reflect an unfolding of nucleosome structure during excision repair, then these results indicate that the activity associated with this unfolding is present in XP (group A) cells.
Gynecologic care of women infected with HIV.

Gynecologic diseases are commonly encountered when caring for HIV-infected women especially those with greater degrees of immunosuppression. HIV infection may affect the occurrence or clinical severity of a variety of gynecologic conditions. This article reviews specific issues related to the provision of gynecologic care and contraception for women infected with HIV. It presents studies on the prevalence and incidence of gynecologic diseases as well as several recommendations for prevention and treatment of the diseases. These include lower genital tract neoplasia invasive cervical cancer pelvic inflammatory disease menstrual disorders sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and vaginitis. When recommending contraceptive use by women infected with HIV these issues should be considered: 1) risk of increased HIV/STD transmission; 2) effect of the contraceptive on the course of HIV infection; and 3) acceptability of the method to sexual partners. In general most gynecologic conditions in women infected with HIV will respond to standard therapy but require increased vigilance for treatment failure. Although some will require multiple courses of treatment or use of innovative treatment methods all HIV-infected women deserve careful evaluation for and treatment of gynecologic diseases.
Performance analysis of a robust signal strength test

In tracking applications, one needs to know if the characteristics of the signal at the location to be tracked are sufficient for tracking. Specific characteristics for this purpose depend on the particular tracking algorithm, but typical characteristics are signal strength compared to the noise, edge strength, and signal shape. This article considers the signal strength characteristic. A signal strength test based on robust statistical methods is shown. The test makes a histogram of the area to be tracked and tests the hypothesis that the histogram is due to noise only. This test is very practical for digitized signals processed by a real-time processor. The robust method makes the test insensitive to many characteristics of sensor noise. The test is described, and a detection/false alarm performance analysis for the test on certain signals is given. The performance analysis uses joint distributions of order statistics applied to mixture density functions. The result of the analysis is the test threshold as a function of rms sensor noise and required signal-to-noise ratio.
Synchronization of randomly driven nonlinear oscillators

When nonlinear oscillators with stable limit cycles are subject to periodic forces, these oscillators may become entrained or mode locked to the driving force. Remarkably, a similar phenomenon occurs when the nonlinear oscillators are driven by a random force. In particular, when nonlinear oscillators with different initial conditions are strongly driven with the same random force, their fluctuating behavior may reliably converge to an identical, synchronized response. Analytical estimates are derived for the conditions, rates, and structural stability for synchronization of a broad class of randomly driven nonlinear oscillators, which suggest different experimental procedures for assessing the nonlinear response of biological, chemical, and physical oscillators to fluctuating inputs.
Human Capital Models and the Gender Pay Gap

This paper provides a commentary on the article by Lips (2012), “The Gender Pay Gap: Challenging the Rationalizations, Perceived Equity, Discrimination, and the Limits of Human Capital Models.” It provides some economic background for human capital models that try to explain gender pay gaps, and discusses the limitations of the models. It assesses some of Lips’ criticisms of the model. In contrast to Lips, the author believes that human capital theorists are generally aware of the limitations of their models, and she believes that human capital models make a valuable contribution to the literature on the gender pay gap. The author also uses her own research to illustrate how human capital variables can be combined with variables from psychology and other fields to try to understand the salary differences between men and women in specific professions. The Appendix provides a list of some 2011 and 2012 studies that examine gender differences in pay in various countries and the types of data used.
CYTOPLASMIC MECHANISMS OF AXONAL AND DENDRITIC GROWTH IN NEURONS

The structural mechanisms responsible for the gradual elaboration of the cytoplasmic elongation of neurons are reviewed. In addition to discussing recent work, important older work is included to inform newcomers to the field how the current perspective arose. The highly specialized axon and the less exaggerated dendrite both result from the advance of the motile growth cone. In the area of physiology, studies in the last decade have directly confirmed the classic model of the growth cone pulling forward and the axon elongating from this tension. Particularly in the case of the axon, cytoplasmic elongation is closely linked to the formation of an axial microtubule bundle from behind the advancing growth cone. Substantial progress has been made in understanding the expression of microtubule-associated proteins during neuronal differentiation to stiffen and stabilize axonal microtubules, providing specialized structural support. Studies of membrane organelle transport along the axonal microtubules produced an explosion of knowledge about ATPase molecules serving as motors driving material along microtubule rails. However, most aspects of the cytoplasmic mechanisms responsible for neurogenesis remain poorly understood. There is little agreement on mechanisms for the addition of new plasma membrane or the addition of new cytoskeletal filaments in the growing axon. Also poorly understood are the mechanisms that couple the promiscuous motility of the growth cone to the addition of cytoplasmic elements.
Effect of dwell times on thermomechanical fatigue behavior of Sn-Ag-based solder joints

Thermomechanical fatigue (TMF) caused by the mismatch in the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) between solder and substrate gradually degrades the mechanical properties of solder joints during service. Solder joints fabricated with eutectic Sn-Ag and Sn-Ag solder with Cu or Ni were subjected to TMF between −15°C and +150°C with dwell times of 115 min at high-temperature extreme and 20 min at low-temperature extreme. Characterization of surface damage and residual-mechanical strength of these solder joints were carried out after 0, 250, 500, and 1,000 TMF cycles. Results obtained from this study were compared with those obtained with longer dwell time at lower temperature extreme. The solder joints that experienced longer dwell times at high-temperature extreme exhibited less surface-damage accumulation and less decrease in simple-shear strength as compared to those that experienced longer dwell times at low-temperature extreme. Quaternary alloys containing small amounts of Cu and Ni exhibit better TMF performance than binary and ternary alloys under TMF cycling with longer dwell times at high-temperature extreme.
Platelet-mediated cardiac ischemia.

Abstract Although platelets have been associated with angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, and sudden death, the platelet's capacity for induction and propagation of cardiac ischemia remains incompletely defined. We therefore evaluated the effects of platelet activation occurring within the coronary circulation and tested the hypothesis that inhibition of platelet function would prevent platelet-induced cardiac ischemia. Human platelets were isolated from blood obtained from normal donors by Sepharose 2B column chromatography, resuspended in Hepes buffer, and added to the perfusate of a Langendorff rabbit heart (platelet counts > 10,000/μl). Without, and with low dose (10 μM) prostaglandin E 1 (PGE 1 ), a reversible inhibitor of platelet function, immediate and irreversible global cardiac ischemia, as monitored by NADH fluorescent photography, ensued ( N = 4) following platelet activation with thrombin (0.1 to 1 U/ml). Higher concentrations of PGE 1 (0.1 to 1 m M , N = 2) or aspirin ingestion (1000 mg taken approximately 12, 4, and 1 hr prior to experiment, N = 2) completely prevented this platelet-induced myocardial ischemia. Aspirin, unlike PGE 1 , was effective despite its inability to block thrombin-induced platelet aggregation in our in vitro gel-filtered system. We conclude that activation of platelets within the coronary circulation is sufficient for induction of irreversible cardiac ischemia. The efficacy of aspirin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, further suggests that the products of arachidonate metabolism (e.g., thromboxanes) have a fundamental role in the genesis of platelet-mediated myocardial ischemia.
Regression of left ventricular hypertrophy in children with antihypertensive therapy

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a complication of hypertension that has received great attention in the adult population. Large-scale randomized control studies in adults have demonstrated that LVH regresses in response to pharmacologic intervention. While it is known that LVH occurs as a complication of hypertension in the pediatric population, few studies have focused on its regression with pharmacological intervention. We report on three cases of hypertension-induced LVH in the pediatric population and its regression after treatment with antihypertensive medications. This report brings to light the need for larger, prospective studies on the incidence, natural history, and treatment of LVH associated with hypertension in the pediatric population.
Electrostatic actuators and tunable micro capacitors/switches with expanded tuning range due to intrinsic stress gradients

A stress gradient was induced in two directions (through the plane of the beam and along its length) to produce a beam deflection of specific curvature. The stress gradient was produced by altering the conditions during electroplating. The pull-down characteristics of four electrostatic actuators were measured. Stressed, hard gold was patterned in a triangular shape on top of stress-free soft gold. This stress gradient along the length of the beams significantly improved the tuning range compared with devices containing spatially uniform stress. The tuning range of the variably stressed gold devices improved by 30 percent for the double-hinged square devices, by 45 percent for the double-hinged elliptical devices, and by 35 percent for the double-hinged rectangular device. Voltage cycling and temperature variation has no significant impact on the pull-down characteristics of the actuator.
SOME THOUGHTS ON TRANSITIONS AND THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ORGANIZATIONAL ANALYSIS

The International Journal of Organizational Analysis (IJOA) would not exist without the hard work and dedication of its founder and editor for twelve years, Dr. M. Afzalur Rahim. The journal is the result of the hard work and dedication of Dr. Rahim. Dr. Rahim is responsible for its development and growth as an outlet for quality articles in a wide range of areas including organizational theory, strategic management, organizational behavior, and human resource management. Dr. Rahim has worked very hard to make the title of this journal be reflected in the articles published in IJOA. Thanks to Dr. Rahim's hard work, many articles in IJOA are published by authors outside of the USA and deal with international samples.
Prevention of Barrett esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma by smoothened inhibitor in a rat model of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

BACKGROUND Activated hedgehog (Hh) pathway is associated with development of both Barrett esophagus (BE) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). We hypothesize that blockade of the Hh pathway with smoothened (Smo) inhibitor can prevent the development of BE/EAC in the Levrat model, in which induced gastroduodenoesophageal reflux (GDER) leads to esophageal carcinogenesis. METHODS GDER was induced in 6- to 8-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats. The Smo inhibitor (10 mg/kg/d) was given orally on postoperative weeks 10 to 16, 18 to 22, and 24 to 28, and rats were killed on week 28. The primary outcome measure was the incidence of BE and EAC. To examine potential therapeutic effects of Smo inhibition on tumor tissue, semiquantitative immunohistochemistry for Ki-67 and caspase 3 was performed. In treated animals that developed cancer, gene expression was analyzed. RESULTS Thirty-eight of 48 controls and 32 of 46 treated animals survived to 28 weeks. messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression of Indian Hh, a ligand of transmembrane receptor patched 1, was 184× higher in BE and 99× higher in EAC compared with normal esophageal tissue (P = 0.0239 and P = 0.0004, respectively). Compared with controls, the incidence of BE and EAC was decreased in treated animals by 35.7% (relative risk reduction, 36%; P = 0.0015) and 36% (relative risk reduction, 62%; P = 0.0033), respectively. Compared with untreated EAC, Ki-67 was downregulated (P = 0.04) and cleaved caspase 3 was no different in treated EAC (P = 0.398). Of the 84 well-known genes involved in cancer drug resistance, 50 were dysregulated in treated EAC (P < 0.05 for each gene). CONCLUSIONS Smo inhibitor prevents the development of BE and EAC in an in vivo model of GDER.
Biaxial orientation of poly(ethylene terephthalate). Part I: Nature of the stress—strain curves

The orientation characteristics of extruded poly(ethylene terephthalate) (homopolymer) sheets are discussed with respect to: mode of extension (simultaneous versus sequential), strain rate, stretch ratio, and temperature. The nature of the stress–strain curve recorded during the process of extension, and its dependence on the parameters of extension mentioned above, are analyzed. Results show that for specimens stretched in the biaxial simultaneous mode, the stress–strain curve is concave upward, which is typical for amorphous polymeric materials. Strain-hardening occurs at high planar extensions, and is accompanied by a steep rise in the stress measured during stretching. The magnitude of this stress increases with increasing strain rate and extension ratios, but decreases with increasing temperature of stretching. During biaxial sequential extension, the stress–strain curve is concave upward at low strain rates or at high temperatures of stretching, but becomes convex upward at higher strain rates or lower temperatures. The curve also changes from concave to convex upward at high limiting extension ratios in the first direction. The convex upward nature of the stress-strain curve is typical of semi-crystalline materials, indicating the occurrence of strain-induced crystallization during stretching in the first direction. Again, the level of stress, measured during stretching, increases with increasing strain rate and limiting extension ratio in the first direction, while it decreases with increasing temperature of stretching. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The incremental value of central control in serial supply chains

We consider a two-echelon serial supply chain where a single manufacturer replenishes a single downstream customer who faces random, stationary and discrete demand. In this setting, we compare the performance of a traditional supply chain having no information sharing to one where the customer shares demand and inventory information with the manufacturer. We also consider the case of central control where the manufacturer has full control over replenishments. This full information sharing with control by the manufacturer captures what has been called a vendor-managed inventory scenario in the literature. In order to estimate the performance of these three supply chain scenarios, we utilise renewal theory to develop probability models for each. A computational analysis of the models determines the benefit which information sharing offers as well as the incremental benefit central control provides beyond that of information sharing alone, a value which has not typically been considered in the literature des...