cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Variance Minimization in the Wasserstein Space for Invariant Causal Prediction.

Selecting powerful predictors for an outcome is a cornerstone task for machine learning. However, some types of questions can only be answered by identifying the predictors that causally affect the outcome. A recent approach to this causal inference problem leverages the invariance property of a causal mechanism across differing experimental environments (Peters et al., 2016; Heinze-Deml et al., 2018). This method, invariant causal prediction (ICP), has a substantial computational defect -- the runtime scales exponentially with the number of possible causal variables. In this work, we show that the approach taken in ICP may be reformulated as a series of nonparametric tests that scales linearly in the number of predictors. Each of these tests relies on the minimization of a novel loss function -- the Wasserstein variance -- that is derived from tools in optimal transport theory and is used to quantify distributional variability across environments. We prove under mild assumptions that our method is able to recover the set of identifiable direct causes, and we demonstrate in our experiments that it is competitive with other benchmark causal discovery algorithms.
Temperature changes on long time and large spatial scales: Inferences from instrumental and proxy records

The capability of various sets of individual and regional surface temperature indices to represent hemispheric- to global-scale averages on decadal to century timescales is evaluated. It is shown that on time scales ranging from intraseasonal to decadal, the principal modes of temperature variability in the atmosphere at the surface and in the lower troposphere are consistently of very large spatial extent. Analyses of the sea surface temperature field also indicates the presence of large spatial modes on interannual to decadal timescales. It is suggested that temperature signals at longer timescales, e.g., periods of the order of 10–100 years, may be reproducible, at least in broad outline, from a relatively small suite of high-resolution, high-quality paleotemperature records, which are themselves sensitive to climatic fluctuations at long temporal and large spatial scales.
A Turning Point in Availability of Soviet Economic Statistics

Reflecting Gorbachev's demands for glasnost' (openness), the Central Statistical Administration recently published several key statistical series which had not been available in the USSR for the last 5 to 35 years. These included data on grain harvests, life expectancy and infant mortality, and production and consumption of alcohol. The article shows that the newly available data compare well with estimates made by Western specialists. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: 052, 124, 225.
Individual entrepreneurial orientation role in shaping reactions to new technologies

Significant progress has been made over the last two decades in explaining and predicting user acceptance of novel technologies at work. Although knowledge voids remain, substantial theoretical and empirical support has accumulated in favor of the powerful and parsimonious explanation provided by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). One factor that may be related to the adoption of new technologies, but has remained unexplored in the TAM literature, is the proclivity to behave entrepreneurially, known nominally as individual entrepreneurial orientation. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the role of individual entrepreneurial orientation in facilitating technology adoption under mandated conditions. Predictions are tested using survey data collected from knowledge workers required to use a new technology. Research directions and limitations are discussed.
Discussion of Ball and Shivakumar (2005): The Role of Accruals in Asymmetrically Timely Gain and Loss Recognition

Ball and Shivakumar (2005) augment existing models of expected accruals to incorporate conditional conservatism. They document a robust asymmetry in the relation between accruals and economic losses and gains, and demonstrate that accruals models that incorporate this asymmetry have increased explanatory power. This discussion of Ball and Shivakumar (2005) makes five main points: 1) incorporating asymmetry in gain and loss recognition is an important contribution to empirical models of expected accruals; 2) the economic underpinnings of asymmetry in loss and gain recognition remain open to considerable debate; 3) the extent to which accruals recognize gains in a timely manner remains an interesting but unanswered question; 4) non-working capital accruals are important to both the earnings process and accounting conservatism, yet modeling of non-working capital accruals has received little attention in the literature; and 5) incorporating asymmetry into the accruals process has important implications for estimating discretionary accruals and for future research in this area.
Many photon absorption in a near-classical regime

At ionizing values of microwave field strength, classical behavior plays a distinctive and major role in the excited hydrogen in microwaves system. The threshold field strength for chaos in the classical limit is closely related to threshold fields for ionization. The diffusion in action of the electron generated by the chaos in the classical limit produces characteristic final bound state distributions. One indirectly observed feature of the randomness in the chaos in the classical limit is quantum localization. However, the quantum system may only be mimicing the classical behavior in an approximate way. Thus the possibility of a direct experimental observation of any genuine randomness or deterministic chaos in any quantum system remains an open question.
Towards a theory of web service choreographies

A fundamental promise of service oriented architecture (SOA) lies in the ease of integrating sharable information, processes, and other resources through interactions among the shared components that are modeled as web services. It is expected that not only the participating services are complex and have observable states, but the number of interacting services may be also large. Prior work on choreographies (conversation protocols) all focuses on specifying how the interacting web services should behave globally. Studies have shown that the relationships between global and local specifications of service interactions could be rather intricate. In this paper, we formulate a framework consisting of logical and implementation levels. We survey and discuss the technical problems and known results concerning service design, analysis and verification in this framework.
Improved distribution system utilization and expansion through distributed generator placement

Summary form only given. This panel summary addresses generation expansion and network upgrades in distribution systems. Specifically, as load levels increase and increased reliability is required for select customers, the installation of distributed generation may be used to address these challenges. The careful placement of distributed generators (DG) may allow for system capacity release within the distribution network and the deferral of equipment upgrades and new construction. In addition, distributed generators will directly affect load changes experienced by transmission systems and their subsequent expansion planning requirements. Another consideration in distribution systems is that, currently, the reliability of the distribution system is highly dependent on the transmission system. It is envisioned that allowing DGs to operate during distribution system outages, caused by both distribution and transmission system faults, would lessen this dependency. In order to achieve this, network enhancements, e.g. switch placements, must be made. Specifically, we present a cost-based problem formulation which may be readily used by intelligent system methods to quantify the effects of DG placements on distribution systems under load increases and distribution faults. We formulate the distributed generator placement problem as a non-differentiable optimization problem subject to electrical, operational and network constraints. In the objective function, we consider the following factors: wheeling costs, DG operating costs, DG installation costs, network upgrade costs and outage costs. Here, we consider the possibility of allowing a DG to support an isolated area during system outages and the network switch upgrades required to enable loads to be supported.
Translating telephone: problems and prospects

Summary form only given. Japan recently initiated a seven year $120 million project as the first phase toward developing a phone system in which a Japanese speaker can converse with say, an English speaker in real time. This requires solutions to a number of currently unsolved problems: (1) developing a speech recognition system capable of recognizing a large (possibly unlimited) vocabulary of spontaneous, unrehearsed, continuous speech, (2) developing a natural language translation system capable of dealing with ambiguity, nongrammaticality, and incomplete phrases, and (3) achieving natural sounding speech synthesis that preserves speaker characteristics. >
Mathematical modeling and analysis of steady state performance of a heat pipe network

Abstract In the current study, the thermal-fluid phenomenon inside a heat pipe network is simulated numerically. The heat pipe is specially configured to be implemented in thermal energy storage units for a concentrating solar power system. It composed of a main heat pipe and an array of secondary heat pipes. The applied thermal energy to the disc-shaped evaporator is transferred to the heat engine by the primary heat pipe. The extra heat is delivered to the phase change material through the concentric secondary heat pipes. The vapor flow leaving the adiabatic pipe section of the primary heat pipe to the disc-shaped condenser behaves similarly to the confined jet impingement. Therefore, the condensation is not uniform over the main condenser. In order to model the physical phenomenon inside the heat pipe network, a new numerical procedure was developed. The feature that makes the procedure distinguished from other available techniques is its ability to simulate non-uniform condensation of the working fluid in the condenser section. The vapor jet impingement on the condenser surface along with condensation was modeled by attaching a porous layer adjacent to the condenser wall. This porous layer acts as a wall and let the vapor flow to split out radially while it allows mass transfer through it. The effects on the pressure and temperature distributions from the heat input, portion of heat transferred to the phase change material, main condenser geometry and secondary heat pipe configurations have been investigated. The result showed that the temperature distributions of main and secondary heat pipes are greatly affected by the geometrical features. The formed recirculation zones in the main condenser region, which depend on geometrical parameters, make the performance of heat pipes convoluted. For the case with one secondary heat pipe, placing it away from the primary heat pipe provides higher temperatures at the primary and the secondary heat pipes. It also yields more uniform temperature at the main condenser. For cases with two and three secondary heat pipes, the temperature of the secondary heat pipes highly depends on the secondary heat pipes position and the ratio of heat transfer to the PCM.
A Genetic Screen to Identify Components of the sina Signaling Pathway in Drosophila Eye Development

Specification of the R7 photoreceptor cell in the developing Drosophila eye requires the seven in absentia (sina) gene. We demonstrate that ectopic expression of sina in all cells behind the morphogenetic furrow disrupts normal eye development during pupation, resulting in a severely disorganized adult eye. Earlier events of cell fate specification appear unaffected. A genetic screen for dominant enhancers and suppressors of this phenotype identified mutations in a number of genes required for normal eye development, including UbcD1, which encodes a ubiquitin conjugating enzyme; SR3-4a, a gene previously implicated in signaling downstream of Ras1; and a Drosophila homolog of the Sin3A transcriptional repressor.
Taphonomic implications of shell surface textures in Bahia la Choya, northern Gulf of California

Abstract The author collected shell samples of the bivalve Chione from the extensive tidal flat system of Bahia la Choya, northern Gulf of California, and examined their surfaces under the binocular and scanning electron microscopes. Samples were collected from environments ranging in degree of tidal exposure, energy level, and substrate: inner tidal flats, sandy outer flats, rocky outer flats, tidal channel, estero channel, salt marsh, beach, spit, and subtidal. Surfaces were compared with those of shells experimentally subjected to bioerosion, dissolution, and abrasion. In all, more than 1100 shells were examined and described. Bioerosion by microborers is by far the dominant process attacking shell material in Bahia la Choya. Microbored textures dominated shell surfaces from all sedimentary environments, with the exception of the beach, where abrasion dominated. Chemical dissolution is important only in the fine-grained salt marsh and inner flat environments. Many shells show composite textures, which reflect the concurrent action of more than one taphonomic agent. Shells from the salt marsh, for example, frequently show the effects of both microboring and dissolution. Overprinted textures can document transport among environments.
A Dynamic Background Correction System for Direct Reading Spectrometry

A direct reading emission spectrometer system is described which permits dynamic background correction measurements at each analytical wavelength. The system utilizes a refractor plate mounted on a tuning fork as a rapid means for square-wave shifting the spectral band pass from each analytical wavelength to the adjacent background wavelength position. A laboratory computer controls the system, receives the data, and performs the background subtraction. Evaluation of the system has shown that photon counting statistics are applicable and that reliable background corrections are obtained. Comparisons of this correction approach with others that have been used have further demonstrated its advantages for multielement analysis by emission spectrometry.
Infrared imaging of the coma of Comet Wilson

The brightness of the nuclear condensation noted in March 13-15, 1987 thermal IR images of Comet Wilson did not vary, in contrast to Comet Halley's behavior; a dynamical analysis of the dust coma/tail structure establishes that the particle size distribution in this comet, while different from that of Comet Giacobini-Zinner, is nevertheless more similar to that in Comet Halley. The nonisotropic character of the dust ejection is taken to be evidence for prograde rotation of the nucleus, and it is speculated that Comet Wilson is too young to have developed a dust mantle; this would account for the lack of short time scale variability.
683 NATURAL HISTORY OF RICKETS AND FRACTURES IN VERY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT (VLBW) INFANTS DURING INFANCY

683 NATURAL HISTORY OF RICKETS AND FRACTURES IN VERY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT (VLBW) INFANTS DURING INFANCY
Foraging decisions in nectarivores: unexpected interactions between flower constancy and energetic rewards

Foraging decisions are based on a suite of choices that include energetics and physiological constraints. Although travelling farther to harvest a greater net energetic reward is beneficial, many animals opt for a smaller net reward that requires less travel. Recent discoveries of a visual basis for flower constancy in the honeybee, Apis mellifera, led us to examine older reports that colour cues are superceded by energetic considerations. Here we show that when individual bees foraged on pedicellate artificial flowers varying in colour and interfloral distance, their behaviour depended on the colours in the choice test. Colours of similar spectral reflectance (blue versus white), that would be clustered in the bee's visual colour space, elicited more visits to the closest flower when rewards were equal, but individuals travelled a greater distance to harvest a higher energetic reward when reward quality varied. Bees chose the closest flower more often when reward volume decreased while quality remained constant. Yet, even when all flowers were identical (morphology and reward), and only interfloral distance varied, bees did not always visit the closest flower. A dramatic difference was seen when the dimorphism was yellow-blue, colours quite separate in the bee colour space and known to elicit constancy behaviour. Here, bees visited the closest flower only 5% of the time, and varying reward volume did not elicit different behaviour. Animals thus display differential foraging behaviour with respect to environmental cues that must be considered when asking questions about other behavioural parameters.
Poly(ethylene glycol)–modified thiolated gelatin nanoparticles for glutathione-responsive intracellular DNA delivery

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-modified thiolated gelatin (PEG-SHGel) anoparticles were developed as a long-circulating passively targeted delivery system that responds to intracellular glutathione concentrations to enhance DNA delivery and transfection. Reporter plasmid expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP-N1) was encapsulated in the nanoparticles. DNA-containing gelatin (Gel) and thiolated gelatin (SHGel) nanoparticles were found to have a size range of 220 to 250 nm, whereas surface modification with PEG resulted in particles with a slightly larger size range of 310 to 350 nm. PEG modification was confirmed by electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA), where an increase in the ether peak intensities of the C1s spectra corresponds to the surface presence of ethylene oxide residues. In addition, the PEG-SHGel nanoparticles released encapsulate plasmid DNA in response to varying concentrations of glutathione (up to 5.0 mM GSH in phosphate-buffered saline, or PBS). The stability of the encapsulated DNA was confirmed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Finally, from the qualitative and quantitative results of in vitro transfection studies in murine fibroblast cells (NIH3T3), PEG-Gel and PEG-SHGel nanoparticles afforded the highest transfection efficiency of the reporter plasmid. The results of these studies show that PEG-modified thiolated gelatin nanoparticles could serve as a very efficient nanoparticulate vector for systemic DNA delivery to solid tumors where the cells are known to have significantly higher intracellular GSH concentrations.
The fractional derivative via entire functions

For a class of functions defined on the real line, a fractional derivative and integral is defined which is an entire function of exponential type of the order. For simplicity, these operations will be called simply fractional differentiation. Properties of this derivative and its relation to other theories is studied.
Metabolic and antiproliferative consequences of activated polyamine catabolism in LNCaP prostate carcinoma cells.

Depletion of intracellular polyamine pools invariably inhibits cell growth. Although this is usually accomplished by inhibiting polyamine biosynthesis, we reasoned that this might be more effectively achieved by activation of polyamine catabolism at the level of spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase (SSAT); a strategy first validated in MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells. We now examine the possibility that, due to unique aspects of polyamine homeostasis in the prostate gland, tumor cells derived from it may be particularly sensitive to activated polyamine catabolism. Thus, SSAT was conditionally overexpressed in LNCaP prostate carcinoma cells via a tetracycline-regulatable (Tet-off) system. Tetracycline removal resulted in a rapid ∼10-fold increase in SSAT mRNA and an increase of ∼20-fold in enzyme activity. SSAT products N1-acetylspermidine, N1-acetylspermine, and N1,N12-diacetylspermine accumulated intracellularly and extracellularly. SSAT induction also led to a growth inhibition that was not accompanied by polyamine pool depletion as it was in MCF-7 cells. Rather, intracellular spermidine and spermine pools were maintained at or above control levels by a robust compensatory increase in ornithine decarboxylase and S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase activities. This, in turn, gave rise to a high rate of metabolic flux through both the biosynthetic and catabolic arms of polyamine metabolism. Treatment with the biosynthesis inhibitor α-difluoromethylornithine during tetracycline removal interrupted flux and prevented growth inhibition. Thus, flux-induced growth inhibition appears to derive from overaccumulation of metabolic products and/or from depletion of metabolic precursors. Metabolic effects that were not excluded as possible contributing factors include high levels of putrescine and acetylated polyamines, a 50% reduction in S-adenosylmethionine, and a 45% decline in the SSAT cofactor acetyl-CoA. Overall, the study demonstrates that activation of polyamine catabolism in LNCaP cells elicits a compensatory increase in polyamine biosynthesis and downstream metabolic events that culminate in growth inhibition.
MAPK and Akt Act Cooperatively but Independently on Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1α in rasV12 Upregulation of VEGF

Oncogenic ras upregulates the expression of VEGF through the activation of the transcriptional enhancer hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) by a still poorly understood mechanism. Here, we demonstrate that both the Raf/MEK/MAPK and the PI3 kinase/Akt signaling pathways potently and additively stimulate the expression from a hypoxia response element (HRE) within the 5′flanking region of the VEGF promoter. Interestingly, while MAPK appears to specifically upregulate the transactivation activity of HIF-1α through direct phosphorylation of its regulatory/inhibitory domain, GSK-3, a downstream target of Akt, directly phosphorylates the HIF-1α oxygen-dependent degradation domain. These results suggest a novel mechanism whereby two divergent signaling pathways emerging from Ras may cooperatively but independently regulate the activity of a HIF-1α, thereby promoting the expression of a potent angiogenic mediator.
Sponsorship and Employment Status among Indochinese Refugees in the United States.

This study examines the relationships between types of sponsorship and employment status among three ethnic groups of Indochinese refugees who arrived in the United States between 1978 and 1982. A ...
A Level-Set Method for Simulating Island Coarsening

Modeling of microstructural evolution during thin-film deposition requires a knowledge of several key activation energies (surface diffusion, island edge atom diffusion, adatom migration over descending step edges, etc.). These and other parameters must be known as a function of crystal orientation. In order to generate values for these parameters, we have developed a numerical simulation in tandem with physical experiments. By tuning the simulation to the results from experiments we can extract and verify approximate values for these parameters. The numerical method we use is based upon the level set method. Our model is a continuum model in directions parallel to the crystal facet, and resolves each discrete atomic layer in the normal direction. The model includes surface diffusion, step edge dynamics, and attachment/detachment rates all of which may depend upon the local geometry of the step edge. The velocity field for advancing the island edges in the level set framework is generated by computing the equilibrium adatom density on the flat terraces resulting in Laplace's equation with mixed boundary conditions at the step edges. We have turned to the finite element method for solving this equation, which results in very good agreement with analytically known solutions and with experiment.
Tissue engineering from human mesenchymal amniocytes: a prelude to clinical trials.

Abstract Purpose The surgical treatment of congenital anomalies using tissues engineered from amniotic fluid-derived mesenchymal cells has been validated experimentally. As a prerequisite for testing the clinical feasibility of this therapeutic concept, this study was aimed to expand human mesenchymal amniocytes in the absence of animal products. Methods Human mesenchymal cells were isolated from amniotic fluid samples (n = 12) obtained at 20 to 37 weeks' gestation. Their phenotypic profiles and cell proliferation rates were compared during expansion under 2 different media, containing either fetal bovine serum or allogeneic human AB serum. Statistical analyses were by the 2-sided Wilcoxon signed rank test and linear regression ( P Results Mesenchymal cells could be isolated and expanded at any gestational age. There was a greater than 9-fold logarithmic expansion of mesenchymal cells, with no significant differences in the overall proliferation rates based on serum type ( P = .94), or gestational age ( P = .14). At any passage, cells expanded for up to 50 days remained positive for markers consistent with a multipotent mesenchymal progenitor lineage, regardless of the medium used. Conclusions Human mesenchymal amniocytes retain their progenitor phenotype and can be dependably expanded ex vivo in the absence of animal serum. Clinical trials of amniotic fluid-based tissue engineering are feasible within preferred regulatory guidelines.
Plasma interference in an enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay using a commercial matched antibody pair

In this study, severe plasma interference was repeatedly documented in an IL-1ra sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) using a commercial matched antibody pair. Several physical and biochemical treatments were used in an attempt to alleviate this plasma effect including the following: buffer optimization, sample dilution, increasing incubation temperature, heat treatment of plasma, increasing detergent concentrations, glutaraldehyde pretreatment of the plate and the addition of polyethylene glycol (PEG). Evaluation of several buffers demonstrated that the range of optical densities could be increased dramatically with the use of an appropriate buffer. Of the treatments examined, only the addition of polyethylene glycol (PEG) to the dilution buffer created a marked improvement in the ELISA, despite a resulting background increase. Further investigation demonstrated that 10% PEG in the dilution buffer added to biotinylated antibody and the streptavidin provided the greatest improvement to the sensitivity of the ELISA.
The Problematic Potential of Universities to Advance Critical Urban Politics

Recent research has explored the connections between universities and the cities/places in which that are located. Increasingly, emphasis is placed on the economic role of the university and on universities as urban stabilizers that can mobilize investment and advance development goals. This article explores a different charge for the university: as a space for the advancement of critical urban politics. Drawing from our experiences teaching hybrid student/citizen courses on urban government and politics at a US university, we reflect on the challenges and opportunities associated with situating the university as an institutional agent in critical urban politics.
Conceptual framework for assessment and management of ecosystem impacts of climate change

Abstract A conceptual framework is proposed for assessing and managing the ecosystem impacts of climate change. The framework can be used by ecosystem managers to systematically assess the potential adverse impacts of future climate change on ecosystems, and identify best adaptation strategies for alleviating those impacts. The proposed framework: (1) determines the acceptability of the current state of the ecosystem; (2) specifies climate change scenarios; (3) assesses the ecosystem impacts of the scenarios; and (4) identifies the best adaptation strategies for alleviating unacceptable impacts of the climate change scenarios. Concepts and methods employed in the framework include: (1) limits of acceptable change; (2) scenario analysis; (3) simulation; (4) Delphi method; (5) decision making under risk and uncertainty; (6) stochastic dominance; (7) multiple attribute evaluation; (8) Bayesian statistical inference; and (9) adaptive management. Implementation of the framework requires considerable technical, scientific, and other data/information that may not be available at this time, but is likely to become available in the future. It is recommended that a pilot program be initiated to test the proposed framework in a few targeted publicly managed ecosystems for which the requisite ecosystem data/information are available or can be readily obtained. Results of the pilot program would provide insights into the pros and cons of the framework and the conditions under which it is likely to be feasible.
Nondestructive detection and imaging of trace chemicals with high-chemical specificity using single-beam coherent anti-stokes Raman scattering in a standoff configuration

The excellent chemical identification ability of Raman based spectroscopy provides a versatile and widely applicable method to identify hazards within a complex chemical environment. However, the small spontaneous Raman scattering cross section can limit standoff detection of trace quantities. Coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering provides the same chemical specificity, but with the potential for much greater signal due to coherent addition in the non-linear spectroscopy. Utilizing CARS, we have demonstrated &#956;g/cm2 level detection of an explosive simulant using a single laser producing less than 8mW of laser power in the near IR. This detection level was achieved on a simulant present as only a small part within a polymer mixture. In addition, we present standoff chemical images of trace compounds within a complex chemical environment, which effectively demonstrate the unique capabilities of the method. Further, the temporal pulse shape can be tailored to excite specific Raman transitions, adding versatility to this method.© (2012) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Influence of supplemental acetate feeding on the voluntary intake of cattle fed green corn and corn silage.

Abstract Two trials were conducted with, cattle using reduced switchback designs to study the effect on voluntary intake of adding five levels of acetate, 0 to 6% on a dry matter basis, to green corn forage and corn silage. The voluntary consumption of up to 112.8 g acetate per 100 kg body weight daily tended to reduce forage dry matter intake but had no significant effect on caloric intake. The animals showed no evidence of distress at the highest level acetate fed. In these trials the animals were substituting energy from acetate for energy from forage.
Restricting the Scope of the Ethics of Belief: Haack's Alternative to Clifford and James

In "The Ethics of Belief Reconsidered," Susan Haack sets about to determine the relation of epistemic to ethical appraisal. She promotes her account as an alternative to the "morally over demanding" position of W. K. Clifford and the "epistemically over permissive" proposal of Wm. James. An "overlap" between epistemic and ethical appraisal obtains, on her view, only when individuals are responsible for holding epistemically unjustified beliefs that result in or directly threaten harm. In my discussion, I explore the terms of Haack's attractive proposal in order to consider its implications for a question she does not consider but that exercised both Clifford and James: that of the ethical permissibility of epistemically unjustified religious belief. Adopting Haack's measured approach, I argue, would serve not only to focus contemporary debate over religious belief, but perhaps also to moderate its tone and to engage concerned believers.
A quantitative histologic comparison: ACL degeneration in the osteoarthritic knee

Newer prosthetic total knee arthroplasty (TKA) designs as well as unicondylar TKAs spare the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Although success of these procedures requires near normal ACL function, little has been written about the histologic features or the arthritic ACL. This study was designed to histologically evaluate the ACL for microscopic evidence of degeneration. Nineteen ACLs were harvested from 16 different patients who underwent TKA as a result of severe osteoarthritis. Control ligaments were obtained from bone bank donors (N = 14), patients with above-knee amputations (N = 5), and cadaveric formalin-preserved knees (N = 6). Orientation was maintained for each ACL. Degenerative parameters included loose, fibrous connective tissue and myxoid and cystic occurrences, and the presence of chondroid metaplasia or calcium phosphate crystals were evaluated and scored. Forty-seven percent of the osteoarthritic group had moderate/marked degeneration, whereas no control specimen showed such changes. Seventy-two percent of the controls were considered normal, compared with only 26% of the osteoarthritic group. Both of these findings were statistically significant (P<.001). Statistical analysis revealed no gender bias either within or between groups. In the control group, no statistical difference was found between patients older than age 65 and those younger than 65. In the osteoarthritic group, however, 70% of patients younger than 65 demonstrated moderate/marked changes compared with only 22% of those older than 65 (P<.05). There also was no difference demonstrated between the 4 focal sections of the ligaments that were examined.
Manifold alignment for classification of multitemporal hyperspectral data

For hyperspectral image classification, manifold learning has proven to be useful for feature extraction from high dimensional data sets. In a traditional manifold learning framework, a low dimensional manifold describing spectral characteristics is developed for classification. However, drift of class distributions in multitemporal hyperspectral data can induce unfaithful manifold representations while exploiting spectral similarities of these images. Classes in multitemporal images often exhibit similar geometries but possibly are represented in different manifold coordinates. It may be possible to utilize certain prior information of these temporally related image data to map such similarities to a common latent space. In this paper, a manifold alignment framework is proposed to leverage prior knowledge while exploiting spectral similarities in the underlying manifolds of two multitemporal hyperspectral images. The essential similar local geometric structures of classes in the temporal sequence are encoded into a common feature space where the classificationtask is naturally feasible.
Rapid site-directed domain scanning mutagenesis of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli espD.

We developed a rapid mutagenesis method based on a modification of the QuikChange® system (Stratagene) to systemically replace endogenous gene sequences with a unique similar size sequence tag. The modifications are as follows: 1: the length of the anchoring homologous sequences of both mutagenesis primers were increased to 16 - 22 bp to achieve melting temperatures greater than 80°C. 2: the final concentrations of both primers were increased to 5-10 ng/μl and the final concentration of template to 1-2 ng/μl. 3: the annealing temperature was adjusted when necessary from 52°C to 58°C. We generated 25 sequential mutants in the cloned espD gene (1.2 kb), which encodes an essential component of the type III secretion translocon required for the pathogenesis of enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) infection. Each mutation consisted of the replacement of 15 codons (45 bp) with 8 codons representing a 24 bp sequence containing three unique restriction endonuclease sites (KpnI/MfeI/SpeI) starting from the second codon. The insertion of the restriction endonuclease sites provides a convenient method for further insertions of purification and/or epitope tags into permissive domains. This method is rapid, site-directed and allows for the systematic creation of mutants evenly distributed throughout the entire gene of interest.
Two classes of spontaneous miniature excitatory junction potentials and one synaptic vesicle class are present in the ray electrocyte

Cross sections (1–2 mm thick) of the ray (Raja) tail were secured to a dish and immersed in elasmobranch saline. Spontaneous miniature excitatory junction potentials (MEJPs) were recorded by advancing a 50 kΩ, KCl filled electrode into the electric organ (20 μV peak-to-peak baseline noise). Data were filmed, and/or recorded on magnetic tape for computer analyses. Intracellularly recorded MEJP amplitude histograms showed a peak at 60 μV and had a right-hand skew with MEJPs up to 0.5 mV. The small peak amplitude and the skewed amplitude distribution of intracellularly recorded MEJPs result from the relatively low input resistance and the short space constant of the electrocyte coupled with the dispersed synapses on the electrocyte. At 23 °C the intracellularly recorded MEJP frequency ranged from 1–10 MEJPs/s. The MEJPs became larger and became focally recorded as the electrode was advanced against the intracellular surface of the innervated membrane of the electrocyte. Focal extracellular MEJPs (reversed polarity) were also recorded with the electrode positioned against the outside surface of the innervated side of the electrocyte. The frequency of focally recorded intracellular MEJPs was increased (up to 40/s) when the electrode was pushed against the membrane. Focal MEJP frequencies decreased to a few/min within 5–10 min but the mean amplitude of 3–5 mV remained constant. Decreases in amplitude and frequency in focally recorded intracellular MEJPs are attributed to changes in electrode pressure against the membrane. Amplitude histograms were constructed from focally recorded intracellular or extracellular MEJPs which showed the same time characteristics. The focal MEJP amplitude histograms have two distinct classes, each forming a bell-shaped distribution. It is concluded that both classes are generated at the electrode tip. The smaller class of MEJPs has a mean 1/10th that of the larger class and composes about 2% of the MEJPs. The small class is analogous to the sub-MEPP class found in the frog sartorius (Kriebel and Gross 1974) and mouse diaphragm (Kriebel et al. 1976, 1982). Distributions of synaptic vesicle diameters are slightly log normal (right hand skew) such that the mean diameter (57 nm) is slightly larger than the modal value (52 nm). Vesicles touching the membrane were of the same size and diameter distribution as the entire vesicle population. The profiles of the distributions are smooth and suggest only 1 class of synaptic vesicle based on diameter.
Clostridium difficile infection: still principally a disease of the elderly

Despite recent concerns of Clostridium difficile infection in previously low-risk individuals, it remains a disease that disproportionately affects the elderly. Besides advancing age, persons older than 65 years have more risk factors for C. difficile infection, poorer responses to treatment, more frequent recurrences, and higher morbidity and mortality. With a rapidly aging population, the need for better diagnostic tests and therapies is crucial. Moreover, the severe consequences of infection in the elderly make prevention as important as treatment.
Thermochemistry of the Gas Phase Molecular Complex of Benzene with Oxygen

A method previously developed to study the thermochemistry of weakly bound molecular complexes in condensed phase has been used to investigate the gas phase molecular complex that forms between benzene and oxygen. Observed changes in absorbance in benzene-oxygen mixtures with temperature are attributed to changes in complex concentration. Based on this, ¢Hrxn, the enthalpy change for complex formation, is found to be -4.3 ( 1.0 kJ/mol, indicating that the complex is a “contact charge transfer” complex. The result from the present study is compared to two previous determinations of ¢Hrxn for the benzene-oxygen complex and is used to resolve the discrepancies in the previous results.
Local Heat/Mass Transfer Distributions on the Surface of a Wall-Mounted Cube

Local mass transfer from the surface of a wall-mounted cube is studied using the naphthalene sublimation technique. The streakline pattern on each face of the cube is visualized using the oil-graphite method. A horseshoe vortex system near the endwall, in conjunction with the separated shear layers initiated at sharp edges, determines the transport characteristics around the cube. As a direct influence of the flowfield, the local mass transfer distributions reflect features of three-dimensional counterparts existing in the midsection of a long prism. According to several previous studies, average mass transfer over the rear surface of a square prism without end effects is the highest among all surfaces. However, it is the lowest for the present case with a wall-mounted cube. The cube side wall has the highest average mass transfer overall. This is a result of the elevated local mass transfer existing in the lower portion of the surface, near which a horseshoe vortex system prevails. In addition to local data, correlations of average Sherwood number with Reynolds number are also presented for various surfaces.
Potential functions in pattern classification algorithms

Pattern classification algorithms using potential functions to construct discriminant functions from sample points set
Who Needs to Observe Infants? Infant Observation in the Training of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Workers

Infant Observation is a valuable training experience for workers in child and adolescent mental health, helping both to conceive the infantile experience of the children under their care, and to understand the parents’ accounts of a child's history. It is an experience that gives trainees a unique opportunity to observe the development of an infant, systematically and practically from birth, in the child's natural setting, thus facilitating the acquisition of a meaningful understanding of how human relationships emerge and develop. Infant Observation gives the trainee a clear focus on the baby and his family, whilst remaining as a participant observer, and spontaneously encouraging problem-free talk.
Systems aspects of materials recycling

Abstract This paper reviews the general features of recycling with special emphasis upon its systems aspects. Interactions of recycling with other components of the materials production-consumption systems and the role of recycling as a component of larger systems are discussed.
Cosmic Rays and Their Formation of a Galactic Halo

Interstellar gas-cosmic radiation relationship for inflation of galactic magnetic field and halo production around galaxy
A theoretical study on shape control of arbitrary lay-up laminates using piezoelectric actuators

Abstract This paper investigates the application of a piezoelectric actuator to control deformation of thin arbitrary lay-up composite laminates. A theoretical model based on Rayleigh–Ritz principle is developed to predict laminate cured shape and the effect of piezoelectric actuator layer. Several stacking sequences are studied using the model. When applied to pure composite laminates it is observed that cured shape of near-unidirectional laminates is always saddle. When applied to arbitrary lay-up piezo-composite laminates, it is found that the principal direction of the laminates can change with electric field. This is one unique feature of such type of laminates. A new FEA technique is proposed to deal with the multiple solution issue and obtain the stable solution more precisely.
Molecular hydrogen in amorphous silicon revisited

Abstract We measured the concentration of molecular hydrogen (H 2 ) in hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) using a Jeener–Broekaert three-pulse sequence. For samples prepared by both plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) and hot-wire chemical vapor deposition (HWCVD), the concentrations measured by this method are one order of magnitude larger than that inferred from the spin–lattice relaxation time ( T 1 ) of hydrogen bonded to silicon. For the sample prepared by PECVD, we found two different environments for molecular hydrogen, where the relaxation mechanisms differ. Molecular hydrogen in the samples prepared by HWCVD is motionally narrowed even at 8 K, while in the sample prepared by PECVD the molecular hydrogen is almost completely `frozen in' at 8 K. This difference is attributed to the effect of the host silicon structure.
Effects of multiple scattering in cold nuclear matter on J/ψ suppression and 〈pT2〉 in heavy ion collisions

Abstract Coherent multiple scatterings of c c ¯ quark pairs in the environment of heavy ion collisions have been used in a previous work by Qiu et al. [J. Qiu, J.P. Vary, X. Zhang, Phys. Rev. Lett. 88 (2002) 232301; J. Qiu, J.P. Vary, X. Zhang, Nucl. Phys. A 698 (2002) 571, nucl-th/0106040] to study J / ψ suppression. That model suggests that heavy quark re-scatterings in a cold nuclear medium can completely explain the centrality dependence of the observed J / ψ suppression in Pb + Pb collisions at the SPS [M.C. Abreu, et al., NA50 Collaboration, Phys. Lett. B 521 (2001) 195]. Their calculations also revealed significant differences under the assumptions of a color singlet or color octet production mechanism. A more recent analytic calculation [H. Fujii, Phys. Rev. C 67 (2003) 031901], which includes incoherent final-state re-scatterings with explicit momentum transfer fluctuations in three dimensions, indicates much less suppression and little sensitivity to the production mechanism. In this Letter, we study simultaneously both the J / ψ suppression and p T modifications, at SPS and RHIC energies. We mainly focus on incoherent momentum transfer fluctuations in two dimensions, which is more appropriate for the heavy-ion collision kinematics. Our analytic and Monte Carlo calculations reinforce the analytic results in [H. Fujii, Phys. Rev. C 67 (2003) 031901]. Additionally, we find that the experimental J / ψ suppression and 〈 p T 2 〉 from nucleus–nucleus collisions at the SPS or RHIC cannot simultaneously be described in this incoherent multiple scattering framework for any value of the fluctuation strength parameter 〈 k T 2 〉 .
The Use of Transgenic Mice to Analyze the Role of Accessory Factor Two in the Regulation of Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (GTP) Gene Transcription during Diabetes

The regulation of transcription of the gene for the cytosolic form of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (GTP) (PEPCK-C) (4.1.1.32) during diabetes is a complex process that involves a number of regulatory elements in the PEPCK-C gene promoter. The accessory factor 2 (AF2)-binding region that is contained within the glucocorticoid regulatory unit of the PEPCK-C gene promoter (−451 to −353) has been implicated in the action of both insulin and glucocorticoids on PEPCK-C gene transcription. To determine the role of AF2 in these processes, we have generated a mouse model bearing a transgene that contains the PEPCK-C gene promoter with a mutation in the AF2-binding region. This promoter is linked to the structural gene for human growth hormone that is biologically inactive (AF2–2000/hGx). In the absence of the AF2 regulatory element, the transcription of the transgene in the liver is not induced by diabetes but is inhibited by the administration of insulin. There is also a marked reduction in the response of the AF2–2000/hGx gene in the kidney to the administration of glucocorticoids. The AF2–2000/hGx gene in the liver responds normally to a high carbohydrate diet with a marked decrease in gene transcription. This suggests that insulin is not exerting its usual negative effect on the PEPCK-C gene promoter through the AF2 site. In contrast, the response of this transgene to a high fat/carbohydrate-free diet is severely blunted. Our results support a role for the AF2 site in the PEPCK-C gene promoter in the effect of glucocorticoids, but not insulin, on PEPCK-C gene transcription in the liver.