cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rethinking development and the feminist versus Islamist dichotomy

Abstract This paper discusses socio‐economic development as a Western cultural construction. It first surveys various theories that deconstruct development and women in development, and then elaborates on the stereotypes and dilemmas of the feminist development enterprise in the Middle East. Attention is further given to local co‐operation with or resistance to Northern development ideas and practices. The paper ends with an attempt to think beyond the post‐colonial power relations between secular imperialism and Islamist resistance, arguing that this dichotomy results from ‘Western‐centric’ perspectives.
Fabrication processes and experimental validation of a planar PV power system with monolithically embedded power converters

This paper summarizes the research outcome intended to identify the most suitable device architecture and its implementation for cell-level power conversion in a photovoltaic (PV) system. The fabrication process to accommodate the power conditioning unit with the PV cells using the same process run have been presented in this paper. Using this method, the entire converter can be embedded with the PV cells producing AC power directly from the solar cell strings. The initial phase of this project simulated various circuit components in the CMOS process, and the project outcome has been summarized in a previous publication by the authors. This paper presents the experimental results of the proposed process, and a simple chopper circuit has been constructed using the embedded MOSFETs and the PV cells. The circuit has been experimentally characterized, along with components. In addition to the process-related challenges and issues, this paper explains the justification of this integration by achieving higher reliability, portability and complete modular construction for PV-based energy harvesting units. To the knowledge of the authors, no attempt has been made to fabricate power converter components with PV cells in the same process run.
Adaptation and application of the In Situ Adaptive Tabulation (ISAT) procedure to reacting flow calculations with complex surface chemistry

Abstract In this article, the In Situ Adaptive Tabulation (ISAT) procedure, originally developed for the efficient computation of homogeneous reactions in chemically reacting flows, is adapted and demonstrated for reacting flow computations with complex heterogeneous (or surface) reactions. The treatment of heterogeneous reactions within a reacting flow calculation requires solution of a set of nonlinear differential algebraic equations at boundary faces/nodes, as opposed to the solution of an initial value problem for which the original ISAT procedure was developed. The modified ISAT algorithm, referred to as ISAT-S, is coupled to a three-dimensional unstructured reacting flow solver, and strategies for maximizing efficiency without hampering accuracy and convergence are developed. These include use of multiple binary tables, use of dynamic tolerance values to control errors, and periodic deletion and/or re-creation of the binary tables. The new procedure is demonstrated for steady-state catalytic combustion of a methane–air mixture on platinum using a 24-step reaction mechanism with 19 species, and for steady-state three-way catalytic conversion using a 61-step mechanism with 34 species. Both reaction mechanisms are first tested in simple 3D channel geometry with reacting walls, and the impact of various ISAT parameters is investigated. It is found that the temperature of the reacting wall dictates the retrieval rate from the ISAT table. As a final step, the catalytic combustion mechanism is demonstrated in an laboratory-scale monolithic catalytic converter geometry with 57 channels discretized using 354,300 control volumes (4.6 million unknowns) after employing quarter symmetry. For this particular case, the use of ISAT-S resulted in reduction of the overall CPU time from 19.3 to 13.6 h. For all of the cases considered, the reduction in the time taken to perform surface chemistry calculations alone was found to be a factor of 5–11.
3C-based methods to detect long-range chromatin interactions

Transcriptional regulatory regions are often located several thousand bases from the gene that they control. To function, the chromatin strand forms loops to juxtapose distal regions with the promoter. These long-range chromatin interactions have profound influences on the regulation of gene expression and mapping these interactions is currently a subject of intensive investigation. Chromosome conformation capture (3C) technology and its derivatives have been widely used to detect chromatin interactions and greatly contributed to understanding of the relationship between genome organization and genome function. Here we review these 3C-based methods for the study of long-range chromatin interactions and recent exciting findings obtained by using these technologies.
Aftershock occurrence rate decay properties for intermediate and deep earthquake sequences

We perform a detailed analysis of seven aftershock sequences with intermediate- or deep-focus mainshocks occurring in the Aleutian Islands, Japan, the Pamir-Hindu Kush (PHK), Tonga, and Bolivia. For each sequence we determine the modified Omori law (MOL) p value and goodness of fit. For all sequences, we are able to find a time interval where the sequence conforms to MOL decay with either c ≡ 0 or c variable. The two sequences with deep-focus mainshocks have slightly larger p values than the intermediate depth sequences. Despite the rarity of well defined intermediate or deep aftershock sequences, neither the observed p values nor the overall sequence decay behavior significantly differ from that observed for shallow sequences.
The Jordanian Stock Market: Should You Invest in it for Risk Diversification or Performance?

We analyze the performance of the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) and its integration with other markets. Using cointegration techniques, we find that the ASE and other Arab stock markets are cointegrated, which implies little long-run risk diversification. However, there is no cointegrating relationship between the ASE and other emerging or developed stock markets. Two of the main regional stock markets-Kuwait and Saudi Arabia-Granger-cause the Jordanian stock market. The paper finds that there may have been some overvaluation at end-2005, but that the market correction in early 2006 and strong recent earnings growth have reduced overvaluation concerns.
Security procedures for program libraries

Abstract As computer programming has become more complex, management has become more concerned about its own ability to exercise appropriate control over the programmer. This paper describes an implementation of procedures, libraries, and separation of duties to improve security in programming. This implementation helps to limit scope, reveal programmer intent and fix accountability. It assumes and supports such improved programming technologies as top-down design, structured programming, psuedo-code documentation, use of librarians, inspections, and “walk-throughs”. While the implementation described here will contribute to security, it is not sufficient. Management will wish to consider the application of many other measures.
Primary and Secondary Grain Boundary Dislocations in Symmetric Tilt Grain Boundaries of Finite Length

Secondary grain boundary dislocations in large-angle grain boundaries (also called dsc-dislocations) can be described as local variations in the density of the primary (or lattice) dislocations that make up the boundary. We present a simple meso-scale simulation in which the interactions of primary dislocations with each other and with the crystal lattice produce secondary dislocations with smaller Burgers vectors and larger spacing. We use the model to explore the interactions of the primary and secondary defects with a free surface terminating the grain boundary, and demonstrate cases in which the primary dislocations dominate the interactions, forcing the secondary dislocations to increase their energy. Other cases are found, for which all of the dislocations can respond in such a way that their energy decreases. The creation of interfacial disclinations is also demonstrated.
COMPLICATIONS OF MILD HYPERTENSION

The complications of mild hypertension especially involve progression to moderate or severe hypertension, coronary events, strokes, and congestive heart failure. Less often, other complications such as rupture of a dissecting aneurysm, retinal hemorrhages, hypertensive encephalopathy, and renal failure may occur. Total mortality clearly rises with progressive increases in systolic or diastolic blood pressures even in ranges previously considered acceptable. It should not however be overlooked that some complications may be iatrogenic.
Effects of Prerigor Pressurization on the Emulsifying Capacity of Muscle Protein

The emulsifying capacities of pressure treated and control muscle homogenates, sarcoplasmic protein and myofibrillar proteins of ovine and bovine longissimus muscles were determined at 2, 6, 24 and 168 hr postmortem. The pH of the intact muscle, muscle homogenate and myofibrillar protein extract were taken at these times. Before onset of rigor mortis, the emulsifying capacity of muscle homogenate from the control samples was higher than the pressure treated samples. At 24 and 168 hr postmortem, the pressure treated and control samples were not significantly different (P>0.05) for emulsifying capacity. At 2 hr postmortem, the emulsifying capacity of myofibrillar protein extract from control samples was higher (P<0.05) than that from pressure treated samples; thereafter, the emulsification curve for the pressure treated samples was higher than that of the control. The emulsification capacity of sarcoplasmic proteins from control muscles was slightly, but consistently, higher than that from pressure treated muscles throughout the test period. Overall, the emulsification capacity of muscle proteins was not detrimentally affected by pressure treatment.
Complex Modal Analysis of a Non-Modally Damped Continuous Beam

This work represents an investigation of the complex modes of continuous vibration systems with nonmodal damping. As an example, a cantilevered beam with damping at the free end is studied. Traditional separation of variables for this problem leads to a differential eigenvalue problem which requires a numerical solution. In this paper, assumed modes are applied to discretize the eigenvalue problem in state-variable form, to then obtain estimates of the frequencies and modes. The finite-element method (FEM) is also utilized to get the mass, stiffness, and damping matrices and further to solve a state-variable eigenproblem. A comparison between the assumed-mode and finite-element eigenvalues and modal vectors shows that the methods produce consistent results. The comparison of the modes was done visually and also by using the modal assurance criterion (MAC) on the modal vectors. The assumed-mode method is then used to study the effects of the damping coefficient on mode shapes and modal damping.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
The response of cultured trigeminal and spinal cord motoneurons to nerve growth factor

Dissociated neurons from the trigeminal (V) region of the metencephalic basal plate or the ventral spinal cord from chick embryos of Day 4 (V basal plate) or Day 5 (spinal cord) were cultured on a laminin substratum either in the presence of nerve growth factor (NGF) or in control medium. Assessment was made of neuronal survival, the amount of neurite elaborated, and the percentage of neurons initiating neurites. The presence of motoneurons was verified by retrograde labeling with the fluorescent dye diI. NGF was found to significantly increase the quantity of neuritic processes produced by the spinal cord dissociates at both 24 and 48 hr in vitro. The percentage of neurons initiating neuritic processes was significantly increased by NGF in the trigeminal population at 48 hr in vitro. Neuronal survival was not enhanced by NGF in either group. Both trigeminal and spinal cord neurons were also found to specifically bind 125I-NGF in culture. These results provide direct evidence for an influence of NGF on process formation of early embryonic motoneurons in culture.
General Solution For Unifled Framework for Damaged Elastic Elements: Example Timoshenko Beams

A general (Unifled Framework), mathematically rigorous (no assumptions are made regarding the physical behavior at damage location) method to arrive at a general solution to flnd natural frequencies and mode shapes of a damaged elastic element is given in this paper supported on any boundary which result in orthogonal modes. The term mode shapes is used to mean the displacement modes, the section rotation modes, the sectional bending strain modes and sectional shear strain modes. The theory is applicable to elastic elements like rods, beams, plates and shells supported on any boundary condition. Euler Bernoulli beam theory and Timoshenko beam theory are used as an example to show the validity of the theory. Modal superposition method along with perturbation method is used to obtain the solution. Change in mass is modeled in the general framework. The framework is applicable to any type of damage proflle and any number of damages.
Linking dimensional models of internalizing psychopathology to neurobiological systems: Affect-modulated startle as an indicator of fear and distress disorders and affiliated traits.

Integrative hierarchical models have sought to account for the extensive comorbidity between various internalizing disorders in terms of broad individual difference factors these disorders share. However, such models have been developed largely on the basis of self-report and diagnostic symptom data. Toward the goal of linking such models to neurobiological systems, we review studies that have employed variants of the affect-modulated startle paradigm to investigate emotional processing in internalizing disorders as well as personality constructs known to be associated with these disorders. Specifically, we focus on four parameters of startle reactivity: fear-potentiated startle, inhibition of startle in the context of pleasant stimuli, context-potentiated startle, and general startle reactivity. On the basis of available data, we argue that these varying effects index differing neurobiological processes related to mood and anxiety disorders that are interpretable from the standpoint of dimensional models of the internalizing spectrum. Further, we contend that these empirical findings can feed back into and help reshape conceptualizations of internalizing disorders in ways that make them more amenable to neurobiological analysis.
Ergodic decomposition of a stationary channel operator

Pointwise weak* topology is defined for the set of all channel operators and the latter is shown to be compact with this topology. Since the set of all ergodic stationary channel operators coincides with the set of all extreme points of the set of stationary channel operators, each stationary channel operator is represented as an integral of ergodic stationary channel operators with respect to a suitable probability measure on the set of all ergodic stationary channel operators.
The evolution of the GANDALF system

The GANDALF System is used to generate highly interactive software development environments. This paper describes some design decisions made during the development of the GANDALF system and the system's applicability to the generation of single-user programming environments and multi-user software development environments.
Ubiquitination events that regulate recombination of immunoglobulin Loci gene segments.

Programmed DNA mutagenesis events in the immunoglobulin (Ig) loci of developing B cells utilize the common and conserved mechanism of protein ubiquitination for subsequent proteasomal degradation to generate the required antigen-receptor diversity. Recombinase proteins RAG1 and RAG2, necessary for V(D)J recombination, and Activation-Induced cytidine Deaminase (AID), an essential mutator protein for catalyzing class switch recombination (CSR) and somatic hypermutation (SHM), are regulated by various ubiquitination events that affect protein stability and activity. Programmed DNA breaks in the Ig loci can be identified by various components of DNA repair pathways, also regulated by protein ubiquitination. Errors in the ubiquitination pathways for any of the DNA double strand break repair proteins can lead to inefficient recombination and repair events, resulting in a compromised adaptive immune system or development of cancer.
Public Attitudes toward Agrobiotechnology: The Mediating Role of Risk Perceptions on the Impact of Trust, Awareness, and Outrage

Using Fishbein's multiattribute and mediation models as conceptual frameworks, we propose that the impact of trust, awareness, sense of outrage, and socio-demographic variables on attitudes toward agrobiotechnology are mediated by risk perceptions. The proposition was validated using large survey data collected in the United States and United Kingdom. Results show that trust, sense of outrage, and socio-demographic factors play an important role in shaping public attitudes about agrobitoechnology, largely via their links to risk perceptions. Moreover, risk perceptions exert a greater effect on public attitudes toward agrobiotechnology than benefit perceptions. Finally, the attitudes of U.K. consumers were more susceptible to negative attributes when compared with U.S. consumers.
Influence of river inflows on plankton distribution around the southern perimeter of the Salton Sea, California

The influence of river inflows (2.5–5 g l−1) on phytoplankton and zooplankton was assessed with samples collected at 17 sites around the 50 km perimeter of the southern basin of the Salton Sea (41–45 g l−1) along the 5 m isobath on 2 September and 11 December 2000. Phytoplankton generally increased in abundance downcurrent of the points of inflow, but patterns in downcurrent abundance varied widely among species. Several diatom species showed large increases; Chaetoceros muelleri var subsalsum, Cylindrotheca closterium and Thalassionema sp. increased up to 800-fold in abundance by ca. 20 km downcurrent from inflow points in September. In contrast, the dinoflagellates Gyrodinium uncatenum and Prorocentrum minimum increased 6- and 4-fold, respectively, in December, and Gonyaulax grindleyi actually decreased downcurrent of the rivers in September. In September, patterns in downcurrent abundance were correlated with the ratio of cell surface area to cell biovolume, with species with high ratios showing the largest increases. Zooplankton abundances did not show regular trends downcurrent of river inflows except for the larvae of Balanus amphitrite, which increased in density ca. 100-fold. This increase most likely reflected the abundance of adult-colonized rocky substrates near river inflow points. The strong upcurrent trends documented for some species seemed to have been due to the injection of nutrient-rich water from central to nearshore areas and near-site mortality due to the presence of hydrogen sulfide. This study gives a first glimpse of the complexity of the responses of nearshore plankton to river inflow and provides evidence for how changes in factors such as current speed, nutrient supply and salinity stratification may influence plankton dynamics.
GaAs MESFET With a High-Mobility Self-Assembled Planar Nanowire Channel

We demonstrate the first metal-semiconductor field-effect transistor with a self-assembled planar lang110rang GaAs nanowire channel. Well-defined dc output and transfer characteristics have been observed with a subthreshold slope of ~150 mV/dec, maximum gm of 23 mS/mm, and excellent on-current saturation. Bulklike mobility of ~4100 cm2/Vmiddots with corresponding electron concentration of 2.3middot1017 cm-3 is derived by fitting the experimental data using a self-consistent long channel field effect device model.
Cutaneous water loss and lipids of the stratum corneum in dusky antbirds, a lowland tropical bird

Abstract ABSTRACT The stratum corneum, the outer layer of the epidermis, consists of flattened cells embedded in a matrix of lipids, primarily cholesterol, free fatty acids, ceramides, and cerebrosides. The stratum corneum forms a barrier to water vapor diffusion through the skin. In birds, the skin limits excessive water loss at thermoneutral temperatures, but also serves as a vehicle for thermoregulation during episodes of heat stress. We measured total evaporative water loss, cutaneous water loss, and lipids in the stratum corneum in Dusky Antbirds (Cercomacra tyrannina), the first such measurements ever made for birds living in tropical rain forests. We predicted that these birds would have high rates of cutaneous water loss because of their need to thermoregulate rather than to conserve water. We found that Dusky Antbirds lose twice as much water through their skin as birds from temperate environments. We also hypothesized that the proportion of cerebrosides in the stratum corneum would increase rela...
Managing symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

In many patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the symptoms of abdominal pain, bloating and diarrhoea are out of proportion with the demonstrated degree of inflammation; some symptomatic patients may have complete mucosal healing. Such patients often may undergo invasive, costly and potentially dangerous tests in search of residual inflammation. What are the diagnostic considerations in such patients? How should they be managed? Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a commonly encountered disorder, with point prevalence of ∼10%1; symptom-based criteria facilitate its diagnosis.2 Although IBD affects ∼0.4% of the population in the United States and Europe,3 4 IBD and IBS may concur in a patient, purely by chance. How often do patients with IBD and inflammation in remission manifest symptoms that suggest IBS, usually IBS with diarrhoea (IBS-D)? From a database of over 1500 patients with IBD, Zaman et al 5 identified 30 with ileal Crohn's disease and 25 with ulcerative colitis involving only the rectosigmoid, and stable symptoms, no changes in medications or use of chronic steroids for 3 months, and no prior bowel surgery. Rome II IBS criteria were met by 67% of patients with Crohn's disease and 60% of ulcerative colitis, with similar symptoms in the two diseases. Thus, symptoms of IBS are common in IBD patients whose inflammation appears to be stable or in remission. In patients who do not suffer IBD, the symptoms of IBS are not sufficiently specific to differentiate, in the absence of objective tests, other conditions such as pelvic floor dyssynergia or coeliac disease that respectively mimic constipation-predominant IBS (IBS-C) and IBS-D.6 Similarly, in patients with IBD, the presence of diarrhoea, urgency and pain in the absence of significant inflammation typically occur without constitutional symptoms or rectal bleeding, and may result from specific diseases that require specific treatment (figure …
Model order reduction techniques for linear systems with large numbers of terminals

This paper addresses the well known difficulty of applying model order reduction (MOR) to linear circuits with a large number of input-output terminals. Traditional MOR techniques substitute the original large but sparse matrices used in the mathematical modeling of linear circuits by models that approximate the behavior of the circuit at its terminals, and use significantly smaller matrices. Unfortunately these small MOR matrices become dense as the number of terminals increases, thus canceling the benefits of size reduction. The paper introduces a model reduction technique suitable for circuits with numerous terminals. The technique exploits the correlation that almost always exists between circuit responses at different terminals. The correlation is rendered explicit through an SVD-based algorithm and the result is a substantial sparsification of the MOR matrices. The proposed sparsification technique is applicable to a large class of problems encountered in the analysis and design of interconnect in VLSI circuits. Relevant examples are used to analyze and validate the method.
Observations on the Validity of Neuropsychological and Personality Assessment Testing

The validity of neuropsychological testing is evaluated in the context of a growing controversy surrounding personality assessment. Claims made by a committee established by the American Psychological Association are disputed (e.g., that psychological tests are as valid as medical tests). Also, normative data for projective techniques and neuropsychological tests are contrasted. Normative data is not available for many projective techniques, and norms for the Rorschach Comprehensive System (Exner, 1993) have been seriously flawed. In contrast, norms for neuropsychological tests are widely available and fundamentally sound. Finally, with regard to the validity of judgments made by psychologists, results for projective techniques have been disappointing while results for neuropsychological tests have generally been positive. This article is based on a Keynote Address presented at the 7th Annual Conference of the Australian Psychological Society College of Clinical Neuropsychologists in Melbourne, Australia ...
New weighted maximum-intensity-projection images from cine CT for delineation of the lung tumor plus motion.

Purpose: In treatment planning of the lung tumor with 4D-CT, maximum-intensity-projection (MIP) images have been used for delineation of the gross tumor volume plus motion or iGTV, which can then be revised with the multiple phases of the 4D-CT images. Although majority of contouring can be performed with MIP, the MIP images are not recommended for delineation of iGTV if the tumor is near or connected to the diaphragm or other structures of a similar density due to insufficient contrast between the tumor and the surrounding tissues in the MIP images. To remedy this shortcoming, the authors developed a new weighted MIP (wMIP) from cine CT without respiratory gating for contouring the iGTV. Methods: The wMIP images are obtained by keeping one phase of the cine CT images with the largest tumor in the overlap region of the tumor and the diaphragm. Outside the overlap region, the wMIP images are identical to the MIP images. Both MIP and wMIP images are obtained without respiratory gating from cine CT. Results: The authors demonstrated in a study of seven patients that wMIP can achieve 92% of the iGTV from 4D-CT. The maximum surface separation of the two iGTVs between wMIP and 4D-CT was 1.7 mm and six out of the seven studies had less than 1 mm in surface separation between the iGTVs of wMIP and 4D-CT. Conclusions: This development has the potential of enabling many CT scanners capable of cine CT to assess the respiratory motion of a lung tumor without 4D-CT.
Work in progress — Using participatory action research to investigate student learning in engineers without borders

This paper provides preliminary information about the use of participatory action research (PAR) in an investigation of what and how students learn in Engineers Without Borders (EWB). PAR is a methodology based on participants' roles in setting the agenda, involvement in data collection and analysis/interpretation, and control over the use of outcomes. Key features of PAR include collaboration between researchers and participants to study and transform an organization, incorporation of participants' local knowledge of the organization, and social action based on research findings. Engaging students in PAR to better understand their own learning and practices in international engineering service projects-in an effort to improve those practices and the broader curriculum-is an innovative approach to engineering education. This paper describes this methodology and discusses its implementation in an early phase of the project: collecting data about EWB students' experiences on-site in Guatemala and in Cameroon.
Constraining Event Flow for Regulation in Pervasive Systems

An important requirement of pervasive applications is that of data collection, aggregation and dissemination. Event communication middleware based on the publish/subscribe paradigm has been used extensively to address these data flow requirements. In addition to the data flow, the designer of a system may also want to regulate the actions performed by the components in order to implement some constraints and policies. For example, the designer may want to ensure that actions performed a set of components on receiving an event notification are triggered in a specific sequence. In this paper, we propose a framework to implement such constraints by regulating the flow of events in the middleware. Since components perform actions on receiving events, by controlling the notifications delivered to the components and the sequence in which they are delivered, the order in which actions are performed in the application can be controlled. We have implemented the framework in the context of two event services, one in C++ and another in Java. We give several examples demonstrating the use of the proposed approach
Do Restrictive Rules Produce Nonmedian Outcomes? A Theory with Evidence from the 101st−108th Congresses

A fundamental tenet of partisan theories of legislative organization is that the majority party is able to generate outcomes that deviate in their preferred direction from the chamber median. While these biased outcomes may be achieved through arm twisting on final passage votes, there is a more efficient means for achieving this bias: restrictive rules. While scholars have recognized this tactic as an important leadership tool in the House, its effectiveness has been often assumed but never empirically tested. We develop a theoretical model that demonstrates how the majority party can use restrictive rules to offer successful “take-it-or-leave-it” proposals to the floor median. More significantly, we test this model using DW-NOMINATE's estimated cut points of final passage roll calls in the House from the 101st to 108th Congress. Our results support the prediction of our model and suggest that majority party leaders achieve biased policy outcomes through the use of restrictive rules.
Testing new targets of therapy in advanced heart failure: the design and rationale of the Strategies for Tailoring Advanced Heart Failure Regimens in the Outpatient Setting: BRain NatrIuretic Peptide Versus the Clinical CongesTion ScorE (STARBRITE) trial.

failure: The design and rationale of the Strategies for Tailoring Advanced Heart Failure Regimens in the Outpatient Setting: BRain NatrIuretic Peptide Versus the Clinical CongesTion ScorE (STARBRITE) trial Monica R. Shah, MD, Karen A. Claise, RN, Margaret T. Bowers, NP, Manjushri Bhapkar, MS, Julie Little, NP, Anju Nohria, MD, Laura H. Gaulden, NP, Vickie K. McKee, RN, Kara L. Cozart, Karen L. Mancinelli, MBA, Helen Daniels, Tesca Kinard, Lynne W. Stevenson, MD, Donna M. Mancini, MD, Christopher M. O’Connor, MD, and and Robert M. Califf MD New York, NY, Durham, NC, and Boston, Mass
The causation and prevention of famines: A reply

Nolan's [1993] present ‘critique’, like his two previous ‘critiques’ of my work [Nolan, 1991; Nolan and Sender, 1992], draw liberally on misconstruction of what I have said. The distortions cover a vast field, including the concept of entitlements, the nature of famines in general (and of the Chinese famine in particular), the roles of food production, transport, and wars, and so on. In my reply I have tried to identify the misrepresentations in some detail. What Nolan calls ‘Sen's approach’ is his own creation, and the criticisms that Nolan makes of that approach should be addressed by its author, to wit, Nolan. I have tried to spell out the respects in which the analyses I have presented on famines differ from the views, conjectures and slogans cheerfully attributed to me by Peter Nolan.
Life in a niche: Mortality anxiety among organized interests in the American states

We extend recent research using a population ecology framework to understand the structure of interest communities by examining how niche resources and population density influence the survival prospects of inter ests organization. We indirectly assess how resources and density bear on survival by examining mortality anxiety-assessments of the likelihood that interest organization will soon face an existence-threatening crisis. Several hypotheses on mortality anxiety are extracted from the population ecology research program and tested with survey data on interest communities in six states.
Close Linkage Relationship of the Z-Linked Pop-Eye and Silver Plumage Color Loci in the Chicken

The Z-linked pop-eye and the silver plumage color loci in the chicken were tested for linkage using a back cross. The F1 males used were silver, with normal eyes and gold down, pop-eye in coupling (*S *N/*G *POP). The females were gold, pop-eye (*G *POP/W). In previous studies, it had been suggested that both loci were on the short arm of the Z chromosome. There were 13 recombinants among 187 individuals obtained from this mating, indicating that these loci are linked by about 7 cM.
Comparison of diffuse optical tomography of human breast with whole-body and breast-only positron emission tomography

We acquire and compare three-dimensional tomographic breast images of three females with suspicious masses using diffuse optical tomography (DOT) and positron emission tomography (PET). Co-registration of DOT and PET images was facilitated by a mutual information maximization algorithm. We also compared DOT and whole-body PET images of 14 patients with breast abnormalities. Positive correlations were found between total hemoglobin concentration and tissue scattering measured by DOT, and fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) uptake. In light of these observations, we suggest potential benefits of combining both PET and DOT for characterization of breast lesions.
Investigation into transient characteristics of post-welding shift for opto-electronic pigtail package

We study transient post-welding shift (PWS) with experiment and simulation. Measurement of PWS with non-contact displacement sensor reveals that a typical laser welding of TO-can pigtail package involves transient PWS with multiple characteristic time scales. Finite element modeling (FEM) of a three-dimensional structure with thermo-mechanical coupling helps us visualize the dynamics of the miniscule PWS. This study gives a better understanding on the physical process of transient PWS.
Evaluation of a Rapid Impedimetric Procedure for the Quantitative Estimation of Coliforms

A selective coliform medium (CM), developed for the impedimetric detection of coliforms, produced better impedance signals than conventional media. The selectivity of CM was better than that of lauryl tryptose broth (LTB) and violet red bile agar (VRBA). The applicability of CM to the quantitative impedimetric detection of coliforms in meat was tested and compared with most probable number and VRBA plate counts. Approximately 90% of the typical VRBA colonies did not produce gas when tested in brilliant green bile broth (BGB). Therefore, the VRBA counts were corrected by the percentage of colonies which produced gas in BGB for each sample. A correlation coefficient of 0.90 was obtained between the impedimetric test and corrected VRBA plate counts using a combined total of 91 meat samples tested by two different laboratories.
Secondary and Tertiary Alkyl Ketones from Carboxylic Acid Chlorides and Lithium Phenylthio(Alkyl)Cuprate Reagents: tert‐Butyl Phenyl Ketone

Secondary and tertiary alkyl ketones from carboxylic acid chlorides and lithium phenylthio(alkyl)cuprate reagents: tert-butyl phenyl ketone reactant: 8.81 g. (0.0801 mole) of freshly distilled thiophenol reactant: 2.81 g. (0.0200 mole) of freshly distilled benzoyl chloride product: tert-butyl phenyl ketone byproduct: tert-butyl benzoate (from lithium tert-butoxide;) Keywords: Grignard and related reactions; metalation reactions, copper; metalation reactions, lithium; assay methods, for butyllithium, with 2-butanol, menthol, 2-pentanol, or 2-propanol, 1,10-phenanthroline indicator; assay methods, for tert-butyllithium by double titration; assay methods, for tert-butyllithium by double titration, with 2-butanol, 2,2′-bipydridyl indicator; assay methods, for lithium thiophenoxide; copper(I) iodide; lithium phenylthio(tert-butyl)cuprate; lithium thiophenoxide, preparation of; lithium thiophenoxide, titration of; tetrahydrofuran; benzene
Ethanol reinforcement and its relationship to saccharin preference in Wistar rats

Forty rats were given a choice between 0.1% sodium saccharin and water. Based on their intakes, three groups of six rats representing high, intermediate, and low saccharin preferences were selected. These rats were reduced to 80% of their free-feeding weights. Ethanol was established as a reinforcer by use of a food-induced drinking procedure. Between-group differences were assessed based on response rates across acquisition sessions (0, 1, 2, 4, 5.7, 8%, w/v), a fixed-ratio series (1, 2, 4, 8, 1), and a concentration series (8, 5.7, 4, 2, 2, 4, 5.7, 8, 11.3, 16, 22.6, 32, 8%, w/v). In 29 of 32 conditions which were analyzed, the mean number of responses for ethanol was higher for the high saccharin preference group than for the low, and in 25 of 32 conditions, the intermediate group fell between the high and the low. However, there was considerable variability within groups across all conditions, such that mean between-group differences were not significant. This variability may be reduced by considering diet preferences in addition to saccharin preference. Nonetheless, these results offer limited support for the increasing body of evidence indicating a relationship between the factors mediating ethanol self-administration and those involving ingestion of palatable foods and fluids.
Reflections on qualitative attributes of mobile agents for computational, data, and service grids

Software agents are expected to play an increasingly important role in computational, service, and data grids built around the Internet. We discuss attributes of mobile agents and propose criteria that may be used for qualitative and quantitative evaluation of mobile agent systems.
Evolutionary model selection in unsupervised learning

Feature subset selection is important not only for the insight gained from determining relevant modeling variables but also for the improved understandability, scalability, and possibly, accuracy of the resulting models. Feature selection has traditionally been studied in supervised learning situations, with some estimate of accuracy used to evaluate candidate subsets. However, we often cannot apply supervised learning for lack of a training signal. For these cases, we propose a new feature selection approach based on clustering. A number of heuristic criteria can be used to estimate the quality of clusters built from a given feature subset. Rather than combining such criteria, we use ELSA, an evolutionary local selection algorithm that maintains a diverse population of solutions that approximate the Pareto front in a multi-dimensional objective space. Each evolved solution represents a feature subset and a number of clusters; two representative clustering algorithms, K-means and EM, are applied to form the given number of clusters based on the selected features. Experimental results on both real and synthetic data show that the method can consistently find approximate Pareto-optimal solutions through which we can identify the significant features and an appropriate number of clusters. This results in models with better and clearer semantic relevance.
Insulators to Improve the Safety of Retroviral Vectors for HIV Gene Therapy

Retroviral vector gene therapy is a promising approach to treating HIV-1. However, integrated vectors are mutagens with the potential to dysregulate nearby genes and cause severe adverse side effects. Leukemia has already been a documented severe adverse event in gene therapy clinical trials for the treatment of primary immunodeficiencies. These side effects will need to be reduced or avoided if retroviral vectors are to be used clinically for HIV-1 treatment. The addition of chromatin insulators to retroviral vectors is a potential strategy for reducing adverse side effects. Insulators have already been effectively used in retroviral vectors to reduce genotoxicity in pre-clinical studies. Here, we will review how insulators function, genotoxicity in gene therapy clinical trials, the design of insulated retroviral vectors, promising results from insulated retroviral vector studies, and considerations for the development of insulated retroviral treatment vectors for HIV-1 gene therapy.
On Compensation and Return: Why the Continuing Injustice Argument for Compensating for Historical Injustices Will Probably Fail to Justify Compensating for Historical Injustices, or the Return of Property

This essay offers an objection to recent attempts to justify compensating for historical injustices. Sher, Boxill and Cohen attempt to justify compensating the descendants of an original victim of past wrongs. They argue, that in cases in which the original wrong doer failed to compensate the original victim, the duty to compensate does not "disappear" with the passing away of the victim. Rather, it means that the wrong doer is now under a duty to compensate the descendants of the original victim. What was owed to the victim, is now owed to his/her descendants. I shall argue that their argument, that I'll term the "continuing injustice argument" (CIA), fails to justify compensating the descendants of the original victim(s) of past wrongs. I shall examine the following factors of the CIA: 1. The status of the descendants of the wrong doer as fault free, their right to a stable continuation of their life, and their obligation to return to the descendants of the victim whatever unlawfully gained property that was passed to them. 2. The responsibility of the descendants of the victim. 3. Discounting the claims for compensation of the descendants of the victim that reach a certain level of welfare. 4. Assessing the part that third parties have in the welfare situation of the descendants of the victim. 5. Assessing information related issues.
Regional time-dependent changes in vasopressin V2 receptor expression in the rat kidney during water restriction

Elevations of arginine vasopressin (AVP) binding to renal vasopressin V2 receptors (V2R) enhance water and urea reabsorption in the collecting duct epithelium. This study was designed to quantify the levels of V2R mRNA and protein within the distinct regions of the Sprague-Dawley rat kidney (i.e., the cortex and outer and inner medulla) during 24 and 48 h of water restriction. A competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay was developed to quantify changes in the V2R mRNA, in which a deletion mutant RNA transcript was used to control for the efficiency of RT-PCR. Western blot analysis was utilized for the quantification of the V2R protein. The results showed that the steady-state levels of the V2R mRNA decreased in a time-dependent manner in the cortex and outer and inner medulla throughout 48 h of water restriction. Western blot analysis revealed that the V2R protein in the renal cortex decreased after the initial 24 h of water restriction and remained decreased at 48 h. In contrast, outer medullary V2R protein decreased significantly only after 48 h of water restriction, whereas no significant change in the inner medullary V2R protein was observed throughout the 48 h of water restriction. These results suggest that water restriction leads to a regional time-dependent downregulation of the V2R mRNA and protein within the rat kidney. The stability of the plasma membrane V2R protein within the inner medulla may allow for the optimization of urine concentration and minimize water loss during periods of water restriction.
Of Time and Candidates A Forecast for 1996

To forecast presidential elections, I explore the dynamic of the vote ("time") and introduce a measure of candidate support that covers both the incumbent and the challenger. Stochastic models help identify the dynamic of the presidential vote as second-order autoregressive. The strength of the candidates is gauged by an index of electoral success in presidential primaries—in particular, whether the nominee won the first pnmary. Also included as a vote predictor is the economy, as measured by gross national product (GNP) growth and inflation in the election year. The forecasting equation predicts victory for Bill Clinton, with 57.1 % of the major party vote in November 1996. Time is on his side, in the sense that the autoregressive dynamic favors election of a presidential candidate whose party just captured the White House. But what predicts a comfortable margin is Clinton's edge in the candidate comparison, with the economy exerting little electoral pull this year.
Response to "Going in the wrong direction with monsplasty".

It is true that massive weight loss patients may have horizontal as well as vertical skin excess. Tailoring the transverse closure can eliminate most cases of horizontal excess. The authors' technique1 of using a vertical ellipse from the anterior labial commissure (vaginal cleft) to the transverse abdominal contouring incision will certainly decrease horizontal skin excess, but it has certain disadvantages, both functionally and cosmetically. Their technique does not address the …
Iterative Methods for Solving Matrix Equations

(1965). Iterative Methods for Solving Matrix Equations. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 72, No. sup2, pp. 67-74.
The Testing of Germicidal Substances Against the Gonococcus

In gonorrhea, a disease second to none in frequency and economic and social importance, the treatment is almost entirely empiric. The literature contains but few experimental studies on this subject, and the few to be found are incomplete and inconclusive. In undertaking a series of laboratory researches on venereal disease, we have attempted, by experimentation, to lay down some principles on which therapy can be based and, if possible, eventually to attain a rational basis in this field comparable to that in the other fields of medical treatment. In gonorrhea in the male, one is dealing, in the majority of cases, with a local infection beginning on a mucous surface and extending into the deeper tissues and glands, but remaining confined to the organs immediately contiguous to the original site of infection. The anatomic structure of these organs bears an important relation to the course and outcome of the disease. The urethra is surrounded, from the fossa navicularis to the vesical orifice, by various glandular structures, of which the glands of Littre, the glands of Cowper, and the prostate gland are the most important. All of these glands are racemose, convoluted and of narrow lumen. The gonococcus penetrates them readily, and in a short time they become plugged with exudate or closed off by scar tissue. As a part of the researches in this laboratory, a study has been made of the anatomy of these glands in the embryo and iri the adult1 and an examination of Johnson' s plates shows what a labyrinth of passages exists, and how deeply the anatomic relations must influence the clinical course of a gonorrheal urethritis.