cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A learning algorithm for continually running fully recurrent neural networks

The exact form of a gradient-following learning algorithm for completely recurrent networks running in continually sampled time is derived and used as the basis for practical algorithms for temporal supervised learning tasks. These algorithms have (1) the advantage that they do not require a precisely defined training interval, operating while the network runs; and (2) the disadvantage that they require nonlocal communication in the network being trained and are computationally expensive. These algorithms allow networks having recurrent connections to learn complex tasks that require the retention of information over time periods having either fixed or indefinite length.
Bayesian Analysis of Randomized Response Sum Score Variables

The randomized-response (RR) technique is an effective survey method when collecting sensitive information. In this technique, a probability mechanism using randomization devices is commonly involved in answering to sensitive questions. In order to evaluate the survey at the most accurate extend, self-protection (SP) is introduced to describe the responses by participants who give the evasive answer without taking the result of the randomization device into account. In this study, we propose a Bayesian approach to modeling RR sum score variables under SP assumption. RR data from a Dutch survey on non-compliance with social security regulation in 2004 is used to demonstrate the proposed models.
Interpersonal- and Community-Level Predictors of Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration among African American Men

Intimate partner violence (IPV) has been associated with adverse physical, psychoemotional, and sexual health, and African American women are at higher risk for experiencing IPV. Considering African American women predominantly have African American male partners, it is essential to identify factors associated with IPV perpetration among African American men. The present study examined attitudes toward IPV, ineffective couple conflict resolution, exposure to neighborhood violence, and the interplay of these factors as predictors of IPV perpetration. A community sample of 80 single, heterosexual, African American men between 18 and 29 years completed measures assessing sociodemographics, attitudes towards IPV, perceived ineffective couple conflict resolution, exposure to neighborhood violence, and IPV perpetration during the past 3 months. Hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses, with age, education, and public assistance as covariates, were conducted on 65 men who reported being in a main relationship. Couple conflict resolution and exposure to neighborhood violence moderated the relation between attitudes supporting IPV and IPV perpetration. Among men who reported high ineffective couple conflict resolution and high exposure to neighborhood violence, IPV perpetration increased as attitudes supporting IPV increased. The findings indicated that interpersonal- and community-level factors interact with individual level factors to increase the risk of recent IPV perpetration among African American men. While IPV prevention should include individual-level interventions that focus on skills building, these findings also highlight the importance of couple-, community-, and structural-level interventions.
Note on the least squares solution for the method of successive categories

The problem of estimation in the method of successive categories is reconsidered and a new least squares solution is obtained. An empirical comparison of this solution with Gulliksen's solution is presented.
Guaranteed infinite horizon avoidance of unpredictable, dynamically constrained obstacles

This paper presents a new approach to guaranteeing collision avoidance with respect to moving obstacles that have constrained dynamics but move unpredictably. Velocity Obstacles have been used previously to plan trajectories that avoid collisions with obstacles under the assumption that the trajectories of the objects are either known or can be accurately predicted ahead of time. However, for real systems this predicted trajectory will typically only be accurate over short time-horizons. To achieve safety over longer time periods, this paper instead considers the set of all reachable points by an obstacle assuming that the dynamics fit the unicycle model, which has known constant forward speed and a maximum turn rate (sometimes called the Dubins car model). This paper extends the Velocity Obstacle formulation by using reachability sets in place of a single "known" trajectory to find matching constraints in velocity space, called Velocity Obstacle Sets. The Velocity Obstacle Set for each obstacle is equivalent to the union of all velocity obstacles corresponding to any dynamically feasible future trajectory, given the obstacle's current state. This region remains bounded as the time horizon is increased to infinity, and by choosing control inputs that lie outside of these Velocity Obstacle Sets, it is guaranteed that the host agent can always actively avoid collisions with the obstacles, even without knowing their exact future trajectories. Furthermore it is proven that, subject to certain initial conditions, an iterative planner under these constraints guarantees safety for all time. Such an iterative planner is implemented and demonstrated in simulation.
Ionic and atomic absorption in stable spark discharges

Abstract Transient ionic and atomic emission-absorption measurements on a train of positionally-stable copper spark discharges are described. The measurements are made as a function of discharge current duration at constant amplitude and rise time. Spatial observation zones are isolated in the spark gap with a set of masks and a relay lens to estimate the movement of electrode vapor. Absorption measurements required custom circuitry for a pulsed hollow-cathode backlight and synchronously gated dual-channel boxcar integrator. Results indicated that electrode vapor moves primarily along the interelectrode axis in response to current duration, with substantial ionization remaining in the post-discharge period. Neutral atoms remain in the gap for long times after current cessation.
Modelling polarity transitions with radial dipole sources: Geomagnetic field behavior at northern mid-latitudes

The behavior of the geomagnetic field during polarity transitions has been studied by modelling Parker-Levy cyclonic convection cells with radial dipole sources located at the core/mantle boundary. The polarity transitions are generated by inverting the dipoles in an ever-increasing spherical cap. Initial results for observation sites at northern mid-latitudes demonstrate the dependence of the observed behavior of the geomagnetic field on the location of the center of the spherical cap. Although the modelling reproduces certain features of earlier models, it also accounts for observed phenomena not predicted by the other models. By initiating the reversal at 70°S, 30°W, we obtain a good fit to the available data for the Brunhes-Matuyama transition as observed at northern-latitude sites.
Outsourcing human resource management: A comparison of Russian and U.S. practices

Our objective is to determine the current state of outsourcing of HRM functions at companies operating in Russia, both Russian and Russian-based foreign com-panies, and compare and contrast the results with the findings of the Society for Human Research Management (SHRM) study of outsourcing practices at American companies in the United States. The comparison reveals the differences and similarities in terms of reasons for outsourcing as well as the obstacles and problems in implementing HRM outsourcing decisions to a foreign setting.
Vascular Smooth Muscle Contractile Function Is Impaired during Early and Late Stages of Sepsis

Abstract Although impairment of vascular smooth muscle contractility occurs during the late stages of polymicrobial sepsis, it is not known whether this also occurs in early stages of sepsis and, if so, whether different mechanisms are responsible for such smooth muscle dysfunction. To determine this, rats were subjected to sepsis by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Immediately following CLP or sham operation, all animals received 3 ml/100 g body wt normal saline. Septic and sham rats were then sacrificed at 5, 10, or 35 hr after CLP (5-10 hr post-CLP, early sepsis; 35 hr post-CLP, late sepsis), and aortic rings were prepared for contraction studies using organ chamber technique. Dose-response contractions to norepinephrine (NE, 109 to 10-5 M; receptor-mediated process) and KCl (7.5 to 90 mM; non-receptor mediated) were determined in rings with or without intact endothelium. Endothelial cell removal was confirmed by the absence of relaxation in response to an endothelium-dependent vasodilator, acetylcholine. The results indicate that NE- and KCl-induced vascular contractions were not altered at 5 hr after CLP. At 10 hr post-CLP, however, vascular contractility decreased markedly in the endothelium intact rings. Endothelium removal at 10 hr after CLP restored the contraction induced by NE and KCl to sham levels. In contrast, the smooth muscle contractile dysfunction, observed during late sepsis (35 hr post-CLP), was not restored by the removal of endothelium. Thus, the smooth muscle impairment, observed in early sepsis, is due to mediators released from septic endothelium. In contrast, vascular smooth muscle contractile dysfunction, in late sepsis, is due to direct impairment of the smooth muscle cells.
The interpretation of optically detected endor in zero field and their relationship to 14N nuclear quadrupole interactions in 3 (ππ*) states of quinoline and quinoxaline

Abstract It is shown that the proper assignment of 14 N ENDOR transitions in azaaromatic π,π * triplet states must take into consideration the contribution of the electron magnetic moment operator to the intensity of a given transition. In quinoline and quinoxaline, the electron magnetic moment operator is found to give the dominant contribution to ENDOR intensities, and to a high degree of accuracy the nuclear moment operator may be neglected. An erroneous ENDOR assignment of quinoxaline is corrected on this basis, and the ENDOR of quinoline is assigned. In particular, we find for these molecules that the dominant ENDOR transitions do not yield the 14 N qudrupole parameters e 2 qQ and η independently, but only the value of 3 e 2 qQ (1-η/3)/4.
Axionic black holes from massive axions

Abstract A black hole may carry axionic charge in a theory which has gravity coupled to a massless two-form Kalb-Ramond field. We show that this effect persists if the axion has a topological mass term coupling the Kalb-Ramond potential to a U(1) gauge field. Such mass terms arise in the low-energy effective theory of the string.
Left Atrial-Left Ventricular Bypass for Congenital Mitral Stenosis

The case of a patient with congenital mitral stenosis successfully treated by insertion of a left atrial-left ventricular valved conduit is presented. After insertion of the conduit, pulmonary artery pressure was normal, persistent pulmonary edema and ascites disappeared, and the child's rate of growth and level of activities returned to normal.
Minute math: An action research study of student self-assessment

Forty-one students in two third grade classes, including special education students, participated in an action research project conducted jointly by two university supervisors, three teachers, and three student teachers. The “Minute Math” project involved students in predicting and graphing their test scores on a weekly conventional timed test of the 0–9 multiplication facts. Students also reflected each week on their progress and the success of their studying and problem-solving strategies. Student self-assessment was successful at turning the rote memorization task of learning the times tables into a deeper experience for students about monitoring their own mathematics learning.
Risk assessment of adolescents with same-sex relationships

Abstract Purpose: To compare the risk status on health and behavior for those with same-sex partners and those without. Methods: Add Health data provide a sample of 20,745 adolescents in grades 7 through 12 interviewed at home. The risk statuses of respondents with no partners, same-sex-only partners, and partners of both sexes were compared to respondents with opposite-sex partners only. Respondents were evaluated on selected personal and social attributes (verbal IQ, family structure, masculinity, popularity), and risk status (substance use, depression, suicidal thoughts, anal sex, general delinquency, being physically attacked, perceived risk of being killed or getting AIDS). Data were analyzed by logistic and linear regression using STATA to adjust for clustering and sampling weights. Results: Compared to boys with opposite-sex-only partners, boys with same-sex-only partners were at high risk for emotional problems, but not delinquency or substance use. Boys with partners of both sexes were at high risk for delinquency and substance use, but not for emotional problems. Neither group of boys with same-sex partners is at high risk of being attacked compared to those with opposite-sex partners only. Girls with only same-sex partners are never a high-risk group, while girls with partners of both sexes are the high-risk category in every case. Conclusions: Adolescents with same-sex-only partners do not resemble those with partners of both sexes in risk status. Combining the two categories obscures the unique risk profile of those with both-sex partners, and obscures the low risk on most variables but the high emotional risk of boys with only same-sex partners.
BoomerAMG: a parallel algebraic multigrid solver and preconditioner

Driven by the need to solve linear systems arising from problems posed on extremely large, unstructured grids, there has been a recent resurgence of interest in algebraic multigrid (AMG). AMG is attractive in that it holds out the possibility of multigrid-like performance on unstructured grids. The sheer size of many modern physics and simulation problems has led to the development of massively parallel computers, and has sparked much research into developing algorithms for them. Parallelizing AMG is a difficult task, however. While much of the AMG method parallelizes readily, the process of coarse-grid selection, in particular, is fundamentally sequential in nature.We have previously introduced a parallel algorithm [A.J. Cleary, R.D. Falgout, V.E. Henson, J.E. Jones, in: Proceedings of the Fifth International Symposium on Solving Irregularly Structured Problems in Parallel, Springer, New York, 1998] for the selection of coarse-grid points, based on modifications of certain parallel independent set algorithms and the application of heuristics designed to insure the quality of the coarse grids, and shown results from a prototype serial version of the algorithm.In this paper we describe an implementation of a parallel AMG code, using the algorithm of A.J. Cleary, R.D. Falgout, V.E. Henson, J.E. Jones [in: Proceedings of the Fifth International Symposium on Solving Irregularly Structured Problems in Parallel, Springer, New York, 1998] as well as other approaches to parallelizing the coarse-grid selection. We consider three basic coarsening schemes and certain modifications to the basic schemes, designed to address specific performance issues. We present numerical results for a broad range of problem sizes and descriptions, and draw conclusions regarding the efficacy of the method. Finally, we indicate the current directions of the research.
Adolescent Alcohol Use and Intergenerational Transfers: Evidence from Micro Data

Using the first seven waves (1997–2003) of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97), this paper investigates the effect of adolescent alcohol use on the amount of transfers they receive from their parents. Exploiting cross state and time variation in the price of alcohol, the main finding is that greater binge drinking among youths is associated with receiving significantly lower parental transfers. From a theoretical standpoint, one way to interpret this finding is to imagine an altruistic parent using pecuniary incentives to influence child behavior. Given that for many teenagers parental allowance is an important component of their income, limiting and monitoring such transfers may help reducing the chances of excessive drinking by youth.
Evolutionary discovery of algorithms as circuits for quantum computers

This paper demonstrates an application of an evolutionary approach for solving a class of non-trivial, hardware-design problems. Array processing features of the computer language APL simplify the implementation of an evolutionary solution in which simulation is performed by a genetic algorithm on a population of candidate solutions until one or more are satisfactory quantum algorithms. The objective of the simulation model is the automatic discovery of quantum computer algorithms. The algorithms are expressed in a circuit model that specifies the sequences in which quantum operators are to be applied. The automatically configured circuits operate as quantum computers that for the present have their domains of application limited to evaluation of only a few specific functions. The simulations use a small collection of basic and relatively low-level operators to obtain perfect results for five different target functions. These functions were chosen to demonstrate how, on a personal computer, an evolutionary method is able to discover novel designs of computing hardware. The results establish that it is feasible to use genetic algorithms in an evolutionary method to invent correct hardware designs. The progress of simulated evolution is directed by input/output constraints and a fitness function. Alternative configurations of circuit models can obtain algorithms with promise for future quantum computers. Current simulations yield primitive quantum algorithms with a total of twelve or fewer inputs and outputs. The discovered algorithms produce the correct results for evaluating the five selected logical and arithmetic functions.
Interaction of IGF-Binding Protein-Related Protein 1 with a Novel Protein, Neuroendocrine Differentiation Factor, Results in Neuroendocrine Differentiation of Prostate Cancer Cells

Neuroendocrine cells have been implicated in many cancers, including small cell lung, cervical, breast, and prostate carcinomas. The increase in neuroendocrine cell number in prostate cancer has been reported to correlate with poor prognosis, progressive tumors, and androgen insensitivity. The mechanisms involved in this differentiation remain unknown. IGF-binding protein-related protein 1 is a member of the IGF-binding protein superfamily and has recently been shown to exhibit differentiation and tumor suppression activity in prostate cancer cell lines stably overexpressing IGF-binding protein-related protein 1. From a yeast two-hybrid screen, a novel IGF-binding protein-related protein 1-interacting protein was identified. Immunocytochemical techniques indicate that this protein, 25.1, and intracellular IGF-binding protein-related protein 1 colocalize in the nucleus. When 25.1 is transiently expressed in a stable prostate cancer cell line overexpressing IGF-binding protein-related protein 1, cells assume a neuritic-like morphology with long dendritic-like processes and express the neuroendocrine markers chromogranin A and neuron-specific enolase. We propose that 25.1 (neuroendocrine differentiation factor) together with IGF-binding protein-related protein 1 can induce neuroendocrine cell differentiation in prostate cancer cells.
Dental utilization of a neighborhood health center.

These three investigators have demonstrated the problem ahead of a neighborhood health center in its attempt to gain better utilization of continued dental supervision for the patients concerned.
Interpreting data from within: supporting humandata interaction in museum exhibits through perspective taking

As data rather than physical artifacts become more commonly the product of modern scientific endeavor, we must attend to humandata interactions as people reason about and with representations of data increasingly being presented in museum settings. Complex data sets can be impenetrable for novices, so the exhibit presented here was designed to give visitors control over a personalized "slice" of the data set as an entry point for exploration. Personalized control and collaboration can often be at odds in exhibits, however. This paper presents a study of two alternate approaches to designing an embodied interaction control for the exhibit that serves both needs. The results demonstrate that interaction design can affect children's perspective taking as they interact with a Census data map museum display, and that the perspective taken by individuals is correlated with their operation of the interactive exhibit and the kinds of reasoning they employ while investigating data.
Changes in distress intolerance and treatment outcome in a partial hospital setting.

Abstract Despite the well-established role of distress intolerance (DI) in a wide range of psychological disorders, few studies have examined whether DI improves during treatment and whether these changes are associated with symptom outcomes. Patients ( N = 626) enrolled in a brief cognitive-behavioral partial hospital program completed pre- and posttreatment measures of DI. Results indicated that DI decreased significantly during treatment, with more than 30% of the sample exhibiting a reduction of more than 2 standard deviations from the sample mean. Women reported higher DI than men at baseline; however, there were no gender differences in changes in DI over time. Participants also completed a pre- and posttreatment measure of depression and a subset completed a measure of anxiety ( n = 167). DI was associated with more severe depression and anxiety at pre- and posttreatment, with participants who reported a decrease in DI also reporting lower depression and anxiety symptoms at post-treatment. These results further highlight the transdiagnostic relevance of DI and suggest that DI may be a relevant factor in treatment outcome for depression and anxiety.
A singular perturbation analysis of two-dimensional wind tunnel interferences

Wall interference on an airfoil model in a wind tunnel has been treated as a singular perturbation problem for both subsonic and transonic flows. This problem is formulated within the framework of small perturbation theory. It is shown that the classical interference solution consists of the outer boundary condition for the inner boundary value problem.
Movement Disorders Associated With Withdrawal From High-Dose Intravenous Haloperidol Therapy in Delirious ICU Patients

Intravenous haloperidol is recommended as the drug of choice to treat delirium in ICU patients. Movement disorders and other adverse events commonly occur with oral haloperidol use but are rarely seen with IV haloperidol use, and withdrawal symptoms have not been reported with short-term ICU use. We describe self-limited dyskinesia during withdrawal of high-dose continuous IV haloperidol therapy in five ICU patients.
Near-threshold pion production with storage rings

Abstract The first seven years of experience with stored, cooled light-ion beams have clearly demonstrated the benefits of this new technology for nuclear physics. In particular, our knowledge of pion production near threshold has been improved dramatically, leading to important, and sometimes surprising, consequences for a range of nuclear-physics topics.
Growth of surface colonies of the gliding bacterium Myxococcus xanthus.

1. Colonies of several gliding, semi-motile and non-motile strains ofMyxococcus xanthus demonstrate a constant rate of diameter increase. Colonies of motile strains, characterized by a predominance of cell swarms at the leading edges, expand more rapidly than those with single, gliding cells at their peripheries. 2. Colony growth rate is proportional to the growth rate of cells in shake culture and on agar and to the square root of nutrient concentration over a wide concentration range. The rate of colony growth is affected by temperature and by agar concentration and depth but not by hight nor gravity.
The limits of template-directed synthesis with nucleoside-5'-phosphoro(2-methyl)imidazolides

In earlier work we have shown that C-rich templates containing isolated A, T or G residues and short oligo(G) sequences can be copied effectively using nucleoside-5'-phosphoro(2-methyl)imidazolides as substrates. We now show that isolated A or T residues within an oligo(G) sequence are a complete block to copying and that an isolated C residue is copied inefficiently. Replication is possible only if there are two complementary oligonucleotides each of which acts as a template to facilitate the synthesis of the other. We emphasize the severity of the problems that need to be overcome to make possible non-enzymatic replication in homogeneous aqueous solution. We conclude that an efficient catalyst was involved in the origin of polynucleotide replication.
Analytical formulation for acousto-electromagnetic interaction in buried landmine detection

Calculation of the electromagnetic scattering form a buried object, such as a landmine, under acoustic vibration requires a scattering solution for an object beneath an interface with acoustically-induced surface roughness. An analytical solution is presented for the electromagnetic scattering from a dielectric circular cylinder embedded in a dielectric half-space with a slightly rough interface. The solution utilizes the spectral representation of the fields and accounts for all the multiple interactions between the rough interface and the buried cylinder. First order coefficients from the small perturbation method are used for computation of the scattered fields from the rough surface. The derivation includes both TM and TE polarizations and can be easily extended for other cylindrical buried objects. Scattering scenarios are examined utilizing the new solution for a dielectric cylinder beneath both flat and arbitrary surface profiles.
Differential pigmentation in the sexual phase of Coelomomyces

THE fungal mosquito parasite, Coelomomyces dodgei (Chytridiomycetes: Blastocladiales), produces gametophytes and gametangia of two different colours, light amber and bright orange, in the intermediate copepod host, Cyclops vernalis. Each gametartgium produces gametes of a corresponding colour. Experimental evidence is presented here which indicates that these differentially pigmented gametes are of opposite mating types, the light amber being female and the bright orange being male, and that zygotes capable of infecting mosquitoes, are produced by their fusion. This differential pigmentation provides a valuable marker for identifying gametes of opposite mating type for experimental purposes, and additionally provides further evidence for a phylogenetic relationship between Coelomomyces and certain other genera of the order Blastocladiales.
Hybrid approach to molecular continuum processes combining Gaussian basis functions and the discrete variable representation

Gaussian basis functions, routinely employed in molecular electronic structure calculations, can be combined with numerical grid-based functions in a discrete variable representation to provide an efficient method for computing molecular continuum wave functions. This approach, combined with exterior complex scaling, obviates the need for slowly convergent single-center expansions, and allows one to study a variety of electron-molecule collision problems. The method is illustrated by computation of various bound and continuum properties of H2+.
Effect of crystalloid infusion on hematocrit and intravascular volume in healthy, nonbleeding subjects

We evaluated the effect of IV crystalloid administration on hematocrit in 28 healthy, nonbleeding volunteers. Normal saline boluses of 10, 20, and 30 mL/kg were delivered at a mean rate of 115 +/- 4 mL/min, followed by a continuous infusion of either 1 or 5 mL/kg/hr. Hematocrit values determined immediately after bolus infusion declined from baseline a mean +/- SEM of 4.5 +/- 0.6 (P less than .001), 6.1 +/- 0.4 (P less than .001) and 6.3 +/- 0.6 points (P less than .001) in the 10, 20, and 30 mL/kg groups, respectively. Twenty minutes into the maintenance infusion, hematocrits had risen 1.5 +/- 0.8 (P = .03), 2.4 +/- 0.4 (P = .004) and 2.3 +/- 0.7 points (P = .005) when compared with post-bolus hematocrits in the 10, 20, and 30 mL/kg groups, respectively. These data show that in healthy, nonbleeding subjects, crystalloid infusion may cause significant changes in hematocrit. Calculations reveal that approximately 60% of infused saline, when delivered as a bolus, will diffuse from the intravascular space within 20 minutes of administration.
Financial Comparison of Laparoscopic Versus Open Hepatic Resection Using Deviation-Based Cost Modeling

There is a growing body of evidence suggesting the equivalence and in some cases superiority of laparoscopic liver resection versus open resection. Fewer data exist regarding the financial impact of laparoscopic liver resection. Retrospective review of 98 consecutive patients at a single institution from 2007 through 2011 undergoing first time hepatic resection was performed. Laparoscopic and open cases were compared primarily on OR and hospital charges. Deviation-based cost modeling and weighted average mean cost for the two procedures were used to determine both financial and clinical efficacy on the basis of differences in length of stay, complications, and charges. There were 57 laparoscopic and 41 open cases included in the study. Right hepatectomy was the most common procedure performed in both the laparoscopic (n = 23, 40.4 %) and open (n = 22, 53.7 %) groups. Patients in the laparoscopic group were significantly more likely to have an “on course” postoperative hospitalization (73.7 vs. 26.8 %; p < 0.001), which translated into a WAMC of $58,401 for the laparoscopic cases and $69,728 for the open cases. In the subset of patients undergoing right hepatectomy, patients in the laparoscopic group remained more likely to have an on course hospitalization (61.2 vs. 31.8 %; p = 0.025). WAMC for the laparoscopic right hepatectomy group, however, was higher than the open group ($69,544 vs. $68,266). The cost-effectiveness of laparoscopic hepatectomy appears to vary with the complexity of the procedure. Overall, laparoscopy offers a cost advantage; however, with more complex procedures such as right hepatectomy, higher up-front operating room charges offset the financial benefits of less complicated hospitalization.
Using sequential pattern mining to increase graph comprehension in intelligent tutoring system student data (abstract only)

Examining student interactions in multi-step problems from Intelligent Tutoring Systems currently involves examining thousands of interactions from hundreds of students. We designed and implemented a sequential pattern mining algorithm and a sequence rating algorithm that together recognize interesting student action sequences and display them to the user in the context of the larger graph system. With the added feature of our algorithms in the InVis system, we hope to allow teachers and tutoring system designers to better understand student action patterns and thus cater better to their learning.
The evolution of the rhetorical genre of apologia

This essay traces the evolution of the enduring rhetorical genre of apologia from the Greek period to the present. I argue that apologia has undergone significant changes in form because its function has changed throughout history. Specifically, shifts in function produce five “subgenres” of apologia: self‐exoneration, self‐absolution, self‐sacrifice, self‐service, and self‐deception. The implications for the continued viability of apologia in current times, as well as the critical generic approach grounding the analysis, are examined.
Host Plant Alters the Shape of the Functional Response of an Aphid Predator (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

The response of the lady beetle Propylea quatuordecimpunctata (L.) to the density of the Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia (Mordvilko), was measured in petri dish arenas as well as on plants with divergent leaf architectures. Logistic regression was used to distinguish the shape of the functional response (type II or III), and nonlinear least-squares regression was used to estimate attack coefficients ( a ) and handling times ( Th ). In dishes, the behavior of both beetle larvae and adults closely conformed to a type II response. Estimates of a and Th on whole plants were considerably different from those obtained from dishes, and they also depended on plant species. Beetle adults consumed more aphids on the slender-leaved Indian ricegrass, Oryzopsis hymenoides (Roemer & Schultes) Ricker, than on the broad-leaved crested wheatgrass, Agropyron desertorum (Fisher ex Link) Schultes, at each aphid density. Moreover, logistic regression suggested a type II response on Indian ricegrass versus a type III (sigmoidal) response on crested wheatgrass. The complex response on crested wheatgrass may have been caused by density-dependent changes in the proportion of aphids in refuges (such as rolled leaves). By modifying the shapes and parameters of functional responses, plant traits can influence the stability of predator-prey dynamics and the success of biological control.
Immunological identification of nascent subunits of wheat ribulose diphosphate carboxylase on ribosomes of both chloroplast and cytoplasmic origin.

Abstract Wheat ribulose diphosphate carboxylase was dissociated into subunits by denaturation in the presence of guanidine hydrochloride and p-chloromercuribenuoate followed by separation of the subunits on Sephadex G-75 in the presence of urea. After removal of the mercurial reagent, the subunits were injected into rabbits, and monospecific antisera to the two different subunit types were obtained. High-titer antiserum to the native ribulose diphosphate carboxylase was also obtained. Specific antibody precipitation of labeled polypeptides, formed by 3H]puromycin incubation with wheat ribosomes, was used to localize ribulose diphosphate carboxylase nascent chains on the chloroplast and cytoplasmic ribosomes. Only soluble peptidyl-[3H]puromycins actually released from the ribosomes were assayed: bound peptidyl-[3H]puromycins were either removed by sedimentation or solubilized by neutral detergent prior to analysis, with identical results in each case. Assays were performed on individual sucrose gradient fractions or on highly purified 70S and 80S monoribosome preparations with comparable results: with ribosomes from 4-day seedlings, for instance, 30% of peptidyl-[3H]puromycins made by 70S ribosomes reacted with antibody to the native enzyme or its large subunit, while 5% of peptidyl-[3H]puromycins made by 80S ribosomes reacted with antibody to the large subunit, the small subunit, or the native enzyme, in a nonadditive manner. The results suggest that chloroplast ribosomes make the large, but not the small subunit of the enzyme, while 80S ribosomes make the small subunit, which associates with completed large subunits while still on the ribosomes.
Esophageal manometrics in patients with angina-like chest pain

Fifty-eight patients with angina-like chest pain had esophageal manometric testing. Forty-three had no evidence of coronary artery disease at the time of referral or at subsequent contact; 15 patients were proven to have coronary artery disease. High-amplitude contraction waves were the most frequently found manometric abnormality (15 patients). Less frequent were increased duration of contractions, achalasia, and diffuse esophageal spasm; the latter was present in only 3 patients. An approach to the interpretation of information obtained during manometry is presented. Using this approach, the esophagus was strongly implicated as the cause of the pain in 20 patients and was suspect in 18 others. Seven patients had results that exonerated the esophagus, and in the 13 remaining individuals, the esophagus was probably not the offending organ.
Kinetic flash spectroscopic study of the CH3O2CH3O2 and CH3O2SO2 reactions

Methylperoxy radicals were generated by the flash photolysis of azomethane–oxygen mixtures. The observed broadband spectrum of the CH3O2 radical is similar, but not identical to those reported previously. The CH3O2 decay followed second-order kinetics at high CH3O2 concentrations with k4' = (2.5 ± 0.3) × 108 liter/mol·sec (23 ± 2°C); 2CH3O2 products (4). Because of the potential loss of CH3O2 through the reactions with HO2 and CH3O radicals subsequently formed in this system, simulations suggest that the true k4 is in the range: 2.5 × 108 ≥ k4 ≥ 2.3 × 108 liter/mol·sec. Deviations from linearity of the plot of the reciprocal of the CH3O2 absorbance versus time were seen at long times and were attributed to the reaction (5) with an apparent rate constant k5' ⋍ (1.6 ± 0.4) × 105 liter/mol·sec; CH3O2 + Me2N2 product (5). The CH3O2–SO2 reaction, CH3O2 + SO2 products (16), was studied by observing CH3O2 decay in flashed mixtures of Me2N2, O2, and SO2. The results gave the apparent second-order rate constant k16' ⋍ (6.4 ± 1.4) × 106 liter/mol·sec. It appears likely that each occurrence of reaction (5) and (16) is followed by the loss of an additional CH3O2 radical and that k5 ⋍ k5'/2 and k16 ⋍ k16'/2. Our findings suggest that a significant fraction of the SO2 oxidation in a sunlight-irradiated NOx−RH-polluted atmosphere, may occur by reaction with CH3O2 as well as from the HO and HO2 reactions.
User-Driven Design of a Data System for the International Polar Year

Data systems must serve user needs. This is easier said than done, especially when trying to design a system that will provide discovery and access to a broad array of disparate data for users with differing expertise. The International Polar Year (IPY) provides a particular challenge with its emphasis on interdisciplinary research in the physical, life, and social sciences. Typically, systems designers try to enumerate the various requirements of the system and build the system to meet those requirements. The challenge is ensuring that the requirements accurately reflect evolving user needs and adequately address how a user will use the system to solve problems. A more user-driven and iterative approach is necessary.
Ultrafast THz Studies of Few-Layer Epitaxial Graphene

We report the broadband optical conductivity and ultrafast THz dynamics of few-layer epitaxial graphene, revealing electrodynamics consistent with a dense Dirac electron plasma and a transient THz response dominated by recombination of excess hole carriers.
Calibration of a three-dimensional shape measurement system

A 3-D surface shape measurement system based on a digital fringe projection and phase shifting technique is described. In this system, three phase-shifted fringe patterns and a centerline pattern are used to determine the absolute phase map of the object. This phase map is then converted to the x , y , and z coordinates of the object surface by a conversion algorithm. To determine the accurate values of the system parameters as required by the conversion algorithm, a two-step calibration procedure was developed. The parameters were first measured to determine their approximate values, then a calibration plate was measured by the system at various positions, and an iteration algorithm used to estimate the system parameters. Measurement results of several objects are presented. The standard deviation of the measurement error was found to be 0.23 mm.
Introduction of John T. Christian, Thirty-Ninth Karl Terzaghi Lecturer, 2003, Nashville, Tenn.

It is with great pride that I introduce the presenter of the Terzaghi Lecture for 2003, Dr. John T. Christian, with his paper entitled “Geotechnical Engineering Reliability: How Well Do We Know What We Are Doing?” Dr. Christian has had a long career as a geotechnical engineer. He served for a time on the faculty of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and then worked for the consulting firm of Stone and Webster. He is currently a consulting engineer in Massachusetts, and has extensive experience in geotechnical engineering, soil dynamics, earthquake engineering, geotechnical reliability, computer applications, finiteelement analysis, and engineering management. Dr. Christian is the distinguished recipient of many honors and awards. In 1996 he received the Middlebrook Award for a paper in which he applied probabilistic methods to geotechnical engineering. In 1999 he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering for his contributions and leadership in geotechnical earthquake engineering, computer methods in geotechnical engineering, and engineering education standards. Dr. Christian is also an honorary member of ASCE and the Boston Society of Civil Engineers Section, ASCE, for his contributions to earthquake engineering, as a pioneer in the use of computer methods in geotechnical engineering and for his leadership in accreditation. Dr. Christian is the former chair of the ASCE Geotechnical Division
Liquid Crystal polymer (LCP): a new organic material for the development of multilayer dual-frequency/dual-polarization flexible antenna arrays

The development of dual-frequency (14 and 35 GHz), dual-polarization microstrip antenna arrays is presented for the first time on liquid crystal polymer (LCP) multilayer technology. Some of the properties of LCP, such as multilayer (three-dimensional) vertical integration capability, good electrical and mechanical properties, and near-hermetic nature, make this substrate a practical choice for the design of low-cost antenna arrays that can be integrated with remote sensing applications operating in the Ku and millimeter-wave frequency bands. This work illustrates the potential of LCP as a low-cost, "all-package" solution for developing compact, flexible, antenna arrays that can be used in future communication and remote sensing systems.
Location and gross morphology of the nasopalatine duct in human adults.

Objective: To characterize the nasal opening of the human nasopalatine duct (NPD; a major duct of the vomeronasal system used in animals for chemical communication) by identifying its location, categorizing variations in physical characteristics, and assessing frequency of detection. Design: Two studies: (1) general study incorporating endoscopic examinations documented by videotapes and photographs, and an investigation of detection bias in terms of method of visualization and defining criteria for NPD identification; and (2) cadaver dissections examining NPD gross anatomy and proximity to the putative vomeronasal organ (VNO), the second major duct of the vomeronasal system.
Introduction to Macromolecular Crystallography. Alexander McPherson. New York: Wiley-Liss, Inc., 2003, 248 pp., $69.95, softcover. ISBN 0-471-25122-4.

This book is based on the author’s lectures on the fundamentals of macromolecular crystallography, which are part of a practical crystallography summer course that has been held at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories since 1987. As a book covering the fundamentals rather than applications, it is focused on crystal properties, diffraction theory, and the principles of data collection and determination of structure. Readers looking for practical advice on crystal growth, data collection, and structure interpretation will be disappointed because these do not fall within …
Spaceborne laser instruments for high-resolution mapping

We discuss past, present and future spaceborne laser instruments for high-resolution mapping of Earth and planetary surfaces. Previous spaceborne-laser-altimeters projected and imaged a single laser spot for surface-height measurements. In contrast, the recent Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) instrument on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) uses a non-scanning multi-beam system for surface topography mapping. The multi-beam instrument facilitates surface slope measurement and reduces the time-to-completion for global high-resolution topographic mapping. We discuss our first-year progress on a three-year swath-mapping laser-altimetry Instrument Incubator Program (IIP) funded by the NASA Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO). Our IIP is a technology development program supporting the LIdar Surface Topography (LIST) space-flight mission that is a third-tier mission as recommended by the National Research Council (NRC) for NASA's Earth Science programs.
Rapid Decline of Kidney Function Increases Cardiovascular Risk in the Elderly

Chronic kidney disease (CKD), defined at a specific time point, is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Whether the rate of kidney function decline contributes additional cardiovascular risk is unknown. In the Cardiovascular Health Study, we compared the associations of changes in kidney function during the first 7 yr with the incidence of heart failure (HF), myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) during the subsequent 8 yr. We defined a rapid decline in cystatin C-based estimated GFR as >3 ml/min per 1.73 m(2)/yr, on the basis of determination at baseline, year 3, and year 7. Among eligible participants, 1083 (24%) had rapid kidney decline. The incidence of each type of cardiovascular event was significantly higher among patients with rapid decline (all P < 0.001). After multivariate adjustment for demographics, cardiovascular disease risk factors, and baseline kidney function, rapid kidney function decline was significantly associated with HF (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.32; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13 to 1.53), MI (HR 1.48; 95% CI 1.21 to 1.83), and PAD (HR 1.67; 95% CI 1.02 to 2.75) but not with stroke (HR 1.19; 95% CI 0.97 to 1.45). The association of rapid decline with each outcome did not differ by the presence or absence of CKD. In conclusion, declining kidney function associates with higher risk for HF, MI, and PAD among patients with or without CKD.
Conservation medicine : the changing view of biodiversity

Meffe's (1999) editorial in Conservation Biology established a timely point of discussion on the intersection between conservation biology and medicine. As Meffe points out, conservation biology is becoming increasingly multidisciplinary. To that end, the editorial primarily considers conservation medicine, meaning health, both human and animal, considered in an ecological context. But the underlying issue is larger than this. Because human and veterinary medicine is concerned primarily with microbial pathogenic morbidity (i.e., medical microbial ecology), we need more discussion on the issue of biodiversity as it applies to microorganisms, the microbiota, in all environments. Conservation biologists need to consider microbiota as well as macrobiota. In