cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Doing Theology in the Context of the Gift and the Promise of Nostra Aetate

This article addresses three problems and suggests ways to address these problems. First, Christian theology has often been supersessionist, especially in Christology and Mariology. Claims about Jesus and Mary being exceptional (in different ways) often involve forms of supersessionism. I report on two theological works that attempt to be orthodoxly Catholic and to avoid supersessionism. Second, I address the conflict between affirming the irrevocable covenant God made with Israel and the universality of salvation God wrought in Jesus. I argue herein that the key problem is logical, not theological. Hence, we should not seek to resolve this problem theoretically, but to dissolve it logically in a manner analogous to the way philosophers of religion have dissolved the logical problem of evil. Third, some have suggested that a commitment to true interreligious dialogue should weaken our commitment to our own tradition. I disagree and show that interreligious dialogue can, in practice, strengthen, not weaken, our commitments to our home tradition.
A bandwidth-compressive modulation system

The phrase 'bandwidth-compressive modulation' means that the compression is achieved not by removing redundancy from the data (data compression), but rather by modulating the carrier phase and amplitude with blocks of data bits. The modulation described here is quadrature amplitude shift keying (QASK), a logical extension of quadrature phase shift keying, (QPSK, or quadriphase). QASK is a cost-effective form of combined phase-and-amplitude modulation. That is, n-bit QASK, like most phase-amplitude forms of modulation, requires considerably less transmitter power than comparably performing n-PSK, while among the class of all n-bit phase-modulation types, n-bit QASK performs nearly optimally but requires the least circuit complexity. A simple, unique microwave transmitter is described which provides high-rate QASK modulation with 4:1 bandwidth compression. A suppressed carrier multiple-loop QASK receiver provides the necessary phase tracking, automatic gain control (AGC), and symbol timing.
DISTRIBUTION OF LOCAL STRESSES ACROSS THE THICKNESS OF CRACKED PLATES UNDER BENDING FIELDS

A series of three-dimensional photoelastic experiments were conducted on plates containing through cracks which were loaded in bending with sufficient extension to prevent closure on the compressive side of the plate. Cracked plate geometries were selected so as to span the transitional “thin to thick” range. Slices were made parallel to the plate surfaces in the stress frozen material so as to remove the region around the crack tips. These slices were analyzed photoelastically and functions were evaluated experimentally corresponding to stress intensity factor distributions through the plate thickness. Results were compared with the theory of G. C. Sih. Agreement was excellent with theory for “thin” cracked plate geometries. For “thicker” cracked plate geometries results diverged progressively. For all cases studied, the use of a linear distribution of the stress intensity factor function through the plate thickness appeared to be satisfactory.
Mouse homolog of the Drosophila Pc-G gene esc exerts a dominant negative effect in Drosophila.

Summary: The Polycomb group genes are involved in maintaining long term transcriptional repression of the homeotic genes in both Drosophila and mammals. The mouse eed locus encodes the highly conserved ortholog of the Drosophila ESC protein. To test the functional conservation between the two genes, eed was introduced into the fly to determine whether it could rescue the esc mutant phenotype. eed exerted a dominant negative effect on the leg transformation phenotype associated with the esc mutation. This result is interpreted in light of in vitro protein-protein binding data and in vivo polytene chromosome staining indicating the lack of significant interaction between Eed and fly E(Z), a molecular partner of ESC. genesis 26:67–76, 2000 © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Reverse Riemann-Liouville fractional opial inequalities for several functions

A variety of very general Lp (0 < p < 1) form reverse Opial type inequalities (15) is shown involving Riemann-Liouville fractional derivatives (3,12,14,13) of several functions in different orders and powers. From the established results derive other particular results of special interest.
Increased calcium-dependent K+ channel activity contributes to the maturation of cellular firing patterns in developing cerebellar Purkinje neurons

Developmental changes in neuronal excitability reflect the regulated expression of ion channels and receptors. Purkinje neurons of the rat cerebellum progress from slow irregular firing to a fast pacemaker-like pattern during postnatal development in vivo. In this study, a comparable period of development in culture was investigated at the protein level using cell-attached single channel recordings to quantify the abundance of active calcium-dependent (KCa) and delayed rectifier (KD) potassium channels. In control cultures, KCa channel activity increased whereas KD channel activity was not significantly different with developmental age. The increase in active KCa channels was antagonized by chronic treatment with the blocker, tetraethylammonium (TEA, 1 mM), which also retarded the normal development of cellular firing patterns. The consequences of chronic TEA treatment were assessed in cultures after thorough washout of the TEA-containing culture medium. Current clamp analyses (nystatin-perforated patches) showed that control Purkinje neurons progressed from a single spike mode to a repetitive firing mode, with a concomitant decrease in action potential duration and an increase in maximal firing rate. Chronic TEA treatment prevented these changes; Purkinje neurons retained the slow firing rate and long duration action potentials that are typical of the immature state. These data suggest that the developmental increase in KCa channel activity may be required for the maturation of cellular firing patterns in cerebellar Purkinje neurons.
A hierarchical expert system for design of floors in highrise buildings

Abstract A prototype knowledge-based expert system, called COFDEX (for COmposite Floor Design EXpert), has been developed for integrated design of composite floors in multistory buildings in accordance with the 1986 American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) Specification. Design options include design for practical minimum cost or for minimum depth. Developed in the expert system programming environment GURU, COFDEX is a coupled system with a hierarchical structure in which procedural modules interact with rule sets and data bases. The expert system COFDEX demonstrates how AI technology complements the traditional numerical processing in automating the complicated process of engineering design and developing highly interactive software packages.
Persistence of red light induction in lettuce seeds of varying hydration.

Incubation of lettuce seeds (Lactuca sativa L. cv. Grand Rapids) in 0.3 m mannitol allows sufficient water uptake to make seeds fully sensitive to red light. But germination is possible only after lowering the osmotic potential of the incubation medium. The red light induction of these incompletely hydrated seeds can be reversed by far red light. Their reversibility declines with time at a slower rate than seeds incubated in water. About half the seeds in 0.3 m mannitol respond to far red light when all seeds in water have escaped control by far red light. Close to 100% of the seeds remain sensitive to far red exposure if 0.6 m mannitol is used as osmoticum. The retention of the original red light stimulus is inversely related to the concentration of the incubation medium.The fresh weight of viable seeds incubated with water or with an osmoticum increases rapidly during the first 5 hours, then remains stationary for about 12 hours. After that only germinating seeds experience a second increase in fresh weight. Heat-killed seeds do not show such a discontinuity in water uptake.
Space Station maintenance concept study

The relationships among NASA Space Station operational constraints and logistical requirements are presently investigated. The concepts studied locate organizational, intermediate, and depot maintenance at the Space Station, at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), and at a depot remote from the KSC. Measures of reliability, maintainability, and availability were selected; a life-cycle study was then conducted to ascertain the optimum Space Station system maintenance concept. The results obtained indicate that orbital replacement unit MTBFs should not be less than 36,000 hours.
Synthesis and screening of support-bound combinatorial peptide libraries with free C-termini: determination of the sequence specificity of PDZ domains.

Preparation of support-bound combinatorial peptide libraries with free C-termini has been challenging in the past because solid-phase peptide synthesis usually starts from the C-terminus, which must be covalently attached to the solid support. In this work, we have developed a general methodology to synthesize and screen one-bead-one-compound peptide libraries containing free C-termini. TentaGel microbeads (90 μm) were spatially segregated into outer and inner layers, and peptides were synthesized on the beads in the conventional C → N manner, with their C-termini attached to the support through an ester linkage on the bead surface but through an amide bond in the bead interior. The surface peptides were cyclized between their N-terminal amine and a carboxyl group installed at a C-terminal linker sequence, while the internal peptides were kept in the linear form. Base hydrolysis of the ester linkage in the cyclic peptides regenerated linear peptides that contained a free α-carboxyl group at their C-termin...
Pilot survey of urinary porphyrins from persons transiently exposed to a pcb transformer fire

AbstractIn rats and humans chronically exposed to large amounts of PCB (polychlorinated bipnenyls) and PCDF (polychlorinated dibenzofurans), the urinary excretion of uroporphyrin and coproporphyrin are altered. However, porphyrin excretion in humans after acute transient low level exposure has not been evaluated. Following such an exposure in which bystanders and firefighters were in contact with smoke from a PCB transformer fire, we surveyed 90 self-referred individuals by questionnaire and by determining single 24 hour urinary excretion of uroporphyrin and coproporphyrin 2-4 weeks after the fire. Questionnaire variables that assessed exposure were not associated with the magnitude of either uroporphyrin or coproporphyrin excretion. Uroporphyrin excretion was slightly elevated in nine subjects (range 66-106 ug/24 hours, normal <60), which is much less than in clinical cases of porphyria cutanea tarda. Uroporphyrin excretion was inversely correlated with coproporphyrin excretion (r = -0.3844, p = 0.0002)....
A free-vehicle benthic chamber instrument for sea floor studies

Abstract A new free-vehicle instrument has been developed that is capable of performing controlled benthic chamber experiments on the sea floor at water depths up to 6 km. The instrument emplaces a single 30 × 30 cm titanium chamber in the sediments with little sediment disturbance. At pre-set equally spaced time intervals, a total of 18 individual samples or chemical tracers may be withdrawn from or injected into the chamber waters. The volume of water removed or added in each operation is balanced by bottom water which enters or leaves the chamber through a long, open tube. At the termination of the experiment a hydraulic system closes a scoop beneath the chamber capturing the sediments in the chamber for further study. The instrument is simple to deploy, has been extremely reliable in the field, and has yielded geochemically consistent results.
Seasonal changes in the social structure of a mottled sculpin (Cottus bairdi) population

Abstract Adult male mottled sculpins ( Cottus bairdi ) were solitary during the breeding season (April to June) and the following summer. Gravid females were randomly distributed with respect to one another, but were most frequently found with males that had previously mated. In addition, the number of egg masses found at certain sites was far greater than expected on the basis of chance matings. These patterns suggest that females visited several spawning sites before breeding, and that certain sites or males were more attractive than others. Although unsexable individuals were randomly dispersed they were rarely found at sites occupied by adult males. This pattern may reflect the influence of intraspecific predation of larger sculpins on smaller conspecifics.
Influence of non-Boussinesq effects on patterns in salt-finger convections

The influence of non-Boussinesq effects on the quadratic coefficient of the amplitude equations for patterns that are doubly periodic with respect to the hexagonal lattice is discussed. The vertical length scale is assumed to be long compared with the horizontal. Within this approximation, we consider a variety of non-Boussinesq effects including the dependence of the fluid properties on temperature and salinity and the nonlinearity of the basic temperature and salinity profiles. We include some numerical calculations for the latter case. Oceanic data show a pronounced nonlinearity of the basic temperature profile. Our calculations, however, show this effect to be small, and, moreover, the dominant contribution in this case is not covered by our asymptotic "thin finger" analysis. The reasons for this are discussed. A nonlinear salinity profile, on the other hand, produces a much stronger effect, and our analysis seems to be applicable to this case.
Geographical Variations of Wind Loads on Vertically Rising Vehicles

Abstract The variation in winds and resulting variations in wind loads on vertically launched vehicles for different worldwide geographical areas are investigated. Methods of determining possible alternate launch sites that offer distinct windwise advantages over presently used sites are discussed; reductions of 50 per cent or more in statistically determined peak winds or in statistical values of wind shears at critical altitudes may be realized. Since peak winds and maximum shears are recognized parameters of wind-induced loading, the variations in peak loads that are expected at different launch sites should reflect significant changes in wind environment with geographical regions. For some particular vehicles, variation of a single parameter, such as maximum wind speed, will produce large differences in computed load histories. An interesting disclosure of subjecting a simulated large liquid-propellant vehicle to various wind inputs is that the peaks of the load histories appear more strongly related ...
Toward a Theory of Interaction: The Iowa School

The Iowa School of Symbolic Interaction was founded with the intent to build a science of interaction, self, and mind. Early studies focused on data generated by the Twenty Statements Test and the subsequent development of self theory. In the late 1960s a small-groups laboratory was constructed. With this lab and the development of video-recording technology, researchers at Iowa were able to analyze various interaction processes. The video recordings of interaction provided researchable data. With these data, researchers produced precise analytic descriptions of interaction processes and forms. From these descriptions interactional concepts were developed primarily through a grounded theoretical approach. Recently, Iowa School symbolic interaction has moved out of the laboratory and into the field with some theoretical and practical advances.
A fast surface-panel method capable of solving million-element problems

Methods based on distributed surface singularities have gained great acceptance throughout the industry. Commonly known as surface panel methods, these tools are applicable to a wide range of aerodynamic problems related to incompressible flows. They have achieved their popularity in large part to the relative ease with which the corresponding problems can be set up by the user. Yet. due to their natural computational complexity, O(N), they have been traditionally restricted to relatively small cases; previously, a problem with 20, 000 panels was considered to be extremely large in terms of computational expense. A new algorithm has been developed and is presented herein for this mature, well proven methodology. Through comparisons with a known exact solution, the accuracy of the new method is shown to be consistant with that of the classical approach. The operation count of the new algorithm scales with O(N log(AT)). This is verified with results on a torus whose surface definition is systematically refined from 1,024 to 1,048,576 panels. The fundamental build-up and description of the new algorithm is provided and is compared with similar techniques developed in the fields of: particle simulations, astrophysics and electronics. For internal flows, such as in fCo-Foundcr, HydroAero Consulting Group: Senior Member, AIAA; Senior Principal Engineer, Douglas Aircraft Co. AIAA Paper 97-0168 Copyright ©1997 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. All rights reserved the case of the torus, it is shown that a very large number of panels are required. Solutions about a Whitbread-race sailboat design (underwater components) and a generic Indy 500 race car configuration are also provided. Characteristics of the race car problem illustrate the robustness of present method's iterative solver.
On the regularity of semidirect products

Abstract Necessary and sufficient conditions are determined for the semidirect product of two monoids to be regular.
Variation in quality and decomposability of red oak leaf litter along an urban-rural gradient

This study tested whether urban land use can affect the chemistry and decomposability of Quercus rubra L. (red oak) leaf litter in forests within and near a large metropolitan area. Cities may affect the quality of leaf litter directly through foliar uptake of atmospheric pollutants, and indirectly through alterations in local climate and changes in soil fertility caused by pollutant loads and altered nutrient cycling regimes. Using a microbial bioassay, we tested whether red oak leaf litter collected from urban and suburban forests in and near New York City differed in decomposability from litter of the same species collected from rural forests 130 km from the city. We found that oak litter from the urban forests decayed 25% more slowly and supported 50% less cumulative microbial biomass in a laboratory bioassay than rural litter. Rural litter contained less lignin and more labile material than urban litter, and the amounts of these chemical constituents were highly correlated with the decay rate coefficients and integrated microbial growth achieved on the litter. The specific causes of the variation in litter chemistry are not known. The results of this study suggest that decomposer activity and nutrient cycling in forests near large cities may be affected both by altered litter quality and by altered biotic, chemical and physical environments. The sensitivity of the microbial bioassay makes it useful for distinguishing differences in within-species litter quality that result from natural or anthropogenic variation in the environment.
Rotating Beads and Bacteria with Moiré-Based Optical Tweezers

Since Ashkin’s pioneering work, optical trapping and manipulation have been of great interest to the optical community. Researchers have proposed many techniques for optically rotating trapped particles, but most relied on either mechanical instruments or phase-sensitive interference, which is susceptible to ambient perturbations. Recently, we demonstrated an approach for generating rotating intensity blades using the moire technique. Our propeller-like beams can be generated with variable speed and direction of rotation without requiring mechanical movement or optical interference. Furthermore, they can achieve dynamic control of trapped microparticles and bacteria.
Respiratory patterns after cholecystectomy. Effects of posture and CO2 stimulation.

A marked reduction in the ratio of abdominal to rib cage motion has been observed after upper abdominal surgery. This study seeks to determine the effects on respiratory pattern of stimulation with CO 2 and a change in posture from supine to semirecumbent posture (hips flexed, head of bed elevated at 30° to the horizontal) in patients having undergone cholecystectomy. Canopy spirometry and respiratory inductive plethysmography were used to measure minute ventilation, tidal volume, and rib cage and abdominal motion in 14 otherwise healthy women, prior to elective cholecystectomy and on the first and third postoperative days. Preoperatively, the relative contribution of the chest wall compartment to tidal volume (V c /Vt) was increased both by moving from the supine to the semirecumbent posture and by stimulation with 4 percent inhaled CO 2 . On the first postoperative day, there was a reduction in abdominal motion. In contrast to what happened in the preoperative period, there was no change in the relative contribution of the rib cage and abdomen when the patients moved from the supine to semirecumbent position. With CO, stimulation, there was a further increase in the already increased absolute tidal volume of the chest. On the third postoperative day, there was an increase in abdominal motion in the supine and sitting position and during 4 percent CO, stimulation. These results demonstrate that the response to a change in posture and to 4 percent CO, stimulation are markedly altered in the postoperative period by the reduction in abdominal motion.
Probabilistic response of heterogeneous particle reinforced metal matrix composites with particle size dependent strengthening

Abstract This paper presents an enhanced continuum model for a heterogeneous particle arrangement to simulate the variability in the size dependent strengthening of silicon carbide (SiC) ceramic particle reinforced metal matrix composites (MMCs). The model incorporates a size dependent “punched” zone around the particles that is the result of a local increase in dislocation density during thermal processing due to geometrically necessary dislocations generated by the mismatch in coefficients of thermal expansion of the particle and matrix. In this work, these zones are explicitly accounted for in finite element simulations of multiple realizations of representative heterogeneous composite microstructures consisting of randomly distributed particles in a metal matrix. This modeling approach is used to capture the probabilistic response of the material which is linked to stochastic variations in the local microstructure of the material. The model is then used to explore the effects of particle size and volume fraction on the variability of the inelastic deformation response of heterogeneous MMCs. It is shown that the variance of the composite response increases as the particle size decreases and as the volume fraction of reinforcing particles increases. It is also shown that the amount of strain localization in the matrix increases as the particle size decreases.
The PHENIX forward detector upgrade

Abstract The forward detector upgrade adds new capabilities to PHENIX. Components are an upgraded muon trigger that processes signals from detectors in the muon arms and a Nosecone Calorimeter (NCC). The muon trigger gives PHENIX the capability to trigger on muons at the highest luminosities and improves background rejection. The NCC is a W–Si sampling spectrometer with electromagnetic and hadronic components that expands forward kinematic coverage. We outline physics measurements possible and instrumentation required.
Dose-response curves for erythrocyte protoporphyrin vs blood lead: effects of iron status

An increase in erythrocyte protoporphyrin (EP) is one of the most useful indicators of adverse biological response to lead exposure. A nonlinear mathematical model relating EP to blood lead concentration (PbB) was fitted to data in a sample of 1677 U.S. children (ages 2-6 years) in the Second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES II). Iron status was defined by percentage transferrin saturation (PTS). The dose-response curves for EP vs PbB increased systematically with decreasing PTS, largely due to decrease of a parameter proportional to red cell lead-holding capacity with decreasing PTS.
Structural Transformation: Assembly of an Otherwise Inaccessible DNA Nanocage†

A strategy of structural transformation for the assembly of DNA nanocages that can not be assembled directly is described. In this strategy, a precursor DNA nanocage is assembled first and then is isothermally transformed into a desired, complicated nanocage. A dramatic, conformational change accompanies the transformation. This strategy has been proven to be successful by native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and cryogenic electron microscopy (cryoEM) imaging. We expect that the strategy of structural transformation will be useful for the assembly of many otherwise inaccessible DNA nanostructures and help to increase the structural complexity of DNA nanocages.
Osteoblast Adhesion on Tissue Engineering Scaffolds Made by Bio-Manufacturing Techniques

Scientific exploration into understanding and developing relationships between three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds prepared by rapid prototyping (RP) and cellular response has focused primarily on end results targeting osteoblast proliferation and differentiation. Here at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), we take a systems approach to developing relationships between material properties and quantitative biological responses. This study in particular focuses on the screening of parameters controlled by RP techniques and their ability to trigger signalling events leading to cell adhesion. This pioneering research in our group also characterizes the in vitro cell-material interactions of 2D films and 3D scaffolds. From there, one can postulate on contributory factors leading to cell migration, proliferation, and differentiation. In summary, we believe that the quantitative information from this fundamental investigation will enhance our knowledge of the interactions between cells and 3D material interfaces with respect to formation of focal adhesions. This work consists of two sections — the application of imaging techniques for 3D characterization of properties and culturing of osteoblasts for size and shape determination. This includes quantifying the number of focal adhesion sites. We are using 3D RP polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds as this surrogate model in which to compare 2D to 3D material performance and cell interactions. Using RP bio-manufacturing techniques to fabricate tissue engineering scaffolds allows for control of pore size, strut size, and layer thickness, therefore providing adjustable parameters to study which can potentially influence, or even dynamically modulate, cellular adhesion. Imaging results after culturing for 24 h showed differences in cell morphology and spreading relative to the different structures. The focal adhesion response also varied, indicating an apparent loss of organization in 3D scaffolds compared to 2D surfaces. See Results and Discussion for details.
Aortic Pulse Wave Analysis Is Not a Surrogate for Central Arterial Pulse Wave Velocity

Arterial Stiffness (AS) is a primary cardiovascular risk factor. AS increases myocardial oxygen demand and LV work and decreases coronary perfusion. Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) is considered the gold standard for assessing AS. However, PWV testing is time consuming and impractical in the clinical setting. The purpose of this study was to determine if Pulse Wave Analysis (PWA) parameters obtained with applanation tonometry can be used to predict PWV. Radial artery PWA testing and aortic PWV measurements were performed on 77 apparently healthy subjects. A correlation matrix between all the studied variables and a stepwise multiple regression were performed. The best regression equation was obtained with central PWV as the dependent variable and Age, Height, Weight, Brachial Systolic and Diastolic Blood pressures, normalized and non-normalized Augmentation Index, Cardiac Cycle time, Ejection Duration, reflected wave round trip travel time, and time to peak pressure as independent variables. Finally, a Bland-Altman test was performed to determine the agreement between measured and predicted PWV. No significant correlations between PWV and PWA parameters were found. The resulting stepwise regression equation was PWV = 1.76 + 0.044*Age + 0.023*SBP (R = 0.544, Adj-R(2) = 0.28, P < 0.001). No agreement between measured and predicted PWV was observed using the Bland-Altman test. Although the regression equation is significant, the adjusted coefficient of determination shows that the model could explain just 28% of PWV variability. These findings suggest that PWA should not be used as a surrogate measure for assessing aortic PWV and stiffness.
A total-recycle expanded-bed bioreactor design which allows direct headspace sampling of volatile chlorinated aliphatic compounds

Abstract A two-phase column was developed, allowing direct headspace sampling of volatile chlorinated aliphatic compounds, including trichloroethylene, cis- and trans-1,2-dichloroethylene and vinyl chloride. Propane, methane and CO 2 were sampled in the same fashion. A comparison of two solid support matrices (crushed glass and anthracite coal) was performed. > 97 ± 2% of the trichloroethylene added to control reactors was still present following 12 days of operation. The bioreactor consisted of an expanded-bed column containing 70 g of 60 80 - mesh substratum. The liquid phase was recirculated through the expanded-bed column into a gas-recharge column fitted with a headspace sampling port which allowed direct sampling and subsequent quantification by gas-chromatography techniques.
Tuberous sclerosis complex and epilepsy : Recent developments and future challenges

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a congenital syndrome characterized by the widespread development of benign tumors in multiple organs, caused by mutations in one of the tumor suppressor genes, TSC1 or TSC2. About 80% of affected patients have a new mutation, and the remaining 20% have inherited a TSC gene mutation from a parent. The disorder affects approximately 1 in 6000 individuals. Cortical tubers are the neuropathological hallmark of TSC. The most common neurological manifestations of TSC are epilepsy, mental retardation, and autistic behavior. Epilepsy occurs in up to 80-90% of patients and is often intractable, with a poor response to anticonvulsant medications. While the molecular basis of TSC is well established, far less is known about the mechanisms of epilepsy in this disorder. In this article, we first summarize known clinical aspects of TSC with emphasis on its neurological features. Then, based on the molecular, pathological, immunohistochemical, neurochemical, and physiological properties of tubers in patients with TSC and in animal models, we discuss possible mechanisms of seizures and epileptogenesis in TSC. Finally, we provide an updated literature review and a consensus statement from the Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Working Group for future research into the mechanisms of epilepsy in TSC.
Genetic tests: evolving policy questions

Rapid advances in molecular biology are changing the way we think of ourselves. As the Human Genome Project moves forward, we will identify more of the estimated 100,000 genes that make up our genome. This information will help us understand, identify and eventually treat many genetic disorders and other diseases. A central challenge posed by these advances is that the technology to diagnose genetic conditions inevitably precedes the ability to intervene with treatments. The paper considers how genetic testing raises the issue of potential uses and misuses of information. It discusses some social concerns of genetic testing by employers and insurers.
Engaging in Office Hours: A Study of Student-Faculty Interaction and Academic Performance

Both students and instructors have somewhat negative perceptions of office hours. Students fail to attend office hours on a regular basis for substantive and intrinsic reasons. Instructors are often discouraged with low attendance in office hours and consequently may fail to invest a significant amount of time in reaching out to students. This study explores the connection between office-hour attendance and academic performance in political science courses. For eight political science courses over four years, we record the number of times students visit office hours and their course grades (N = 406). Our findings indicate that office-hour visits are positively correlated with academic performance. In providing quantitative evidence that office hours can have a real and significant effect on academic performance, we hope this study may encourage instructors to actively invest in office hours. We conclude the study by providing four simple strategies instructors may implement to encourage engagement with st...
Disturbance propagation analysis in vehicle formations: An information-theoretic approach

We consider the problem of disturbance propagation in a control system where a group of vehicles aims to move in a formation with a tree topology. The control law at every vehicle depends on its position error with respect to its parent vehicle in the tree as well as on coded information transmitted by other vehicles across side communication channels. A lower bound on the integral of the log sensitivity function of the position errors for any vehicle with respect to a stochastic disturbance acting on the lead vehicle is presented. The effect of the side information channels is illustrated through some examples. It is also shown that in some cases the lower bound is achievable through appropriate design of the controllers and encoder/decoder pairs.
Communicating student ratings to decision makers: Design for good practice

Ratings do their work when they are used. Whether they work for or against the user is affected by how well the ratings system has been designed, as well as by the skills of its operators and users.
A Role of DNA-PK for the Metabolic Gene Regulation in Response to Insulin

Fatty acid synthase (FAS) is a central enzyme in lipogenesis and transcriptionally activated in response to feeding and insulin signaling. The transcription factor USF is required for the activation of FAS transcription, and we show here that USF phosphorylation by DNA-PK, which is dephosphorylated by PP1 in response to feeding, triggers a switch-like mechanism. Under fasting conditions, USF-1 is deacetylated by HDAC9, causing promoter inactivation. In contrast, feeding induces the recruitment of DNA-PK to USF-1 and its phosphorylation, which then allows recruitment of P/CAF, resulting in USF-1 acetylation and FAS promoter activation. DNA break/repair components associated with USF induce transient DNA breaks during FAS activation. In DNA-PK-deficient SCID mice, feeding-induced USF-1 phosphorylation/acetylation, DNA breaks, and FAS activation leading to lipogenesis are impaired, resulting in decreased triglyceride levels. Our study demonstrates that a kinase central to the DNA damage response mediates metabolic gene activation.
Engaging with indigital geographic information networks

Abstract Digital technologies like geographic information systems (GIS) pose new problems for indigenous people on a global scale. Some American Indian tribes see GIS as beneficial and a method of modernizing and gaining real or perceived technical legitimacy. Thus, institutions using the technology simultaneously shape and are shaped by GIS [E. Sheppard, GIS and society: Towards a research agenda, Cartography and Geographic Information Systems. 22 (1) (1995) 5–16]. Such impacts have prompted advocates of American Indian communities to raise concerns about the development of GIS in Indian Country [M. Palmer, Cut from the same cloth: The United States Bureau of Indian Affairs, geographic information systems, and cultural assimilation, in: L.E. Dyson, M. Hendriks, S. Grant (Eds.) Information technology and indigenous people, Idea Group Publishing, Hershey, PA., 2007; M. Nantel, So as to hold many sheep: towards a culturally appropriate GIS, Unpublished Masters Thesis, McGill University, 1999]. In this paper, I will discuss some advantages and disadvantages of engaging with GIS networks emanating from federal government agencies and North American Indian communities. However, in both cases there are concerns among American Indians about the security of proprietary knowledge and information held in digital repositories. Digital technologies like GIS must be considered in relation to the future of indigenous knowledge systems. Indigital is a neologism that describes the emerging relationship between indigenous knowledges and digital technologies.
Throughput enhancement of frequency-hopping spread-spectrum network with adaptive antenna array and packet combining

Packet throughput is analysed and simulated for a slow FH/SSMA network with an adaptive antenna array and packet combining in a Rayleigh fading channel with shadowing. It is shown that pre-processing by the adaptive antenna array and post-processing by packet combining are effective at improving the reception performance of an FH/SSMA network.
Temporal pattern of macromolecular events during the microstome-macrostome cell transformation of Tetrahymena vorax strain V2S.

Differentiation of cell type can be experimentally controlled in the ciliated protozoan Tetrahymena vorax. If an early stationary growth phase population of small-mouthed saprozoic cells (called microstomes) is washed and suspended in a transforming principle, stomatin, (which is released by a potential prey, i.e., Tetrahymena pyriformis), the microstomes transform into a population of large-mouthed potentially carnivorous cells (called macrostomes). This process is observed by four and one-half hours after stomatin addition. During cell transformation the pattern of DNA, RNA and protein synthesis were measured by autoradiographic and chemical techniques. Microstomes undergo macrostome formation with a net synthesis of cellular protein and RNA. Autoradiographs demonstrate that no new cells enter DNA synthesis during the first four hours of cell transformation. Isotope labeling and chemical data demonstrate that RNA synthesis is stimulated by stomatin and reaches a peak at about 150 minutes; increased protein synthesis lags somewhat behind RNA synthesis and does not reach a peak until 210 minutes. The increased synthesis of RNA and protein is associated with disaggragation of fused nucleoli into individual nucleoli. The disaggregation of fused nucleoli and the associated increases in RNA and protein synthesis appear necessary for the ensuing morphogenetic events which lead to macrostome formation. Apparently stomatin is serving as a relatively rich source of nutrient.
Propene adsorption on gold particles on TiO2(110)

The adsorption of propene on rutile TiO2(110) and on gold islands dispersed on TiO2(110) [Au/TiO2(110)], both at 120 K, has been studied using temperature programmed desorption (TPD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and He+ low energy ion scattering spectroscopy (LEIS). Propene adsorbs on both TiO2(110) and Au/TiO2(110), with desorption peak temperatures at low coverage of ∼190 and ∼240 K, respectively. When only 16% of the TiO2(110) surface is covered by gold islands [16% Au/TiO2(110)], moderate propene doses populate both the 240 and 190 K TPD peaks, in that order. The 190 K peak, seen also without Au, is due to propene bound to bare Ti sites. The 240 K peak is attributed to propene adsorbed to Ti sites at the edges of gold islands. Tiny doses of propene to the 16% Au/TiO2(110) surface give this a 240 K TPD peak but no 190 K feature, showing that the propene is mobile on TiO2(110). A TPD feature at ∼150 K, which is more prominent at higher Au coverages and higher propene doses, is due to propene bound only to metallic Au islands. Propene desorption shows additional intensity at 265-310 K when the gold islands are only one atom thick, due to propene adsorbed on 2D Au islands or at Ti sites near their edges.
“Conexiones ancestrales, espirituales, míticas y eróticas en la obra de Laura Esquivel Swift as Desire

Swift as Desire, “Tan veloz como el deseo”, es una obra que podria catalogarse como realista o con realismo magico y mitico, dada la mezcla de razas y culturas, poderes especiales y conexion con el mundo socio-politico y austral. Es tambien una obra adaptable al teatro y con un gran sabor erotico y humano. Las necesidades humanas aparecen enfocadas en la alta escala de los sentimientos de acuerdo con la teoria de uno de sus proponentes, A. H. Maslow. En la obra, Jubilo Chi, representa al mestizo, de padre maya y madre espanola. Este personaje central en la novela, es el unico en una familia de doce hermanos que logra crecer con el conocimiento de las dos culturas y la habilidad de comunicarse en ambas lenguas. Jubilo llega a conectarse con el mundo austral y con los espiritus de sus antepasados mayas. La novela presenta una variedad de voces y eventos narrados en primera persona por la hija del personaje principal. A traves de sus busquedas, visitas y entrevistas logra darle un poco de sentido no solo a su vida pero a la vida de su padre, hombre especial con caracteristicas y cualidades angelicales. En la novela, Jubilo establece la paz entre su madre, espanola, y su abuela, maya, a traves de su habilidad de leer la verdad interior de los sentimientos de cada una de ellas, muchas veces expresados con palabras incompatibles e hirientes. Siendo el interprete de sus constantes discusiones, logra hacerlas entenderse mejor, traduciendo lo que realmente sienten y no lo que expresan con sus palabras. El poder conectivo le facilita la vida con sus amigos, parientes, padres y especialmente en el campo amoroso, pues de antemano conocia el sentimiento de sus pretendidas y ademas poseia la tecla que las hacia vibrar de emocion. Asi logra compenetrarse con las ansiedades, deseos y erotismo de su esposa, Luz Maria, mas conocida como lucha. Tal como el escritor panameno, Enrique Jaramillo Levi, esta obra traspasa los espacios fisicos de la realidad humana para internarse en la meta-narrativa, donde parece haber conexiones magneticas y ultra-terrenales. El misterio de la obra lo resuelve Lluvia, la hija de Jubilo, a traves de conexiones de palabras presentes y retrospectivas, de historias pasadas, de fotografias antiguas, de simbolos o jeroglificos y del codigo Morse. El lector, junto con Lluvia, quiere saber que paso entre sus padres. ?Por que la separacion??Que misterio encierra el cambio de su padre??A que se debe su ceguera y su estado fisico de cuasi-muerto, desesperanzado y alejado de todo y de todos? La novela sostiene la atencion del lector mientras Lluvia desata el nudo o barrera que logro romper el lazo poderoso de conexion metafisica que existia entre sus padres y encuentra la forma de conectar nuevamente esos circuitos de amor.
Parallel production of oligonucleotide arrays using membranes and reagent jet printing.

Here, we present a low-cost method to produce compact arrays using microporou s materials and reagent jetting. Oligonu cleotides are immobilized on membran e sheets as a series of lines. The membran e sheet is then rolled and bound, and the sp i ral structure is cut like a “jelly roll” to pro duce identical arrays. The spiral array s behave much like larger formats using membranes, and hybridization detection can be accomplished using standard signal generation mechanisms. The method is pa r ticularly useful for producing identical a r rays from pre-synthesized oligonucleotides .
Identification and expression analysis of methyl jasmonate responsive ESTs in paclitaxel producing Taxus cuspidata suspension culture cells

Taxol® (paclitaxel) promotes microtubule assembly and stabilization and therefore is a potent chemotherapeutic agent against wide range of cancers. Methyl jasmonate (MJ) elicited Taxus cell cultures provide a sustainable option to meet the growing market demand for paclitaxel. Despite its increasing pharmaceutical importance, the molecular genetics of paclitaxel biosynthesis is not fully elucidated. This study focuses on identification of MJ responsive transcripts in cultured Taxus cells using PCR-based suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) to identify genes involved in global pathway control. Six separate SSH cDNA libraries of paclitaxel-accumulating Taxus cuspidata P991 cell lines were constructed at three different post-elicitation time points (6h, 18h and 5 day) to identify genes that are either induced or suppressed in response to MJ. Sequencing of 576 differentially screened clones from the SSH libraries resulted in 331 unigenes. Functional annotation and Gene Ontology (GO) analysis of up-regulated EST libraries showed enrichment of several known paclitaxel biosynthetic genes and novel transcripts that may be involved in MJ-signaling, taxane transport, or taxane degradation. Macroarray analysis of these identified genes unravelled global regulatory expression of these transcripts. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis of a set of 12 candidate genes further confirmed the MJ-induced gene expression in a high paclitaxel accumulating Taxus cuspidata P93AF cell line. This study elucidates the global temporal expression kinetics of MJ responsive genes in Taxus suspension cell culture. Functional characterization of the novel genes identified in this study will further enhance the understanding of paclitaxel biosynthesis, taxane transport and degradation.
Coding theorems for random access communication over compound channel

1 Random access communication is used in practical systems to deliver bursty short messages. Because users only transmit occasionally, it is often difficult for the receiver to keep track of the time varying wireless channel states. Under this motivation, we develop channel coding theorems for random multiple access communication over compound channels with finite codeword length. Error performance bound and asymptotic error probability scaling laws are derived. We found that the results also help in deriving error performance bounds for the random multiple access system where the receiver is only interested in decoding messages from a user subset.
Broiler Breeder Egg Shape: 2. Hatchability of Pole Distinguishable and Pole Indistinguishable Eggs

Abstract To determine the influence of egg shape on the hatchability of eggs set with their air cells upwards or air cells downwards, 600 “pole distinguishable” eggs (D) and 600 “pole indistinguishable” eggs (ID) were divided equally among the two air cell incubation treatments. Egg shape influenced the hatchability of embryos differently depending on the air cell incubation treatment. D-air cell down (DD) eggs did not hatch as well as D-air cell up (DU) eggs (54.3% vs. 71.1%, respectively); however, ID-air cell down (IDD) and ID-air cell up (IDU) eggs hatched equally well (62.8% vs. 65.4%, respectively). This interaction between egg shape and air cell incubation treatment was due to the decreased hatchability of IDU eggs compared to DU eggs and the increased hatchability of IDD eggs compared to DD eggs. Air cell incubation treatment alone influenced the incidence and types of malpositions of dead in shell embryos, while both shell shape and air cell treatment influenced the frequency and type of malpositions of pipped chicks.