cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Deuteron Stripping Reaction on Mg 26

The reaction ${\mathrm{Mg}}^{26}(d, p){\mathrm{Mg}}^{27}$ was studied at several bombarding energies between 3.0 and 5.1 MeV. Angular distributions were measured for the transitions to the ground and first three excited states in ${\mathrm{Mg}}^{27}$. Absolute spectroscopic factors were calculated using the distorted-wave Born approximation, and the dependence of these results on a lower cutoff radius was investigated. The results are compared to those for the $K=\frac{1}{2}$ band in ${\mathrm{Mg}}^{25}$.
Restoring Banking Stability: Beyond Supervised Capital Requirements

Emerging economies have been particularly prone to financial sector crises, reflecting marked information asymmetries and political interference, as well as the substantial volatility in underlying economic conditions, and the vulnerability of banking and finance when structural economic changes create a new and uncharted operating environment. The standard regulatory paradigm relies mainly on supervised capital adequacy, but it may not be enough. Other measures to improve the incentive structure for bankers, regulators, and other market participants could effectively increase the number of concerned, skilled and watchful eyes. Intermittent application of supplementary "blunt instruments" could also be useful.(This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)
Synthesis and Electrochemical Properties of Homo- and Heterodimetallic Diethynylethene Bisphthalocyaninato Complexes

A series of molecular dyads, consisting of two homo- or heterodimetallic (M = M‘ = ZnII or M = ZnII, M‘ = CoII) phthalocyaninato complexes bridged by mono- and bis-DEE [(E)-1,2-diethynylethene, (E)-hex-3-ene-1,5-diyne] fragments, was prepared by Pd(0)-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions or by oxidative Glaser−Hay coupling, respectively. The electronic properties of these extensively linearly π-conjugated materials were investigated by UV−visible spectroscopy and electrochemically [cyclic voltammetry and Osteryoung square wave voltammetry], and the spectroscopic data were compared to those of previously prepared phthalocyanine (Pc) dyads, in which benzene rings of the two Pc chromophores are bridged by ethynediyl and buta-1,3-diynediyl linkers, respectively. Whereas the electronic absorption spectra did not reveal significant bathochromic shifts of the Soret and Q-bands with increasing extension of the linearly π-conjugated nanomaterials, substantial electronic communication between the two Pc units in the ...
Vesicle reuse revisited.

Neurons communicate at the synapse by releasing neurotransmitter from synaptic vesicles. After exocytosis, synaptic vesicle membrane and protein are locally recycled for reuse in the presynaptic terminal. The mechanisms involved in the recycling of synaptic vesicle material have yet to be fully resolved (reviewed in ref. 1). The traditional model of vesicle recycling posits that vesicles merge with the plasma membrane and then are later retrieved in perisynaptic regions by endocytosis (2–4). A second model, often referred to as “kiss-and-run” (5), suggests that neurotransmitter is released through a fusion pore that allows the vesicle to release neurotransmitter while retaining its protein and/or lipid (6). By refilling with neurotransmitter, vesicles formed in this manner could potentially become rapidly available for reuse. Evidence for rapid reuse of synaptic vesicles has been found in rat hippocampal neurons (7, 8), yet the contribution of this mechanism to pool recycling remains debated. The work by Li et al. (9) in a recent issue of PNAS introduced new tools and new data to this debate. Li et al. (9) develop a new tool for neurobiologists to exploit in their study of synaptic transmission. The authors make use of synaptopHluorin (10), a synaptic vesicle protein (synaptobrevin) that has been concatenated with a pH-sensitive GFP on its luminal side. pHluorin exhibits minimal fluorescence under acidic conditions and because secretory vesicles maintain an acidic interior, exocytosis of vesicles carrying synaptopHluorin is indicated by an abrupt brightening in fluorescence, and the retrieval of vesicle constituents is indicated by a dimming in the emission signal as newly formed organelles acidify (11). This technique for visualizing exocytosis, first developed by Miesenbock and colleagues (10), has been used by neurobiologists to study properties of …
Reactivation of Latent Herpes Simplex Virus by Excimer Laser Photokeratectomy

We tested whether excimer laser photorefractive and phototherapeutic keratectomy may reactivate latent herpes simplex and cause recurrent keratitis in mice. Two of ten latently infected mice that were treated with ten excimer laser pulses to the corneal epithelium shed herpes simplex virus type 1, as did four of ten mice that were treated with 50 excimer laser pulses. Ocular shedding of herpes simplex virus was detected in four of ten mice that were treated with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) scraping of the corneal epithelium without laser keratectomy, and in six of ten mice on which combined EDTA-facilitated epithelial removal was performed followed by the application of ten excimer laser pulses. In both EDTA-treated groups, viral shedding was prolonged and 18 of 20 mice developed marked corneal opacification or neovascularization, or both. Corneal photo-ablation with the excimer laser may induce reactivation of latent herpes simplex virus, even in mice with clear and smooth-appearing corneas, and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of humans with persistent corneal epithelial defects after refractive or therapeutic excimer procedures.
Variation in feed ingredient quality: oilseed meals

Oilseed meals frequently constitute between 20 and 30% of poultry and livestock diets and contribute more than half of total protein. Thus, factors relating to protein quality and amino acid composition are of prime concern in assessing oilseed meal quality. Total protein content can be affected by factors such as cultivar, growing conditions, and levels of fiber and moisture. Of equal concern is the quality of protein in oilseed meals as influenced by degree of processing. Overheating during the drying/desolventizing phase can impair lysine digestibility. An overall quality control program for oilseeds must be based on the measurement of variations in protein content and, in addition, degree of processing.
CC5-02: A Descriptive Study of Vaccinations Occurring During Pregnancy, 2002–2006

Background/Aims Trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV) is the only vaccine recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for routine administration during pregnancy. The ACIP categorizes remaining vaccines as, “should be considered if indicated”, “contraindicated”, or with “special/conditional recommendation.” The objective of this study was to describe rates of vaccination during pregnancy in seven Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) sites.
CYNICISM AND TRANSIENCE IN REACTIONS OF SOUTHERN BLUE COLLAR WORKERS TO THE CARTER ENERGY PROPOSAL

The purpose of this study was to measure the effect of President Carter's 1977 Energy proposals on the attitudes of Southern blue collar workers toward the reality of the energy crisis. A questionn...
Spindle rhythmicity in the reticularis thalami nucleus: synchronization among mutually inhibitory neurons.

The sleep spindle rhythm of thalamic origin (7–14 Hz) displays widespread synchronization among thalamic nuclei and over most of the neocortex.1 The mechanisms which mediate such global synchrony are not yet well understood. Here, we theoretically address the hypothesis of Steriade and colleagues that the reticularis thalami nucleus may be considered as a genuine pacemaker for thalamocortical spindles.29–31 Interestingly, the reticularis consists of a population of neurons15,25 which are GABAergic and synaptically coupled.9,21,23,35 These cells, as do thalamic relay cells,10,17–18 exhibit a transient depolarization following release from sustained hyperpolarization.2,19,22,28 This postinhibitory rebound property is due to a T-type calcium ionic current which is inactivated at rest but de-inactivated by hyperpolarization. Theoretically, rebound-capable cells coupled by inhibition can generate rhythmic activity, although such oscillations are usually alternating (out-of-phase), rather than synchronous (in-phase).24 Here, we develop and apply to Steriade's pacemaker hypothesis our earlier finding34 that mutual inhibition can in fact synchronize cells, provided that the postsynaptic conductance decays sufficiently slowly. Indeed, postsynaptic receptors of the GABAB subtype mediate inhibition with a large decay timeconstant (≌ 200 ms).13 In contrast, chloride-dependent, GABAA-mediated inhibitory postsynaptic potentials are fast and brief. Both GABAA and GABAB receptor binding sites are present in most thalamic regions, including the reticularis.4,6 We suggest that if GABAB receptors exist postsynaptically in the reticularis, they may play a critical role in the rhythmic synchronization among reticular neurons, hence in the thalamocortical system.
Green's Functions for Axially Symmetric Elastic Waves in Unbounded Inhomogeneous Media Having Constant Velocity Gradients

This paper treats the propagation of elastic waves in one class of inhomogeneous media. The properties of the media are proportional to powers of the Cartesian co-ordinate z in such a way that Poisson’s ratio remains constant and the velocities of propagation of P and S waves are proportional to z. Exact expressions are obtained for the P, SV, and SH displacements generated by impulsive point sources buried in unbounded media of this class. The sources are taken to be symmetric about the z axis. Separation of the vector-wave equation is achieved by use of a potential representation that is a generalization of the familiar Stokes-Helmholtz representation; the P, SV, and SH displacement vectors are expressed in terms of scalar potentials that satisfy independent second-order wave equations. The SH displacement is solenoidal, but it is found that the products of the P and SV displacement vectors with appropriate weighting functions, rather than the displacement vectors themselves, are irrotational and solenoidal, respectively. The media are found to be dispersive, with the result that decaying tails follow the advancing wave fronts.
Goal-Based Construction of Preferences: Task Goals and the Prominence Effect

Preferences inferred from choice are more likely to favor the alternative that is superior with respect to the prominent (most important or salient) attribute than are preferences inferred from matching (direct tradeoff) judgments. This prominence effect violates standard models of rational choice and complicates the task of measuring preferences. In this article, we propose a new task-goal hypothesis regarding the prominence effect: The prominent attribute receives more weight in tasks whose goal is to differentiate among options than in tasks whose goal is to equate options. We use this hypothesis to generalize the prominence effect beyond choice and matching to several additional tasks, including the choice-based matching and difference comparison methods that are widely employed in decision analysis. The results of three studies provide strong support for the task-goal account of the prominence effect and cast doubt on competing explanations. We discuss the implications of these findings for descriptive decision theory and for preference measurement in decision analysis, public policy, and marketing.
The role of spectrin in erythrocyte membrane-stimulated actin polymerisation

PROTEINS on the cytoplasmic surface of the erythrocyte membrane, including spectrin and actin, are postulated to comprise the red cell cytoskeleton1–3, but little is known about the role of actin or its association with the membrane. We have reported that monomeric (G) actin added to erythrocyte ghosts selectively associates with a component at the cytoplasmic surface of the membrane4,5. We now show that this component is unlikely to be spectrin and that actin binding occurs by stimulated actin polymerisation.
Religious and epistemological mysteries

In Faith After Foundationalism D.Z. Phillips quotes approvingly a passage that O.K. Bouwsma uses to sum up religious epistemology.1 Bouwsma likens those of us who are worried about the knowledge of transcendent things to people who are trapped in a room where they push continually against various closed doors, hoping to open them to what lies outside. The doors, however, are all dummy doors; they never open and one never catches a glimpse of the beyond. Still, the people inside them believe that these doors might open, and they cling to the hope of seeing out. The analogy is remarkably apt. Most believers assume that there is something "outside" the reach of religious language, some transcendent object to which it refers and which gives it its sense. At the same time, they say that knowledge of this object is impossible. After all, as the argument goes, we are natural beings with manifold limitations in our powers of knowing; and when we try to grasp transcendent things, we press our means of knowing beyond their scope. Our language is made for describing objects within the world, whereas the central mystery of theistic religion lies entirely beyond the "room" in which this language applies. If only we could escape our epistemological limitations and pass through the doors that confine us, then we might grasp what we cannot now even describe. The mystery would then dissolve, for as St. Paul says, we might see God "face to face" (I Cor. 13:12). Apparently Bouwsma endorsed the idea that there are things outside the prison-house of human knowing. For he mentions another door in this enclosure that can only be opened from the outside i.e., by way of revelation. But Phillips clearly does not accept the analogy in this sense. No, for him the expectation that we might have knowledge of transcendent things is illusory, and the claim that God is a mystery that lies beyond our understanding has nothing to do with our inability to see what lies beyond this life. It has nothing to do, that is, with our lack of metaphysical knowledge, or with our grasp of what Immanuel Kant called "things in themselves". In what follows, I want to explain, largely in my own words, the rejection of metaphysics that underlies Phillips's account. God, he suggests, is a mystery, but this is not because the hope of knowing him of seeing beyond the walls of our human limitations has yet to be realized. God is not an object
Correlation of tunnelling currents and tunable luminescence in selectively diffused nipi LEDs

Measurements of the current/voltage characteristics and electroluminescence spectra of nipi LEDs with selectively diffused contacts have been performed over the temperature range 3-300 K. Good correlation has been observed between the forward characteristics of the diodes and the tuning of the electroluminescence. Analysis of the I/V characteristics indicates that the recombination occurs by electron tunnelling through the parabolic potential barriers.
Boundary arcs for integral equations

Behavior of boundary arcs for control systems is investigated when the systems are governed by integral equations of the Volterra type. The main result is in the form of a maximum principle. This result is then used to obtain necessary conditions for a minimum control problem.
Synthetic Emotions for Humanoids: Perceptual Effects of Size and Number of Robot Platforms

The recognition and display of synthetic emotions in humanoid robots is a critical attribute for facilitating natural human-robot interaction. The authors utilize an efficient algorithm to estimate the mood in acoustic music, and then use the results of that algorithm to drive movement generation systems to provide motions for the robot that are suitable for the music. This system is evaluated on multiple sets of humanoid robots to determine if the choice of robot platform or number of robots influences the perceived emotional content of the motions. Their tests verify that the authors' system can accurately identify the emotional content of acoustic music and produce motions that convey a similar emotion to that in the audio. They also determine the perceptual effects of using different sized or different numbers of robots in the motion performances.
Comparison of climate space and phylogeny of Marmota (Mammalia: Rodentia) indicates a connection between evolutionary history and climate preference.

Palaeobiologists have investigated the evolutionary responses of extinct organisms to climate change, and have also used extinct organisms to reconstruct palaeoclimates. There is evidence of a disconnection between climate change and evolution that suggests that organisms may not be accurate palaeoclimate indicators. Here, marmots (Marmota sp.) are used as a case study to examine whether similarity of climate preferences is correlated with evolutionary relatedness of species. This study tests for a relationship between phylogenetic distance and `climate distance' of species within a clade. There should be a significant congruence between maximum likelihood distance and standardized Euclidian distance between climates if daughter species tend to stay in environments similar to parent species. Marmots make a good test case because there are many extant species, their phylogenies are well established and individual survival is linked to climatic factors. A Mantel test indicates a significant correlation between climate and phylogenetic distance matrices, but this relationship explains only a small fraction of the variance (regression R2=0.114). These results suggest that (i) closely related species of marmots tend to stay in similar environments; (ii) marmots may be more susceptible than many mammals to global climate change; and (iii) because of the considerable noise in this system, the correlation cannot be used for detailed palaeoclimate reconstruction.
The Quasar-Quasar Correlation Function in the Palomar Transit Grism Survey

The quasar-quasar correlation function is measured in four strips of the Palomar Transit Grism Survey, covering an effective area of 50 square degrees at high Galactic latitude. The quasar sample contains 232 objects with well-defined line flux and equivalent width selection criteria. It spans the redshift range 0.7 2)/ξqq(z < 2)=1.8+ 2.5−1.2, significantly higher than the prediction of the linear theory.
Auditory experience refines cortico-basal ganglia inputs to motor cortex via remapping of single axons during vocal learning in zebra finches.

Experience-dependent changes in neural connectivity underlie developmental learning and result in life-long changes in behavior. In songbirds axons from the cortical region LMANcore (core region of lateral magnocellular nucleus of anterior nidopallium) convey the output of a basal ganglia circuit necessary for song learning to vocal motor cortex [robust nucleus of the arcopallium (RA)]. This axonal projection undergoes remodeling during the sensitive period for learning to achieve topographic organization. To examine how auditory experience instructs the development of connectivity in this pathway, we compared the morphology of individual LMANcore→RA axon arbors in normal juvenile songbirds to those raised in white noise. The spatial extent of axon arbors decreased during the first week of vocal learning, even in the absence of normal auditory experience. During the second week of vocal learning axon arbors of normal birds showed a loss of branches and varicosities; in contrast, experience-deprived birds showed no reduction in branches or varicosities and maintained some arbors in the wrong topographic location. Thus both experience-independent and experience-dependent processes are necessary to establish topographic organization in juvenile birds, which may allow birds to modify their vocal output in a directed manner and match their vocalizations to a tutor song. Many LMANcore axons of juvenile birds, but not adults, extended branches into dorsal arcopallium (Ad), a region adjacent to RA that is part of a parallel basal ganglia pathway also necessary for vocal learning. This transient projection provides a point of integration between the two basal ganglia pathways, suggesting that these branches convey corollary discharge signals as birds are actively engaged in learning.
In the trenches at the talent wars: competitive interaction for scarce human resources

A number of indicators suggest that the social norms that once deterred labor market competitors from hiring or “poaching” each others' employees are breaking down. This study explores the competitive interaction that results when one firm attempts to hire employees from a competing firm (known as “talent raiding”). Results suggest that attributes of the raiding firm, the targeted firm, and targeted human capital will affect how a targeted firm responds to a talent raid. The study suggests a number of tactics raiding firms can use to avoid retaliation and suggests tactics targeted firms can use to repel would-be talent raiders. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Intravesical chitosan/interleukin-12 immunotherapy induces tumor-specific systemic immunity against murine bladder cancer.

Bladder cancer is a highly recurrent disease in need of novel, durable treatment strategies. This study assessed the ability of an intravesical immunotherapy composed of a coformulation of the biopolymer chitosan with interleukin-12 (CS/IL-12) to induce systemic adaptive tumor-specific immunity. Intravesical CS/IL-12 immunotherapy was used to treat established orthotopic MB49 and MBT-2 bladder tumors. All mice receiving intravesical CS/IL-12 immunotherapy experienced high cure rates of orthotopic disease. To investigate the durability and extent of the resultant adaptive immune response, cured mice were rechallenged both locally (intravesically) and distally. Cured mice rejected 100 % of intravesical tumor rechallenges and 50–100 % of distant subcutaneous rechallenges in a tumor-specific manner. The ability of splenocytes from cured mice to lyse targets in a tumor-specific manner was assessed in vitro, revealing that lytic activity of splenocytes from cured mice was robust and tumor specific. Protective immunity was durable, lasting for at least 18 months after immunotherapy. In an advanced bladder cancer model, intravesical CS/IL-12 immunotherapy controlled simultaneous orthotopic and subcutaneous tumors in 70 % of treated mice. Intravesical CS/IL-12 immunotherapy creates a robust and durable tumor-specific adaptive immune response against bladder cancer. The specificity, durability, and potential of this therapy to treat both superficial and advanced disease are deserving of consideration for clinical translation.
Note on the Thermal Conductivity of Synthetic Sapphire

The thermal conductivity of synthetic sapphire in the direction 60 degrees from the c axis is shown to be 0.065 cal. per second per cm. per °C. at 90° to 100°C.
Sensory neuron number in neonatal and adult rats estimated by means of stereologic and profile-based methods

Postnatal neuron addition, if it occurred, would have profound implications both for the conceptualization of developmental processes and for efforts directed at replacing neurons that were lost to injury or disease. Although dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) offer the advantages of clear boundaries and functional homogeneity, studies comparing neuron number in the DRGs of animals of different ages or sizes have yielded conflicting results. In the present study, neuron number in DRGs L3–L6 was compared in neonatal (approximately 11 days old, mean weight of 24.5 g, mean volume of 25 cm3) and adult (approximately 80 days old, mean weight of 373.5 g, mean volume of 346 cm3) male Sprague-Dawley rats. Estimates of neuron number were derived by using both stereological (physical disector) and profile-counting (one or more nucleoli within a nucleus) methods. The reliability and validity of the two methods were evaluated by comparing estimates of neuron number with those derived from three-dimensional reconstruction of a subset of neurons. The recommended protocol for using the physical disector was found to give accurate estimates of neuron number, but the heterogeneous distribution of neurons in the ganglion led to sampling errors of up to 50%. Reliability was improved by increasing the number of disector pairs examined. Counts of nuclear/nucleolar profiles were more reliable, but introduced a bias that worked against the experimental hypothesis in that estimates of neuron number in neonates exceeded actual values. Nonetheless, both methods indicated that adult rats had more DRG neurons than did neonates. Profile counts were 19% higher in adults (P < .01, two-tailed t-test); and data obtained by using the physical disector showed that adult rats had 28% more neurons than did neonates (P < .05). The difference in neuron number between adults and neonates could be due either to neuron proliferation or to late differentiation of neurons that do not assume a typical appearance until adulthood. J. Comp. Neurol. 386:8–15, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
An in-core neutron detector using magnetically focused electrons for nuclear reactors

Abstract A neutron detector utilizing focused conversion electrons or beta particles has been investigated. The detector consists of a long evacuated pipe along which the electrons are focused onto a distant electron detector, which is located in a low-neutron-flux region. This arrangement avoids the need for cable conductors carrying signals directly from high flux regions, and thus circumvents problems due to radiation damage and breakdown noise in the cables.
Open by design: how IBM partnered with the user community in the redesign of lotus notes

This paper describes the methods used to successfully redesign the IBM® Lotus Notes® user experience. The methods we found most valuable were designed to be open to a rich dialog with the wide community of Notes users. Based on our experience, we share practical benefits and challenges with using these methods.
A look at mainstreaming in light of children's attitudes toward the handicapped.

Mainstreaming is a legislative reality, yet there is still a question as to whether non-handicapped students are prepared for it. In the present study 131 grade school students were each asked to s...
Scaling Studies of QCD on Asymmetric Lattices

Using the deconfinement temperature as a probe, the scaling properties of QCD are studied on asymmetric lattices. We find that the measured asymmetry dependence of the lattice Λ parameter at β ≈ 5.7 agrees precisely with that predicted by one loop perturbation theory. This result holds on lattices with asymmetry in one spatial direction and on lattices with asymmetry in all three spatial directions and suggests that the perturbative scaling violations observed on symmetric lattices at these values of β are independent of asymmetry and therefore unlikely to be lattice artifacts.
Organization of the Rosy Locus in DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER : Evidence for a Control Element Adjacent to the Xanthine Dehydrogenase Structural Element

From a collection of electrophoretic variants of XDH obtained from laboratory strains and natural populations, a stock was isolated that was associated with much greater than normal levels of XDH activity. Preliminary recombination experiments demonstrated that this character maps to the rosy locus. While a series of observations failed to relate this phenotype to alteration in the structure of the XDH polypeptide, kinetic and immunological experiments did succeed in associating this character with variation in number of molecules of XDH/fly. Large scale fine structure recombination experiments locate the genetic basis for this variation in number of molecules of XDH/fly to a site very close to, but definitely outside of, the genetic boundaries of the XDH structural information. Observations are described which eliminate the possibility that we are dealing with a tandem duplication of the XDH structural element. Turning to a regulatory role for this genetic element located adjacent to the XDH structural information, a simple experiment is described which demonstrates that it functions as a "cis-acting" regulator of the XDH structural element.
G-SSASC: simultaneous simulation of system models with bounded hazard rates

The real utility of simulation lies in comparing different design choices by evaluating models represented using a simulation framework. In an earlier paper, we presented the Simultaneous Simulation of Alternative System Configurations (SSASC) simulation algorithm, which provides a methodology to exploit the structural/stochastic similarity among the alternative design configurations in an efficient manner that evaluates multiple alternative configurations of a system design simultaneously. However, this technique was limited to Markovian models. In this paper, we propose G-SSASC, which expands the domain of system models that can be modeled and evaluated to those non-Markovian models that have distributions with bounded hazard rates. We also show that we obtain a speed-up of up to an order of magnitude for a case study model that evaluates the reliability of a storage system.
Digging up the Past: Space, Time, and Memory in Josef Haslinger’s "Fiona und Ferdinand"

Josef Haslinger’s story "Fiona und Ferdinand" (2006) revolves around a disclosed secret in its narrator’s childhood hometown, which implicates two (deceased) village elders in a decades-old rape and murder mystery long blamed on two anonymous “Russian soldiers.” The discovery of two partial skeletons locked in a bedroom trunk awakens the narrator’s memory: years before as a child, he unearthed the same skeletons after first spying a finger bone buried in a stream. The identification of the bones is central in determining the perpetrators of the rape/murder, but no one -- and in particular the narrator’s mother -- seems interested in hearing the testimony of the crime’s lone eyewitness, now an aged woman. Instead, the revelation evokes a collective effort to willfully impede any investigation into the truth, presumably as a means to maintain the town’s dual pretenses of order and respectability. "Fiona und Ferdinand" emphasizes Haslinger’s preoccupation with the Austrian failure to confront its own past, specifically via families as fundamental units of transmission and memory. In this analysis of the text, I explore Haslinger’s treatment of space, time, and memory in several ways. First, I examine how his notion of “officially sanctioned memory” intersects with a landscape that contains past and present alike. Second, I discuss how bodies, either the violated female body or the rotted skeletons Fiona and Ferdinand, are emblems that raise discussions of space, gender, and memory. Last, I consider collective memory and how it enables processes of forgetting. The reluctance to “dig up the past” is thematized in "Fiona und Ferdinand" using devices common throughout Haslinger’s oeuvre, and this paper will analyze the story through the lens of Haslinger-as-archaeologist, exploring how families, and the memories they possess, are both the key to truth and the foil to its revelation.
Particle-size distribution effects in batch adsorption

Mathematical models for pore-diffusion-controlled batch adsorption that take an arbitrary distribution of particle sizes into account are developed and solved for two extreme cases: the linear isotherm case and the irreversible isotherm case. Numerical calculations based on these solutions show that the effects of the particle-size distribution (PSD) are significant, even for relatively narrow and symmetrical PSDs. The uptake rate is faster initially and slower as equilibrium is approached than is predicted using the volume-average particle radius. These results are confirmed by comparing model predictions with experimental results obtained for the batch uptake of the protein α-chymotrypsinogen on SP-Sepharose-FF. Although the PSD of this commonly used commercial medium for preparative protein chromatography is fairly narrow, significant effects are observed in both shallow-bed and stirred batch-uptake experiments. As a result, the PSD needs to be taken into account when precise predictions are desired, such as when batch-uptake experiments are used for diffusivity measurements. The PSD also affects the shape of the breakthrough curve in packed beds. The effects are somewhat less pronounced, but still quite significant for the irreversible isotherm case.
Depressed autonomic nervous system function in African Americans and individuals of lower social class: a potential mechanism of race- and class-related disparities in health outcomes.

Background Both race and social class influence cardiovascular outcomes, through mechanisms not yet fully understood. Minority race and lower social class are sources of chronic stress, which can alter autonomic nervous system function. Heart rate variability (HRV), a measure of autonomic function, is also an important predictor of cardiovascular outcomes. Methods To determine whether minority race/ethnicity and lower social class are associated with depressed HRV, we prospectively collected data on sociodemographic, clinical, psychological, and behavioral factors by survey in 360 outpatients undergoing ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring. Heart rate variability (24-hour) was measured by frequency domain analysis. Results In unadjusted analysis, African Americans had lower HRV than whites, and individuals of lower social class as measured by education, occupation, and income had lower HRV than those of higher class. In multivariable analysis, both race and social class were independent predictors of ultralow frequency power after controlling for clinical and psychological factors. African Americans were 3.45 (95% CI 1.74-6.98, P = .0004) times as likely as whites to have depressed HRV (ultralow frequency power, lowest tertile), and non–college graduates 2.94 (95% CI, 1.71-5.14, P = .0001) times as likely as college graduates to have depressed HRV. Conclusions Heart rate variability is lower in African Americans and individuals of lower social class, independent of the effects of measured clinical, psychological, or behavioral factors. This suggests that the adverse effects of minority race and lower social class on cardiovascular outcomes may be mediated by dysregulation of autonomic function.
Towards automatic mediation of OWL-S process models

The framework for automatic mediation of two process models composed of semantically annotated Web services is presented. Process mediation is hard because of many possible mismatches between process models. We introduce algorithms for the process models analysis to find possible mappings between provider's and requester's process models, or to identify incompatibilities that cannot be reconciled with given set of available data mediators and external services. Results of the analysis phase are used in the mediator runtime component. In particular, we show how the workflow and dataflow mismatches can be resolved.
Reoperation after mitral valve repair for degenerative disease.

Background With recent increases in frequency of mitral valve repair for degenerative disease, surgeons will encounter more patients with recurrent mitral regurgitation after repair. Objectives of this study were to determine (1) mechanisms for and timing of failed repair of degenerative disease and approach to reoperation, (2) durability of re-repair, and (3) long-term survival after reoperation. Methods From January 1980 to January 2005, 188 patients underwent reoperation for recurrent mitral regurgitation. Follow-up averaged 6.5 ± 5.0 years. Results Mechanisms of failure were procedure related in 71 patients, valve related in 84, both in 25, or uncertain in 8. Intervention was early (median, 19 days) for procedure-related failure and later (median, 5.4 years) for valve-related failure ( p Conclusions When reoperation occurs late after repair of degenerative mitral valve disease, new valve pathology is usually the culprit, and re-repair is less common. In contrast, reoperation for procedure-related failure occurs early and is often amenable to re-repair. When performed, valve re-repair is durable.
Comparison of Traditional Versus Alternative Preparation of Special Education Teachers

The shortage of special education teachers has prompted the creation of alternative certification programs. The effectiveness of the University of Memphis’s (U of M’s) 14-year-old alternative Special Education Institute program in preparing teachers to teach and remain in the field was examined. The program was compared to the U of M’s traditional certification program. During spring of 2009, data were collected through information obtained from the U of M’s College of Education’s database and information from four local school districts about the current employment of special education teachers. The number of program graduates from the traditional and alternative programs was compared for longevity. It was found that a larger percentage of the alternatively prepared teachers (50%) were employed at local school districts than the traditional program graduates (33%). But there was evidence that alternatively prepared teachers may not stay as many years (4.1 as compared to 6 years). The male graduates were also more likely to be employed in area school districts than females from both programs. Similarly, a larger percentage of African American students were employed by area school districts than were their White counterparts. The results give support that alternative programs do lead to additional employment and teachers were retained for several years.
Incommensurability, Interpretation, and Educational Research

Questions about the nature of education are inextricably linked to questions about the nature of knowledge. For this reason, the apparent collapse of a monolithic, “grand narrative” view of knowledge opens the entire project of education to analysis in cultural, historical, and political terms. By providing opportunities to better understand the complex forces surrounding schooling, learning, and knowing, this postmodern turn has surely had positive consequences. Nevertheless, postmodernism has also contributed to widespread confusion about, and skepticism toward, the possibility of knowledge. I hope here to contribute to the effort to channel this confusion toward further inquiry and deeper understanding, rather than allowing it to close off dialogue and settle into a sort of dogmatic skepticism.
Volume Rendering of Curvilinear-Grid Data Using Low-Dimensional Deformation Textures

In this paper, we present a high quality and interactive method for volume rendering curvilinear-grid data sets. This method is based on a two-stage parallel transformation of the sample position into intermediate computational space then into texture space through the use of multiple 1 and 2D deformation textures using hardware acceleration. In this manner, it is possible to render many curvilinear-grid volume data sets at high quality and with a low memory footprint, while taking advantage of modern graphic hardware's tri-linear filtering for the data itself. We also extend our method to handle volume shading. Additionally, we present a comprehensive study and comparisons with previous works, we show improvements both in quality and performance using our technique on multiple curvilinear data sets.
Impact of developer reputation on code review outcomes in OSS projects: an empirical investigation

Context: Gaining an identity and building a good reputation are important motivations for Open Source Software (OSS) developers. It is unclear whether these motivations have any actual impact on OSS project success. Goal:To identify how an OSS developer's reputation affects the outcome of his/her code review requests. Method: We conducted a social network analysis (SNA) of the code review data from eight popular OSS projects. Working on the assumption that core developers have better reputation than peripheral developers, we developed an approach, Core Identification using K-means (CIK) to divide the OSS developers into core and periphery groups based on six SNA centrality measures. We then compared the outcome of the code review process for members of the two groups. Results: The results suggest that the core developers receive quicker first feedback on their review request, complete the review process in shorter time, and are more likely to have their code changes accepted into the project codebase. Peripheral developers may have to wait 2 - 19 times (or 12 - 96 hours) longer than core developers for the review process of their code to complete. Conclusion: We recommend that projects allocate resources or create tool support to triage the code review requests to motivate prospective developers through quick feedback.
TRAF3 in B cells: too much, too little, too bad.

In this issue of Blood, Zapata and colleagues investigate a novel transgenic mouse model overexpressing TRAF3 in B cells and surprisingly find plasmacytosis and hypergammaglobulinemia, even though TRAF3 is reported to be a tumor suppressor gene in MM.
Playing with Representations: How Do Kids Make Use of Quantitative Representations in Video Games?

This paper describes the use of quantities in video games by young people as part of a broader effort to understand thinking and learning across naturally occurring contexts of activity. Our approach to investigating the use of quantities in game play is ethnographic; we have followed eight children over a six-month period as they play their own games at home. The data set is composed of video recordings and artifact-based interviews. The concept of disciplined perception is used to understand how quantities are coordinated during game play. The current study shows young people using quantities in games to make predictions and organize their actions based on those predictions. Some ideas based on the study’s findings for using video games in school are discussed.
Creep in photovoltaic modules: Examining the stability of polymeric materials and components

Interest in renewable energy has motivated the implementation of new polymeric materials in photovoltaic modules. Some of these are non-cross-linked thermoplastics, in which there is a potential for new behaviors to occur, including phase transformation and visco-elastic flow. Differential scanning calorimetry and rheometry data were obtained and then combined with existing site-specific time-temperature information in a theoretical analysis to estimate the displacement expected to occur during module service life. The analysis identified that, depending on the installation location, module configuration and/or mounting configuration, some of the thermoplastics are expected to undergo unacceptable physical displacement. While the examples here focus on encapsulation materials, the concerns apply equally to the frame, junction-box, and mounting-adhesive technologies.
Selective replacement of primary hydroxyl groups in carbohydrates: preparation of some carbohydrate derivatives containing halomethyl groups

Abstract Selective halogenation of hydroxymethyl groups in sugars and nucleosides has been achieved by use of triphenylphosphine and carbon tetrahalides (chloride, bromide, or iodide) in pyridine. Methyl α- d -glucopyranoside, 1,2,- O -isopropylidene-α- d -glucofuranose, inosine, and uridine give almost quantitative yields of their primary halomethyl analogs. Similarly, 6,6′-dichloro-6,6′-dideoxysucrose is prepared from sucrose. Chlorination and bromination of 5,6-anhydro-1,2- O -isopropylidene-α- d -glucofuranose by these reagents give 6-chloro-6-deoxy-1,2- O -isopropylidene-α- d -glucofuranose and 6-bromo-6-deoxy-1,2- O -iso-propylidene-α- d -glucofuranose, respectively.
The LET dependence of unrepaired chromosome damage in human cells: A break too far?

Cytogenetic damage is among the few radiobiological end points that allow a precise distinction to be made between misrepaired damage, represented by exchange-type aberrations such as dicentrics and translocations, and unrepaired damage that leads to “open breaks”. This latter category includes both terminal deletions and incomplete exchanges, whose different mechanisms of formation can be recognized by multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization (mFISH). mFISH was used to examine the yields of chromosome aberrations at the first postirradiation mitosis in human fibroblasts and lymphocytes irradiated with 137Cs γ rays, a radiation of low-linear energy transfer (LET), and two sources of high-LET radiation: α particles from 238Pu and 1 GeV/amu 56Fe ions. In agreement with previous studies, our results show that irrespective of radiation quality, the overall level of misrepaired damage exceeds that of unrepaired damage by a large margin. The unrepaired component of damage produced by γ rays and α particles...
Faulting Parameters of the January 16, 1994 Wyomissing Hills, Pennsylvania Earthquakes

Two events dominated the January 1994, Wyomissing, PA earthquake sequence, an M w 4.0 foreshock, followed by an M w 4.6 mainshock. We modeled regional waveforms to estimate the event depth and the moment tensors for the two largest events in the sequence, and examine teleseismic waveforms recorded on the ARCESS short-period seismic array to estimate the depth and source time function of the mainshock. Our data constrain the depth of the events to be shallower than 5 km, and prefer a depth of 3–5 km. For an assumed depth of 3 km, the mainshock moment tensor is 75% double couple, with (the major double couple) planes striking at 135°N, 347°N, dips of 49°, 46°, and rakes of 68°, 114°. The estimated moment is 8.9 × 10 22 dyne-cm. The P axis strikes 241°N and plunges 2°, the Tension axis strikes 336°N and plunges 73°. The foreshock inversion results are virtually identical to the mainshock results; for a source depth of three km, we find a major double couple with a strike, dip, and rake of 121°N, 60°, and 66°, respectively. The seismic moment for the foreshock is 1.2 × 10 22 dyne-cm, which is approximately 13% of the mainshock moment release. These events did not excite high-frequency Lg waves as effectively as typical eastern North American events, and the mainshock had a stress drop in the range of 25–50 bars.
Regular aerobic exercise and the age-related increase in carotid artery intima-media thickness in healthy men

Carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), an independent risk factor for stroke, increases with age. Habitual exercise is associated with a lower prevalence of stroke, but it is unclear whether this protective effect could be mediated through a favorable influence on carotid IMT. We examined this possibility using both cross-sectional and intervention approaches. First, 137 healthy men (age 18-77 yr) who were either sedentary or endurance trained were studied. In both groups, carotid IMT and IMT-to-lumen ratio were progressively higher with age (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in measures of carotid IMT between sedentary and endurance-trained men at any age. Carotid systolic blood pressure increased progressively with age and was related to carotid IMT (r = 0.63, P < 0.01). Second, 18 healthy sedentary subjects (54 +/- 2 yr) were studied before and after 3 mo of endurance training. Carotid IMT, IMT/lumen ratio, and carotid systolic blood pressure did not change with exercise intervention. Our results do not support the hypothesis that regular aerobic exercise exerts its protective effect against stroke by attenuating the age-related increase in carotid IMT. This lack of effect on carotid IMT may be due to the apparent inability of habitual exercise to prevent or reduce the age-associated elevation in carotid distending pressure.