cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transactional Confidentiality in Sensor Networks

In a sensor network environment, elements such as message rate, message size, mote frequency, and message routing can reveal transactional data - that is, information about the sensors deployed, frequency of events monitored, network topology, parties deploying the network, and location of subjects and objects moving through the networked space. Whereas the confidentiality of network communications content is secured through encryption and authentication techniques, the ability of network outsiders and insiders to observe transactional data can also compromise network confidentiality. Four types of transactional data are typically observable in sensor networks. Measures to limit the availability and utility of transactional data are essential to preserving confidentiality in sensor networks.
h2-calponin Gene Knockout Increases Traction Force of Mouse Fibroblasts in vitro

Cell traction force (CTF) plays a critical role in controlling cell shape, enabling cell motility, and maintaining cellular homeostasis during various biological processes such as wound healing, angiogenesis, and cancer metastasis. It has been demonstrated that h2-calponin, an actin binding protein found in smooth muscle and non-muscle cells including epithelial cells, endothelial cells, macrophages and fibroblasts, plays a role in regulating the actin cytoskeleton activities in cell adhesion, migration and cytokinesis. We recently found that knockout (KO) of h2-calponin gene increased cell motility when compared to wild-type (WT) cells. This finding indicated a potential involvement of h2-calponin in producing CTF. The present study investigated the role of h2-calponin in mouse fibroblast traction force. Primary fibroblasts were isolated from leg muscles of h2-calponin KO and WT mice and analyzed using CTF-microscopy. CTF-microscopy is the current state-of-the-art method to determine CTF in a cell spread on a two-dimensional substrate. Using CTF-microscopy, we determined the root-mean square traction force, the total strain energy, net contractile movement produced by mouse fibroblasts cultured on a thin layer of 8-kPa polyacrylamide gel containing fluorescent beads of 0.2 µm in diameter. The results showed that h2-calponin KO fibroblasts had greater traction force than WT control. In comparison to WT cells expressing abundant tropomyosin-2, h2-calponin KO fibroblasts lost tropomyosin-2, a phenotype mimicking that of metastatic cancer cells. H2-calponin KO fibroblasts also adhered to cultural substrate slower than WT control, had smaller cell spreading area, and rounded up faster during trypsin treatment, supporting the role of h2-calponin in stabilizing the actin cytoskeleton. Our findings indicate that h2-calponin has an inhibitory role in the production of CTF, consistent with the increased motility of h2-calponin-null cells. Further studies on the mechanisms of h2-calponin-mediated CTF regulation and cell motility are underway.
Programmed Instruction Versus Standard Text in Introductory Psychology

Introductory psychology students (N = 149) prepared for a 33-item quiz by either completing 70 to 90 frames of programmed instruction, reading a standard text chapter, or reading a standard text chapter covering subject matter unrelated to the quiz. Findings suggest that programmed instruction is both an effective method for learning introductory psychology subject matter and a more efficient method than learning from a standard text. Several impediments stand in the way of programmed instruction, the most serious one being that educators do not create high-quality programs based on relevant research findings. With increasing use of computers in the classroom, programmed instruction has a new opportunity to demonstrate its earlier promise. The introductory psychology course is an ideal setting for implementing programmed instruction and demonstrating its effectiveness.
A temperature-sensitive mutant of herpes simplex virus defective in glycoprotein synthesis.

Abstract A temperature-sensitive mutant of herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1, ts343, has been isolated from 5-bromodeoxyuridine-treated and HSV-infected human embryonic lung (HEL) cell cultures. The mutant failed to replicate at the nonpermissive temperature (40°) whereas the virus yield at the permissive temperature (35°) was about 5 × 106 plaque-forming units/ml. The temperature-sensitive defect of ts343 was not due to increased thermal lability of the virus or to its failure to adsorb to HEL cells. Temperature shift-up experiments showed cessation of virus synthesis followed by a drop in titer, while shift-down experiments showed reversibility of the temperature-sensitive defect. Viral DNA synthesis was not detected when measured by CsCl equilibrium centrifugation of lysates of thymidine-3H-labeled ts343-infected cells incubated at the nonpermissive temperature. Virus-specific antigen synthesis, to a limited degree, occurred at this temperature. Electron microscopic examination of thin sections of cells infected with ts343 and maintained at 40° revealed a limited number of intranuclear naked viral capsids but the complete absence of enveloped particles. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was employed to investigate possible differences in polypeptide and glycopeptide synthesis induced by ts343 and the wild-type virus. Coelectrophoresis of wild-type and ts343 virus-induced cytoplasmic proteins synthesized at 35° exhibited identical electrophoretic patterns. However, at 40° the electrophoretic profile differed significantly with respect to a nearly complete absence of protein C5, identified as the major envelope protein. The electrophoretic profile of the glucosamine-3H-labeled fraction of ts343-infected cells demonstrated that protein C5 was the major glycosylated protein synthesized at 35° within the cytoplasm, but at 40° glycoproteins were not made. By contrast, glycoprotein synthesis by wild-type virus was not inhibited at 40°. The kinetics of glucosamine incorporation by ts343 at 35° was maximal between 6.5 and 10.5 hr post infection, whereas at 40° the uptake of glucosamine into TCA-precipitable material decreased throughout the 12 hr of observation.
Nitride-bonded carborundum refractories

The investigation confirmed the possibility of obtaining nitride-bonded high-grade carborundum parts by firing them in a nitrogen stream or in a coke charge in flame kilns. It is essential to have these methods checked under production conditions and to test the parts in industrial units.
Towards thermodynamics of universal horizons in Einstein-æther theory.

Holography grew out of black hole thermodynamics, which relies on the causal structure and general covariance of general relativity. In Einstein-\ae{}ther theory, a generally covariant theory with a dynamical timelike unit vector, every solution breaks local Lorentz invariance, thereby grossly modifying the causal structure of gravity. However, there are still absolute causal boundaries, called ``universal horizons,'' which are not Killing horizons yet obey a first law of black hole mechanics and must have an entropy if they do not violate a generalized second law. We couple a scalar field to the timelike vector and show via the tunneling approach that the universal horizon radiates as a blackbody at a fixed temperature, even if the scalar field equations also violate local Lorentz invariance. This suggests that the class of holographic theories may be much broader than currently assumed.
An experimental model of self-intoxication in C57 mice.

Abstract Male C57BL/6J mice offered unrestricted access to food, water and 10% ethanol, exhibited obvious intoxication when treated with the alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitor, 4-methylpyrazole (4MP) by chronic infusion. Plasma concentrations of ethanol ranged from 156±43 mg/dl at midday to 254±31 mg/dl at midnight producing a twenty-fold increase in the total exposure to blood alcohol. Illness sufficiently severe to require intervention occurred in five of the ten mice in the experimental group, while controls treated with 4MP and offered only water to drink displayed no adverse effects. The continuation of drinking despite life-threatening toxicity suggests these mice failed to make an association between the consumption of ethanol and its consequences.
Hemodynamic studies on cholera. Effects of hypovolemia and acidosis

The hemodynamic effects of hypovolemia and acidosis were studied in 23 patients with cholera. Studies were made before and during fluid replacement and administration of alkali. The major hemodynamic abnormalities encountered before rehydration can be ascribed to a reduction in circulating blood volume. Hypovolemia was associated with a reduction in cardiac output, blood pressures, and central blood volume. Restoration of blood volume returned these variables toward normal. The chief effect of acidosis appeared to be a redistribution of blood from the peripheral to the central circulation; consequently, central blood volume, lesser circulation pressures, and cardiac output were relatively well maintained despite hypovolemia. Fluid administration without correction of acidosis favored a disproportionate increase in central blood volume, while reduction in hydrogen ion concentration attending fluid replacement resulted in a more even distribution of the circulating blood volume and reduced the possibility o...
The grid method

Determining strain with grids is one of the oldest and simplest methods of experimental stress analysis. Here, the method is reviewed. Various techniques that have been developed to print, record and analyze grids are discussed, and the types of problems to which the grid method has been applied are presented.
Anti-Inflammatory Activity of (Polyphenolic)-Sulfonates and TheirSodium Salts in Rodents

A series of polyphenolic-sulfonated compounds were observed to have potent anti-inflammatory activity and were protective against induced endotoxic shock in mice at 8 and 16 mg/kg, I.P. These agents proved to be potent elastase inhibitors in human leukocytes and J774-AI and IC-21 mouse macrophages as well as prostaglandin cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors in J774-AI macrophages. The compounds from 5 to 50 μM inhibited TNFα release from IC-21 macrophages and IL-1 release from mouse P388D1 macrophages induced by LPS. The binding of these cytokines to high affinity receptors on target cells, e.g. L929 fibroblasts and IL-2 in HuT78 T lymphoma cells, were also suppressed by the agents. These compounds blocked the adhesion of leukocytes and macrophages to the plasma membranes of L929 fibroblasts.
Segmentation of fuzzy images: a novel and fast two-step pseudo MAP method

This paper presents a new two-step pseudo maximum a posteriori (MAP) segmentation method for the Markov random field (MRF)-modeled image because the exact MAP estimation is hard to implement due to intractable complexity. The expectation maximization (EM) and Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods are adopted to estimate the parameters for the MRF model due to their comparatively good performance. Although the image segmentation algorithms via graph cuts have become very popular nowadays, our proposed algorithm still performs significantly better in automatic identification and segmentation of fuzzy images than them, which is shown by the quantitative results on synthesized images. In practical applications, the proposed two-step pseudo MAP method is superior in segmenting the fuzzy laser images reflected from the weld pool surfaces during the P-GMAW welding process.
Optimal load coordination in a hybrid bi-axis drive system using genetic algorithm

This paper presents a new approach to optimal load coordination in hybrid bi-axis drive systems. The idea is to utilize the regenerated energy from decelerating motors to supply other loads on a common DC bus. In this study, we applied a genetic algorithm to find the optimal time delay between the operations of two permanent magnet motor-drives in order to minimize the amount of energy purchased from the utility grid. The results indicate that optimal coordination significantly improves the performance and efficiency of the system.
Ambient woodsmoke and associated respiratory emergency department visits in Spokane, Washington

AbstractThree multivariate receptor algorithms were applied to seven years of chemical speciation data to apportion fine particulate matter to various sources in Spokane, Washington. Source marker compounds were used to assess the associations between atmospheric concentration of these compounds and daily cardiac hospital admissions and/or respiratory emergency department visits. Total carbon and arsenic had high correlations with two different vegetative burning sources and were selected as vegetative burning markers, while zinc and silicon were selected as markers for the motor vehicle and airborne soil sources, respectively. The rate of respiratory emergency department visits increased 2% for a 3.0 μg/m3 interquartile range change in a vegetative burning source marker (1.023,95% CI 1.009–1.038) at a lag of one day. The other source markers studied were not associated with the health outcomes investigated. Results suggest vegetative burning is associated with acute respiratory events.
Brain mechanisms for representing what another person sees

We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and a naturalistic joint attention scenario to evaluate two, alternative hypotheses concerning the social brain. The first, Content Specific Attribution hypothesis, was that core regions previously identified as being involved in social cognition also participate in representing the contents of another mind. The second, Dual Role hypothesis, was that extrastriate, category-specific visual regions respond to a visible stimulus of a specific category and to the same stimulus occluded, but when it appears to be the focus of another person's visual attention. Participants viewed category-specific stimuli (Place and Body images) to localize the extrastriate body area (EBA) and parahippocampal place area (PPA). Then, they observed a computerized character viewing each stimulus category, occluded from the participant's view. In support of the Content Specific Attribution hypothesis, whole-brain analyses revealed that viewing someone else looking at an occluded picture of a body activated brain regions previously associated with components of social cognition more than viewing someone else looking at an occluded picture of a place. Counter to the Dual Role hypothesis, functional region of interest (ROI) analyses revealed that the EBA and PPA were not clearly involved in representing what the character was seeing.
Acyl chain interdigitation in saturated mixed-chain phosphatidylcholine bilayer dispersions.

The molecular packing of various fully hydrated mixed-chain phosphatidylcholines was studied by X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy. All of the mixed-chain phosphatidylcholines under study were shown to adopt a lamellar or bilayer form in aqueous media. The bilayer thickness of these mixed-chain phosphatidylcholines was determined from the lamellar repeat distance in the small-angle X-ray diffraction region by controlled swelling experiments. At T greater than Tm, the bilayer thickness of C(18):C(12)PC and C(18):C-(10)PC is found to be comparable to that of C(14):C(14)PC. In contrast, the bilayer thickness of these highly asymmetric phosphatidylcholines is considerably less than that of the symmetric C(14):C(14)PC at temperatures below Tm. Moreover, the wide-angle X-ray diffraction patterns taken at T less than Tm consist of at least two sharp reflections at 4.2 and 4.6 A. These X-ray diffraction data suggest that these highly asymmetric mixed-chain phospholipids, in excess water, form mixed interdigitated bilayers in the gel state and that the acyl chain packing in the gel-state bilayer is not hexagonal. The freeze-fracture planes of these mixed-chain phosphatidylcholines are discontinuous at T less than Tm, supporting the conclusion drawn from X-ray diffraction data that these highly asymmetric phosphatidylcholines form interdigitated bilayers at temperatures below Tm. The molecular packing of fully hydrated C(18):C(14)PCs in bilayers is distinctively different from that of C(18):C(10)PCs or C(18):C(10)PCs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Actin in a supporting role

Actin is abundant at presynaptic terminals, and many important functions have been proposed for it. A new study adds 'scaffold' to the growing list of leading parts for which actin has auditioned and refutes a more action-packed, starring role for actin in presynaptic function.
Indian Heart/White Man's Head: Native-American Teachers in Indian Schools, 1880–1930

Two teachers at Haskell who had a profound impact on my life were Ella Deloria and Ruth Muskrat Bronson. They stood apart from the others as far as I'm concerned. Ella Deloria was Standing Rock Sioux and a graduate of Columbia. … She taught girls’physical education and drama. Ruth Muskrat Bronson was Cherokee and a graduate of Mount Holyoke. She taught English. They both had such a wonderful sense of bumor. They taught non-Indian subject matter but had a very strong respect for Indian culture, and they were clever enough to integrate it into the curriculum. They taught their students to have a healthy respect for themselves as individuals and a pride in their heritage. They taught us about Indian values and kept them alive in us. They respected and encouraged us to voice our opinions in and out of the classroom, and they had the ability to draw out our creativity. When Ruth would tell us to have pride in who we were, she'd say, “Indians are people too. Don't forget that.”
GNOMO: Greater-than-NOMinal V dd operation for BTI mitigation

This paper presents a novel scheme for mitigating delay degradations in digital circuits due to bias temperature instability (BTI). The method works in two alternating phases. In the first, a greater-than-nominal supply voltage, V dd,g is used, which causes a task to complete more quickly but causes greater aging than the nominal supply voltage, V dd,n . In the second, the circuit is power-gated, enabling the BTI recovery phase. We demonstrate, both at the circuit and the architectural levels, that this approach can significantly mitigate aging for a small performance penalty.
The use of computer-controlled video disks in the study of spatial learning

The empirical study of spatial learning has been constrained by a range of methodological and technical limitations. Part of these are due to constraints in the stimulus delivery systems for pictorial displays that are available to the researcher. Surrogate travel systems—based on model photography, off-line computer graphics, and on-line computer graphics—provide alternative research settings. Yet none of the systems provides for both detailed displays and ease of subject interaction, both of which prove important in the investigation of spatial learning. Computer-controlled video-disk systems do allow both detail and interaction, therefore providing a research tool in which spatial learning phenomena can be observed carefully. A pilot study of spatial learning using a video-disk system is briefly described to demonstrate the sorts of phenomena observable with such a system.
Oxidative Degradation of Monoethanolamine

Oxidative degradation of monoethanolamine (MEA) was studied at 55 °C, typical of absorbers for CO2 removal from flue gas. The rate of evolution of NH3, which was indicative of the overall rate of degradation, was measured continuously in a batch system sparged with air. Dissolved iron from 0.0001 to 1 mM yielded oxidation rates from 0.37 to 2 mM/h in MEA solutions loaded with 0.4 mol CO2/mol MEA. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)glycine effectively decreased the rate of oxidation in the presence of iron by 40−50%. Ferrous caused oxidation in unloaded MEA with stoichiometry from 0.1 to 0.33 mol NH3/mol Fe2+. Fe2+ from 0.0001 to 3.2 mM yielded rates from 0.12 to 1.1 mM/h. Ferric did not appear to catalyze oxidation in unloaded MEA.
Family adaptation in childhood chronic illness: A case report

When a child is diagnosed with a chronic illness, families adapt by drawing on the perceptions of individual family members, on the family's existing resources, and on new resources. This method of family adaptation has been described by McCubbin and Patterson in their Family Adaptation Model. The Family Adaptation Model is illustrated through a case study of a family's experience with type I diabetes. The model and case study yield a list of nursing assessments and interventions for families with a chronically ill child.
Decision-Making Procedure for Assessing Performance Measures of Freeway Operations

Performance measurement is a method to quantify project success based on project and policy outputs and outcomes assessment. In the United States, transportation-related performance measures have become popular since authorization of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act in 1991. Performance measures have been applied in many areas, including freeway operations. This paper improves on earlier techniques and presents an innovative approach for using a multicriteria decision framework to select freeway operational performance measures. The proposed selection performance measure methodology includes establishing a statement of purpose, identifying alternatives, establishing criteria, and using a screening approach to eliminate unsatisfactory performance measures by means of qualitative and quantitative criteria. Once the screening approach is used to reduce the set of candidate alternatives to a set of feasible alternatives, the methodology uses a multicriteria decision model, such as simple additive weighting and ELECTRE III, to combine the commensurate criteria and generate a rank order of the acceptable alternatives for final decision making. A sample application of the proposed methodology is presented.
Safety and efficacy of inferior vena caval occlusion to rapidly alter ventricular loading conditions in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy

Abstract To investigate the safety and efficacy of inferior vena caval (IVC) balloon occlusion for preload alteration in humans, 13 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy were studied before and during repeated (total of 78) IVC occlusions. Left and right ventricular (LV and RV) micromanometer pressures were simultaneously measured and M-mode and 2-D echocardiograms were recorded at end expiration. Complications were limited to abdominal discomfort in 2 patients. With IVC occlusion, RV collapse fluoroscopically shifted the heart toward midline and ventricular septal motion was frequently disordered. Significant (p = 0.001) changes occurred in RV and LV systolic peak pressures (from 19 ± 6 to 12 ± 5 mm Hg and from 129 ± 34 to 109 ± 25 mm Hg, respectively). LV and RV end-diastolic pressures also decreased significantly (from 18 ± 7 to 6 ± 6 mm Hg and from 5 ± 3 to 2 ± 2 mm Hg, respectively) (both p ⩽0.0055). Similarly, LV end-diastolic diameter decreased 13% (from 61 ± 11 to 53 ± 12 mm, p = 0.0002). Mean heart rate did not change significantly (from 76 ± 19 to 78 ± 21 beats/min). Thus, IVC balloon occlusion provides a safe method of repeatedly altering loading conditions in humans. This approach allows for acquisition of important information regarding cardiac chamber dynamics while minimizing the effects of reflex mechanisms and avoiding use of pharmacologic agents.
Nerve growth factor released by transgenic astrocytes enhances the function of adrenal chromaffin cell grafts in a rat model of Parkinson's disease

Abstract Previous studies have demonstrated that astrocytes genetically modified to express recombinant nerve growth factor (NGF) support the survival and neuronal transdifferentiation of intrastriatal adrenal chromaffin cell grafts at 2 weeks post-transplantation [15]. The present study was performed to determine whether these effects would be maintained at longer times post-transplantation and, if so, whether the co-grafts would reduce rotational behavior in the unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine-le-sioned rat. In the present study, we have demonstrated that primary type I rat astrocytes infected with a replication-defective retrovirus conferring expression of a mouse β-NGF cDNA sequence secrete NGF at a rate that is approximately 40-fold higher than that of controls (i.e., 8.0 vs. 0.2 pg NGF/h/105 cells, respectively). The genetically modified astrocytes were also found to express recombinant NGF following intrastriatal transplantation, as indicated by a 23% increase in striatal NGF content compared with controls, measured at 4 weeks post-transplantation. When NGF-producing astrocytes and adrenal chromaffin cells were co-grafted into the dopamine-denervated striatum of the unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rat, the chromaffin cells displayed extensive neurite outgrowth and a 5–12-fold increase in survival compared to controls at 10 weeks post-grafting. These effects were paralleled by a 60% reduction of apomorphine-induced rotational behavior, suggesting a partial normalization of striatal function. These results suggest that genetically modified astrocytes promote the prolonged survival and function of adrenal chromaffin cell grafts in a rat model of Parkinson's disease.
ParaDrop: a multi-tenant platform to dynamically install third party services on wireless gateways

The landscape of computing capabilities within the home has seen a recent shift from persistent desktops to mobile platforms, which has led to the use of the cloud as the primary computing platform implemented by developers today. However, a growing number of high quality services restrict computational tasks to be colocated with the enduser. Thus, we introduce a specific edge computing framework, called ParaDrop, which allows developers to leverage one of the last bastions of persistent computing resources in the end customer premises: the gateway (e.g., the WiFi Access Point or home set-top box). Using our platform, which has been fully implemented on real hardware, developers can design virtually isolated compute containers to provide an persistent computational presence in the proximity of the end-user. The compute containers, retain user state, and also move with the users as the latter changes their points of attachment. We demonstrate the capabilities of our platform by implementing two third-party applications, which utilize the framework we have provided. The framework we have implemented for the developer allows multitenancy through virtualization, dynamic installation through our developer API, and tight resource control through a managed policy design.
Simulation of laser induced thermo-mechanical changes in tissue using RF heating method

Successful application of laser cartilage reshaping (LCR) for the in-situ treatment of structural deformities in the nasal septum, external ear and trachea requires a better understanding of the evolution of cartilage mechanical properties with temperature. We develop a method of Radio Frequency (RF) heating for reliable evaluation of mechanical changes in septal cartilage undergoing heating and used obtained data to model the mechanical changes in cartilage at steady state following laser heating. Cartilage specimens harvested from porcine septum were secured between two flat parallel copper platens connected to a surgical radiofrequency source. The current was user-selectable and controlled to achieve any desired heating rate mimicking heating rate obtained during laser irradiation. Surface and internal temperatures were monitored by an IR camera and embedding a small electrically insulated thermocouple inside the specimen. Cylindrical and rectangular samples were fashioned from the heated specimens and their equilibrium elastic modulus was measured in a step unconfined compression and tension experiments, respectively. Functional dependencies of the elastic modulus and maximum temperature were interpolated from the measurements. The calculated elastic modulus profiles were incorporated into a numerical model of uniaxial unconfined compression and tension of laser irradiated samples. The reaction force to a 0.1 strain was calculated and compared with the reaction force obtained in analogous mechanical measurements experiment. The results of the numerical simulation of uniaxial compression of laser heated samples demonstrate good correlation with experimentally obtained reaction force. Generalization of this methodology to incorporate orthogonal mechanical properties may aid in optimizing clinical LCR procedures.
Operative Surgery for Enterocutaneous Fistula

The management of the patient with an enterocutaneous fistula is complex and requires coordinated care on many fronts for successful elimination. With optimal nonoperative management a fistula may heal spontaneously, the majority within the first 4 weeks after development. Definitive surgical treatment is best achieved with resection of the bowel containing the fistula and anastomosis of healthy normal bowel. The timing of definitive surgery appears to be optimal months after development, if tolerated. Death rates are low after surgery and patients who experience the recurrence of a fistula after initial attempt at closure can ultimately still be cured.
The HEMO study - where do we go from here?

Purpose of reviewThe HEMO study is a randomized clinical trial using a 2×2 factorial design to assign patients to a standard or high dose of dialysis and to a low flux or a high flux dialyzer. This study is the largest, most comprehensive, randomized clinical trial ever performed in the maintenance
“Wholly within the discretion of the probate court”: Judicial Authority and Mothers’ Pensions in Michigan, 1913–1940

This article analyzes the administration of mothers' pensions in Michigan from 1913 to 1940. Michigan’s 1913 law placed the program in the juvenile courts to separate the program from the state’s poor relief system. Probate judges had an extraordinary amount of discretion in determining who received pensions and for how much. Judicial discretion fostered variations in the law’s practice, and many counties used poor relief practices. Mothers’ pensions officially entered the realm of poor relief when the state passed the 1939 Welfare Reorganization Act. The law replaced mothers’ pensions with the federal Aid to Dependent Children program, administered by welfare agencies.
Scientists’ views and positions on global warming and climate change: A content analysis of congressional testimonies

Among many potential causes for policymakers’ contention over whether there is a largely unified scientific agreement on global warming and climate change (GWCC), one possible factor, according to the information deficit theory, is that the scientists who testified in congressional hearings might be substantially divided in their views and positions associated with GWCC. To clarify this, we perform content analysis of 1350 testimonies from congressional GWCC hearings over a period of 39 years from 1969 to 2007 and use the data derived from this content analysis to provide an overview of scientist witnesses’ stances on GWCC. The key findings include: (1) among the scientists’ testimonies with an expressed view on whether GWCC is real, a vast majority (86 %) indicates that it is happening; (2) among the scientists’ testimonies with an identified stance on whether GWCC is anthropogenic, a great majority of them (78 %) indicates that GWCC is caused, at least to some degree, by human activity; (3) even under Republican controlled congresses, there is still a supermajority (75 %) - among the scientists’ testimonies with an expressed position on GWCC existence or GWCC cause - that believes that GWCC is real and that GWCC is anthropogenic; (4) most scientists’ testimonies (95 %) endorse pro-action policy to combat GWCC; and (5) the percentages of scientists’ views and positions are consistent across different types of scientist testimony groups. Our findings suggest that the scientific information transmitted to Congress is not substantially different from the general agreement in the climate science community.
Subsurface object sensing with a multifrequency microwave radiometer

Experimental results are reported for sensing of subsurface objects with a multifrequency radiometer (MFRAD) system. Properties of the MFRAD system are reviewed, and the calibration and experimental procedures are discussed. Results with subsurface metallic, styrofoam, and plastic targets are then provided that demonstrate an oscillatory behavior in brightness temperatures versus frequency in the presence of a subsurface object. Measured data are also compared with a simple layered medium brightness temperature model and show reasonable agreement with predicted trends of brightness temperatures versus frequency. The oscillatory behaviors versus frequency obtained in the presence of both metallic and nonmetallic subsurface objects should prove advantageous for designing object detection procedures.
Tarred magnesite refractories for oxygen converters

A technology was developed for producing tarred magnesite refractories for lining steel converters. The average monthly life of the lining of the converters at the ZSMZ was increased to 624 heats (August 1970) with a maximum life of 662 heats.
Quantifying function: the rest of the measurement story.

Sharon A. Gutman, PhD, OTR, FAOTA, is Associate Professor, Columbia University, Programs in Occupational Therapy, New York. In this era of health care reform, funding caps, and restricted access to services, occupational therapy practitioners are challenged to validate their services and justify their place in the health care arena. The strength of our profession lies in our unique ability to thoroughly and comprehensively measure function—a person’s ability to perform a specific daily life activity such as transferring from a wheelchair to a toilet or maintaining a monthly budget that supports shared apartment living. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (World Health Organization, 2001) defines function in terms of body impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. Although occupational therapy practitioners have always agreed that evaluating and treating function is the essential core of the profession, we have not consistently agreed on the definition of function or the best methods to measure it.
A Direct Effect of Medroxyprogesterone Acetate on 17β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase in Adult Rat Testis*

Sixty-day-old rats were divided into four groups and treated for 30 days with either medroxyprogesterone acetate (Provera), gonadotropins (bovine LH and ovine FSH), Provera plus gonadotropins, or saline. The progestin treatment resulted in a lowering of plasma levels of testosterone, androstenedione, and LH, as well as in a reduction of epididymal sperm counts and accessory sex organ weights. The progestin-treated groups showed markedly lower levels of testicular 17β- hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity (35% of controls) and Δ5,3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity (70% of controls). Rats treated with only gonadotropins exhibited reduced 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase but increased Δ5,3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activities. It was concluded from these results that progestins may affect testicular steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis not only by reducing LH secretion but also by a direct effect on the testis, as LH suppression could not account for the inhibition of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogena...
Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis C Virus Testing Services at Syringe Exchange Programs: Availability and Outcomes

We described the availability and outcomes of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing services at syringe exchange programs throughout California, using interviews with 24 syringe exchange program directors and 560 syringe exchange clients. Both HIV and HCV testing services were available in 62% of programs, 21% had HIV testing only, and 17% had neither. Programs administered by health care/social service providers were more likely than independent syringe exchange programs to have HIV and HCV testing services available. Among clients of programs with testing available, clients of illegal programs were significantly less likely than clients of legal programs to have used syringe exchange HIV and HCV testing services. The availability of HIV and HCV testing services at syringe exchange programs varies, and the use of existing testing services by clients is not universal. Efforts to increase both the availability of HIV and HCV testing services at syringe exchange programs and the use of existing testing services are needed.
Percutaneous flexible fiberoptic nephroscopy

The flexible fiberoptic nephroscope is a useful endourological tool. This paper describes the characteristics of this flexible nephroscope, various useful accessory devices and their limitations and the basic technique for percutaneous flexible nephroscopy. The limitations of the flexible nephroscope are outlined along with aids to overcome these shortcomings. Specific use of the flexible nephroscope for particular types and provisions of stones are also described. Finally, a summary of the utility of the flexible nephroscope in a busy endourological practice is outlined.
Mechanochromic luminescence of halide-substituted difluoroboron β-diketonate dyes

Many difluoroboron β-diketonate (BF2bdk) compounds display mechanochromic luminescence (ML) and substituents can influence their optical properties. For example, the difluoroboron iododibenzoylmethane derivative, BF2dbm(I)OC12H25, exhibits mechanochromic luminescence quenching (MLQ). When annealed films of this dye are smeared under air, the perturbed region becomes dim under UV light. In this study, effects of differing halide substituents on ML were investigated. A series of dyes of the form BF2dbm(X)OC12H25, where X = H, F, Cl, Br, and I, were synthesized. The luminescence properties of these dyes were studied in CH2Cl2 solution, as films on weighing paper, spin-cast films on glass substrates, and as bulk powders. All of the dyes exhibit ML and MLQ. Solid-state emissions from these dyes are also sensitive to annealing temperature. The F, Cl, and Br dyes required higher annealing temperatures than the H and I analogues to achieve ordered emissive states. Spin-cast films of the dyes on glass were studied using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), revealing a change from an amorphous material in the as-spun state to an ordered, crystalline material after annealing, with the F and Cl dyes showing a propensity to form large lamellar crystallites. Powders were also investigated using XRD and showed changes in diffraction patterns corresponding to thermal annealing and grinding. Finally, halogen substituents greatly diminished the ability of the dye films to recover their ordered emissive states after smearing under ambient conditions. These dyes could be useful for applications in which a more permanent inscription is desirable.
Generalizable Relational Binding from Coarse-coded Distributed Representations

We present a model of binding of relationship information in a spatial domain (e.g., square above triangle) that uses low-order coarse-coded conjunctive representations instead of more popular temporal synchrony mechanisms. Supporters of temporal synchrony argue that conjunctive representations lack both efficiency (i.e., combinatorial numbers of units are required) and systematicity (i.e., the resulting representations are overly specific and thus do not support generalization to novel exemplars). To counter these claims, we show that our model: a) uses far fewer hidden units than the number of conjunctions represented, by using coarse-coded, distributed representations where each unit has a broad tuning curve through high-dimensional conjunction space, and b) is capable of considerable generalization to novel inputs.
Interictal behavioral features of patients with epilepsy.

Summary: Three questions are dealt with in this paper. (1) Do patients with epilepsy differ behaviorally from normal control groups and from persons with other medical and neurological conditions with respect to emotional adjustment, and if so, in what ways? (2) Are patients with temporal lobe epilepsy different emotionally or behaviorally from patients with other types of epilepsy? (3) To what degree does underlying brain dysfunction create a substrate for abnormal and maladaptive behavior? A review of the literature reveals the following. (1) Persons with epilepsy demonstrate more emotional and psychiatric problems than normal individuals and more difficulties than other patient groups having nonneurological disorders, but have about the same incidence of these problems as persons with other neurological disorders. (2) Increased emotional and psychiatric problems are not found among patients with temporal lobe epilepsy in comparison to patients with other types of epilepsy, although there are some behavioral peculiarities which appear in a small proportion of these patients. (3) There is a mild tendency for impairment on neuropsychological tests to be associated with emotional and psychiatric problems in epilepsy.
The filling in of an antenna null by off-path scattering on a tropospheric scatter circuit

The concept and characteristics of Antenna-to-Medium Coupling loss have already been discussed in the literature in some detail. These earlier analyses show that the coupling loss is not significant unless the beamwidth of the antenna becomes equal to or less than the angular width of the scatter volume as seen from the antenna. An inverse phenomenon occurs if one tries to design an antenna null to protect a given location beyond the horizon; namely, if the width of the null is narrower than the angular width of the scatter volume, the null can be filled in by off-path scattering and the desired protection might not be achieved. This paper outlines the analysis used in evaluating the "filling in" of the antenna null by off-path scattering and presents curves which should prove useful in obtaining quantitative estimates. An examination of the interrelation between the scattering process and the free-space antenna pattern reveals that the scattering process averages the free-space antenna pattern, the averaging interval being of the order of several degrees. Thus a qualitative conclusion can be drawn that if it is desired to protect an installation with a 40 db null, this null must be maintained over at least several degrees in order to be effective. A cosine squared pattern is not satisfactory.
Complex dynamics of V1 population responses explained by a simple gain-control model.

SUMMARY To understand sensory encoding and decoding, it is essential to characterize the dynamics of population responses in sensory cortical areas. Using voltagesensitive dye imaging in awake, fixating monkeys, we obtained complete quantitative measurements of the spatiotemporal dynamics of V1 responses over the entire region activated by small, briefly presented stimuli. The responses exhibit several complex properties: they begin to rise approximately simultaneously over the entire active region, but reach their peak more rapidly at the center. However, at stimulus offset the responses fall simultaneously and at the same rate at all locations. Although response onset depends on stimulus contrast, both the peak spatial profile and the offset dynamics are independent of contrast. We show that these results are consistent with a simple population gain-control model that generalizes earlier single-neuron contrast gain-control models. This model provides valuable insight and is likely to be applicable to other brain areas.
Preparing the Sponsor's Project Manager for a CRO-Based Clinical Trial

Project management for clinical trials farmed out to a contract research organization (CRO) requires a different system than that used for in-house projects. Covering both the views of the sponsor ...
Binding of soluble immune complexes to human lymphoblastoid cells. I. Characterization of receptors for IgG Fc and complement and description of the binding mechanism.

In the present work we studied the expression of membrane-bound Ig (MBIg) as well as receptors for IgG Fc and complement on nine human lymphoblastoid cell lines. When MBIg and receptors for IgG Fc were compared, four categories of cell lines could be distinguished: (a) cell lines having both MBIg and receptors for IgG Fc, (b) cell lines having MBIg but lacking receptors for IgG Fc, (c) cell lines lacking MBIg but having receptors for IgG Fc, and (d) cell lines lacking both MBIg and receptors for IgG Fc. Two types of receptors for complement could be detected on the cell lines studied, one for C3-C3b and one for C3d. When sensitized red cells carrying C3b or C3d were used for rosette tests, three categories of cell lines could be distinguished: (a) cell lines having receptors for C3b and C3d, (b) cell lines having receptors only for C3d and (c) cell lines lacking both receptors. However, when a more sensitive immunofluorescent method was used instead of the rosette technique, it was found that cell lines unable to form rosettes with EAC1423bhu were able to bind soluble C3 or C3b which indicated the presence of these receptors on the cell surface. Inhibition experiments showed that receptors for C3-C3b and receptors for C3d are distinct and that receptors for C3-C3b and C3d are different from receptors for IgG Fc. A cell line (Raji) without MBIg but with receptors for IgG Fc, C3-C3b, and C3d was selected for use in studying the binding mechanism of soluble immune complexes to cell surface membrane. Aggregated human gamma globulin was used in place of immune complexes. Immune complexes containing complement bind to Raji cells only via receptors for complement, namely receptors for C3-C3b and C3d. Binding of immune complexes containing complement to cells is much greater than that of complexes without complement. Immune complexes bound to cells via receptors for complement can be partially released from the cell surface by addition of normal human serum as well as isolated human C3 or C3b. We postulate that such release is due to competition of immune complex bound C3b and free C3 or C3b for the receptors on Raji cells.
Political Economy and ICTs for Development: India's Space Program, 1975-2000

At its inception, the Indian space program aimed to assist in national socio-economic development. Between 1975 and the end of the 1980s, India built and launched satellites to satisfy ambitious development goals, but following the liberalization and globalization of the Indian economy in 1991, the space program became increasingly commercialized. This paper shows how changing national political economy played a critical role in determining if India employed its satellites for development or commercial profit. Understanding this link is critical to ensure the validity of future discussions about the role that ICTs can play in socio-economic development.
A Unified Probabilistic Model for Polyphonic Music Analysis

Abstract This article presents a probabilistic model of polyphonic music analysis. Taking a note pattern as input, the model combines three aspects of symbolic music analysis—metrical analysis, harmonic analysis, and stream segregation—into a single process, allowing it to capture the complex interactions between these structures. The model also yields an estimate of the probability of the note pattern itself; this has implications for the modelling of music transcription. I begin by describing the generative process that is assumed and the analytical process that is used to infer metrical, harmonic, and stream structures from a note pattern. I then present some tests of the model on metrical analysis and harmonic analysis, and discuss ongoing work to integrate the model into a transcription system.