cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Admissibility of Forensic Reports in the Post-Justice Scalia Supreme Court

Forensic reports apparently linking a defendant to a crime often constitute the most powerful and persuasive evidence that can be offered at a criminal trial. Yet the Supreme Court is sharply divided about the constitutional requirement for admitting such reports under the Confrontation Clause. In the three cases addressing this question the Court divided 5-4 in its first two decisions and 4-4-1 in its most recent opinion. In a recent dissent to the denial of a Petition for a Writ of Certiorari in Stuart v. Alabama, Justice Gorsuch noted that the Court’s opinions on this question “have sown confusion in courts across the country.” Justice Gorsuch urged his colleagues to clarify the law in this area and went on to reveal his own views about the application of the Confrontation Clause to forensic reports. His views, which are analyzed in this article, are of critical importance because he is the potential fifth vote who could either overturn or reaffirm the controlling case law in this area. It also appears that he intends to play a leading role in clarifying and shaping the future direction of confrontation jurisprudence. Justice Gorsuch is the successor to Justice Scalia, who developed the now prevailing interpretation of the Confrontation Clause as requiring “testimonial” hearsay to be cross-examined. Justice Scalia’s interpretation of the Sixth Amendment is a major part of his legacy, but is currently under attack in these cases. How much of the legacy of Justice Scalia that survives may depend to a considerable extent on Justice Gorsuch, which is why his views on this issue, which are analyzed in this article, are of particular importance.
Disease-specific inflammatory environments induce different anti-inflammatory MSC actions that play critical roles in mitigating lung injury

Advances in mesenchymal stem (stromal) cell (MSC)-based therapies provides a platform for development of new therapeutic approaches for severe inflammatory lung disorders. However, despite increasing numbers of preclinical studies demonstrating efficacy, clinical trials of MSCs in lung diseases while uniformly demonstrating safety, have not demonstrated efficacy. We hypothesize that the specific inflammatory environments present in ARDS and CF patients will induce different anti-inflammatory MSC actions that play critical roles in mitigating lung injury. Human MSCs were exposed to bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) obtained from patients with ARDS and CF. Following exposures, MSCs and/or conditioned medium were assessed for e.g. levels of immunomodulatory cytokines, gene expression profiles, cytotoxicity, and immunomodulatory functions. MSCs exposed to BALF samples obtained from patients with ARDS and CF activated different inflammatory responses. Increased levels of IL-1RN and IL-6 mRNA was observed in MSCs exposed to ARDS BALF, whereas MSCs exposed to CF BALF demonstrated decreased levels. Gene expression data revealed significant different profiles between MSCs exposed to ARDS and CF BALF. Notably, MSCs exposed to a sub-population of the CF BALF samples were found to have profound killing effects, an apoptotic pathway activated by Aspergillus. By inactivating Gliotoxin, the main fungal toxin, MSCs were protected from cell death. Our data suggest that MSCs exposed to clinical BALF samples obtained from patients with ARDS and CF can activate different inflammatory responses that may have differential effect on mitigating lung injuries.
UEB parallel: Distributed snow accumulation and melt modeling using parallel computing

Abstract The Utah Energy Balance (UEB) model supports gridded simulation of snow processes over a watershed. To enhance computational efficiency, we developed two parallel versions of the model, one using the Message Passing Interface (MPI) and the other using NVIDIA's CUDA code on Graphics Processing Unit (GPU). Evaluation of the speed-up and efficiency of the MPI version shows that the effect of input/output (IO) operations on the parallel model performance increases as the number of processor cores increases. As a result, although the computation kernel scales well with the number of cores, the efficiency of the parallel code as a whole degrades. The performance improves when the number of IO operations is reduced by reading/writing larger data arrays. The CUDA GPU implementation was done without major refactoring of the original UEB code, and tests demonstrated that satisfactory performance could be obtained without a major re-work of the existing UEB code.
The predictive value of baseline fluoro-deoxy-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) standardized uptake value (SUV) for overall survival in patients (pts) with locally advanced esophageal and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer

4062 Background: The predictive value of FDG-PET SUV in pts with esophageal and GEJ cancer has been subject of recent interest. The heterogeneity of disease stages and treatments made interpretatio...
Analysis of ex vivo expanded and activated clinical-grade human NK cells after cryopreservation

Background aims Several methods to expand and activate (EA) NK cells ex vivo have been developed for the treatment of relapsed or refractory cancers. Infusion of fresh NK cells is generally preferred to the infusion of cryopreserved/thawed (C/T) NK cells because of concern that cryopreservation diminishes NK cell activity. However, there has been little head-to-head comparison of the functionality of fresh versus C/T NK cell products. Methods We evaluated activity of fresh and C/T EA NK cells generated by interleukin (IL)-15, IL-2 and CD137L expansion. Results Analysis of C/T NK cell products demonstrated decreased recovery of viable CD56+ cells, but the proportion of NK cells in the C/T EA NK cell product did not decrease compared with the fresh EA NK cell product. Fresh and C/T EA NK cells demonstrated increased granzyme B compared with NK cells pre-expansion, but only fresh EA NK cells showed increased NKG2D. Compared with fresh EA NK cells, cytotoxic ability of C/T EA NK cells was reduced, but C/T EA NK cells remained potently cytotoxic against tumor cells via both antibody-independent and antibody-dependent mechanisms within 4 h post-thaw. Fresh EA NK cells generated high levels of gamma interferon (IFN-γ), which was abrogated by JAK1/JAK2 inhibition with ruxolitinib, but C/T EA NK cells showed lower IFN-γ unaffected by JAK1/JAK2 inhibition. Discussion Usage of C/T EA NK cells may be an option to provide serial "boost" NK cell infusions from a single apheresis to maximize NK cell persistence and potentially improve NK-induced responses to refractory cancer.
Post-Truth as Ethical Crisis with the Misuse of Social Media

Post-Truth is a novice concept and it has developed as a radical ideology of post modernization. Post truth has emphasized on political, economic, social, cultural and technological aspects of power holders and its hegemony toward the poor nation. Power holders are misusing all forms of media including social media. Facebook, Twitter/Instagram/ Youtube/Whatsapp etc are especially misused to extend the power of regime. Post-truth prioritizes on disinformation for manipulating the perceptions of the people throughout the world. Social media has accused of misusing secret information. Accuracy, Balance and Credibility are no more in information. Social Media cannot play the role of watchdog of society. It cannot fulfill its duty as a gatekeeper. Media has to promote as a mirror of society but in post-truth ideology, it may not be acceptable in all conditions. In fact, it will destroy the professional standard.
Dominance rank, female choice, and reproductive success in semi-free ranging adult male Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata).

The assumed evolutionary advantage of dominance is increased reproductive success. However, the efficacy of dominance as a mating strategy may be interrupted by any number of variables including female choice, estrous synchrony, and mating by non-troop males. In Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata), there is evidence both for and against dominance as conferring reproductive success for adult males, with many discussions pointing to the importance of female choice in governing reproductive success in certain populations. In this study, we aimed to evaluate dominance-based versus female choice-based male behavioral strategies and their impact on reproductive success. This study was conducted on a group of Japanese macaques at the Oregon National Primate Research Center. We collected a total of 512 h of behavioral data across two summer study periods in 2018 and 2019. We conducted 15-min focal follows with 1-min instantaneous scans on 17 adult males. Reproductive data were available from genetic records. Using principal components analysis (PCA), we identified males that cluster according to similar behavioral strategies. We then used analysis of variance (ANOVA) and non-parametric ANOVA on ranks to ascertain significant variation in rank and reproductive success between clusters. We found that males that clustered based on high directed aggression held higher rank than less-aggressive male clusters (F = 27.21, df = 4, p < .0001). However, less aggressive male clusters had higher reproductive success (F = 3.50, df = 4, p = .04). There was no variation between affiliative clusters in reproductive success (F = 1.77, df = 3, p = .15). The highly aggressive strategy is effective for attaining high rank, but only resulted in high reproductive success for a single male which likely necessitates alternative strategies. We suggest the operation of female choice within this population, with females preferentially mating with males who are not only affiliative but also less aggressive.
A 125$\mu$W 8kS/s Sub-pA Area-Efficient Current Sensing 45nm CMOS ADC for Biosensing

This paper presents a 125$\mu$W, area efficient (0.042mm2) 81dB DR, 8kS/s current sensing ADC in 45nm CMOS capable of sensing sub-pA currents. Our approach combines the transimpedance amplifier (TIA) and ADC into a unified structure by folding a low-noise capacitive TIA into the first stage integrator of a 2nd order Delta-Sigma modulator. The dominant DAC feedback noise is mitigated by utilizing current scaling via slope modification by an integrator and differentiator pair.
The Role of an Advocate in Innovating the Adaptive Apparel Market: A Case Study:

The apparel global supply chain is fragmented and globalized, making it challenging to satisfy consumers’ wants and needs. Thus, to satisfy the consumer's wants and needs, global supply chain manag...
Crop Yield Prediction using Satellite/Uav Synergy and Machine Learning

The work aims to predict soybean yield using satellite and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) synergy and machine learning. UAV RGB imagery and Worldview satellite data was acquired in the summer of 2017 over a soybean field near Columbia, Missouri, USA. Canopy spectral features from satellite data and structural features from UAV imagery were combined and fused to predict soybean grain yield. Commonly used machine learning regression methods including Extreme Learning Regression (ELR), Random Forest Regression (RFR), Support Vector Regression (SVR) and Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) were utilized to predict soybean yield using spectral features from satellite data and structural features from UAV imagery. The results showed that canopy structure features such as canopy height and canopy coverage are important indicators for soybean grain yield estimation, and complementarities between Satellite and UAV data reveal a great potential of synergy, and lead to an improved performance for soybean grain yield estimation.
Helmberger receives Lehmann Medal

Don Helmberger was awarded the Inge Lehmann Medal at the AGU Fall Meeting Honors Ceremony, which was held on December 10, 1997, in San Francisco, California. The Lehmann Medal is given in recognition of outstanding contributions to the understanding of the structure, composition, and dynamics of the Earth's mantle and core. The citation and response are given here.
Genetic Diseases of the Nervous System

All human diseases, including those of the nervous system, are the result of interactions between genetic factors and the environment. In some diseases the genetic factors are relatively minor and of little importance. Other disorders are strictly inherited conditions, and genetic factors are paramount. The major categories of genetic influence are single gene (mendelian), gross chromosomal aberration, mitochondrial, and multifactorial/polygenic. Examples of neurologic diseases representing each of these categories are illustrated in this chapter.
Sparse and efficient reduced order modeling of linear subcircuits with large number of terminals

In the process of designing state-of-the art VLSI circuit we often encounter large but highly structured linear subcircuits with large number of terminals. Classical examples are power supply networks, clock distribution networks, large data buses, etc. Various applications would benefit from efficient high level models of such networks. Unfortunately the existing model-order-reduction algorithms are not adapted to handle more than a few tens of terminals. This talk introduces RecMOR, an algorithm for the computation of reduced order models of structured linear circuits with numerous I/O ports. The algorithm exploits certain regularities of the subcircuit response that are typical in numerous applications of interest. When these regularities are present, the normally dense matrix-transfer function of the subcircuit contains sub-blocks that in some sense are significantly low rank and can be compactly modeled by the recently introduced SVDMOR algorithm. The new RecMOR algorithm decomposes the large matrix-transfer function recursively, and applies SVDMOR compression adaptively to the sub-blocks of the transfer function. The result is a reduced order model that is sparse, efficient, and directly usable as an efficient substitute of the subcircuit in circuit simulations. The method is illustrated on several circuit examples.
A perspective on parallel processing

Parallel processing is one of the most important areas of computer science research. Experience with highly parallel processing is quite limited today and several architecture, systems, and software alternatives need to be investigated. In particular, much further work is required on software issues. Applications and software problems will be studied and resolved slowly as non-trivial hardware prototypes become available. Two such prototypes are currently being constructed at IBM Research. This paper has tried to place these efforts in proper perspective.
Invitation to screening with colonoscopy had lower participation but similar yield as CT colonography

Source Citation Stoop EM, de Haan MC, de Wijkerslooth TR, et al. Participation and yield of colonoscopy versus non-cathartic CT colonography in population-based screening for colorectal cancer: a r...
Bulk density estimates of buildings using cosmic rays

Abstract A simple formula is derived for propagation of cosmic rays through matter to calculate intensities inside and outside large objects of different densities. The bulk densities of the objects are estimated by comparing calculations and measurements. Evaluations for normal concrete building are made as an example of large structural material; the bulk density is shown to be around 0.5 g/cm3.
Identification of Candidate Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms in NRXN1 Related to Antipsychotic Treatment Response in Patients with Schizophrenia

Neurexins are presynaptic neuronal adhesion molecules that interact with postsynaptic neuroligins to form an inter-synaptic complex required for synaptic specification and efficient neurotransmission. Deletions and point mutations in the neurexin 1 (NRXN1) gene are associated with a broad spectrum of neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism, intellectual disability, epilepsy, developmental delay, and schizophrenia. Recently, small nucleotide polymorphisms in NRXN1 have been associated with antipsychotic drug response in patients with schizophrenia. Based on previous suggestive evidence of an impact on clozapine response in patients with schizophrenia, we conducted an association study of NRXN1 polymorphisms (rs12467557 and rs10490162) with antipsychotic treatment response in 54 patients with schizophrenia in a double blind, placebo-controlled NIMH inpatient crossover trial and examined for association with risk for schizophrenia in independent case-control and family-based clinical cohorts. Pharmacogenetic analysis in the placebo controlled trial revealed significant association of rs12467557and rs10490162 with drug response, whereby individuals homozygous for the A allele, at either SNP, showed significant improvement in positive symptoms, general psychopathology, thought disturbance, and negative symptoms, whereas patients carrying the G allele showed no overall response. Although we did not find evidence of the same NRXN1 SNPs being associated with results of the NIMH sponsored CATIE trial, other SNPs showed weakly positive signals. The family and case-control analyses for schizophrenia risk were negative. Our results provide confirmatory evidence of genetically determined differences in drug response in patients with schizophrenia related to NRXN1 variation. Furthermore, these findings potentially implicate NRXN1 in the therapeutic actions of antipsychotic drugs.
Seizures and epilepsy and their relationship to autism spectrum disorders

Abstract Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are serious neurodevelopmental disorders which often co-occur with intellectual disabilities. A disorder which is strongly correlated with both of these disabilities are seizures and epilepsy. The purpose of this review was to provide an overview of available research on seizures and epilepsy in the ASD population and to provide a status report on recent trends in research. Among these topics are prevalence, nosology, etiology, and autistic regression. Strengths and weaknesses of the current, available literature are discussed.
The evolution of mastoidectomy and tympanoplasty.

A.D. 150 Galen describes incising “caries of the auditory meatus” 1363 Guy de Chauliac’s device to inspect ear by direct sunlight 1640 – Banzer uses pig bladder as artificial tympanic membrane 1646 Aural speculum by Hildanus 1653 Light microscope by Antony van Leeuwenhoek 1791 Death of Baron von Berger after mastoid trephination for tinnitus and deafness 1832 “Inspector Auris” by Thomas Buchanan 1846 Ether anesthesia by William Morton 1847Chloroform general anesthesia
A system for classifying mechanical injuries of the eye (globe)

Purpose To develop a classification system for mechanical injuries of the eye. Methods The Ocular Trauma Classification Group, a committee of 13 ophthalmologists from seven separate institutions, was organized to discuss the standardization of ocular trauma classification. To develop the classification system, the group reviewed trauma classification systems in ophthalmology and general medicine and, in detail, reports on the characteristics and outcomes of eye trauma, then established a classification system based on standard terminology and features of eye injuries at initial examination that have demonstrated prognostic significance. Results This system classifies both open-globe and closed-globe injuries according to four separate variables: type of injury, based on the mechanism of injury; grade of injury, defined by visual acuity in the injured eye at initial examination; pupil, defined as the presence or absence of a relative afferent pupillary defect in the injured eye; and zone of injury, based on the anteroposterior extent of the injury. This system is designed to be used by ophthalmologists and nonophthalmologists who care for patients or conduct research on ocular injuries. An ocular injury is classified during the initial examination or at the time of the primary surgical intervention and does not require extraordinary testing. Conclusions This classification system will categorize ocular injuries at the time of initial examination. It is designed to promote the use of standard terminology and assessment, with applications to clinical management and research studies regarding eye injuries.
The effect of Hymenolepis diminuta (Cestoda) cysticercoids on the weight change, frass production, and food intake of the intermediate host, Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera)

Parasitism results in nutritionally related changes in hosts, often leading to altered feeding behavior. Infected hosts that increase their feeding also increase their probability of reinfection. To study this, I used a beetle (Tenebrio molitor)-tapeworm (Hymenolepis diminuta) system. Infected and uninfected male and female beetles were individually housed in vials with food. Each beetle's weight change, food intake, and frass production were measured over 24-h periods at 3, 7, 12, and 16 days postinfection. Treatment (infection) had no effect on weight change, but males lost more weight and produced more frass than females. Additionally, treatment had no effect on food consumption, but males had a higher food intake than females. These results suggest that infection status will not alter the probability of reinfection, but males will be more susceptible to infection than females. However, despite the male's greater food intake during the experimental infection period, parasite loads did not differ between males and females.
Hydrocortisone regulates arylsulfatase A (cerebroside-3-sulfate-3-sulfohydrolase) by decreasing the quantity of the enzyme in cultures of cells dissociated from embryonic mouse cerebra

Previous work from our laboratory (Biochem. J. 219:689–697 (1984) had shown that hydrocortisone stimulated the net accumulation of the myelin-specific sulfolipid in cultures of cells dissociated from embryonic mouse cerebra. This accumulation caused by hydrocortisone was shown to be due to a decrease of sulfolipid degradation by arylsulfatase A (ASA) and not due to a stimulation of its synthesis by a sulfotransferase. Both ASA activity and the turnover of sulfolipid were decreased by hydrocortisone to 60–62% of untreated cells. In current work the same decrease in enzyme activity was obtained and enzyme linked immunosorbent assays demonstrate that hydrocortisone decreased the number of ASA protein molecules to 61% of untreated cells [(-)hydrocorcortisone 0.31±0.06 ng ASA/μg protein; (+)hydrocortisone: 0.18±0.04 ng ASA/μg protein]. This decrease in the number of ASA molecules correlates well with the decrease in both the enzyme activity and the sulfolipid turnover, which suggests that the major mode of inhibition of ASA activity by hydrocortisone involves a decrease in the concentration of ASA in the cells rather than some other mechanism of inhibition.
Multidisciplinary teamwork is an important issue to healthcare professionals

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to describe the factors that contribute to understanding how collaboration improves performance in operating rooms (ORs) after introducing the concept of cross‐functional OR scheduling teams.Design/methodology/approach – The concept was investigated at Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center (RUNMC) in The Netherlands and used on an innovative path based on socio‐technical systems (STS) principles designed to address non‐routine tasks, variety, interferences and errors related to OR scheduling, with the aim of increasing both staff productivity and patient safety. The effects of implementing preoperative cross‐functional teams in the OR were compared qualitatively. The researcher observed all of the team meetings, available data and documentation, and 13 semi‐structured interviews were performed with team members for collecting additional data.Findings – In the literature, it was found that the theory of socio‐technical systems and the fields of group dynamics and sel...
Pass the car in front of you: a simulation of cognitive processes for understanding

An attempt is made to simulate human mental processes of understanding in the problem of driving a car. The processes work on a network memory defined by four types of elements: Entity, Event, Attribute and Modality; and three types of relations: syntagmatic, paradigmatic, and metalingual. Subnetworks associated with the concept of modality are used effectively to make possible the representation of driving knowledge and processes, including pattern matching.
Renovation of a pear orchard site with sludge compost

Abstract A lime‐stabilized sewage sludge compost was used as a surface amendment to improve the soil and nutritional status of a number of established pear cultivars grown on an acidic, low ferility soil site. Leaf Ca status was significantly increased while trace metals were not elevated and in most cases decreased by sludge compost over the course of the study. Soil chemical properties were modified in a manner similar to liming. Addition of sludge composts, particularly low metal containing materials, appears to represent an acceptable aid in renovating established pear orchards located on poor soil sites. Leaf, fruit flesh or peel Cd were not significantly effected by the compost addition. The compost added twice the recommended level of available N the first year and sub‐optimum N the following two years. Leaf N, although significantly increased in the composted versus non‐composted controls, was below sufficiency levels by the third year after addition. This indicates that compost cannot fully suppl...
In vivo determination of human arterial compliance: preliminary investigation of a new technique.

Purpose: To obtain more detailed information about the dynamic mechanical properties of human arteries in vivo, using a new technique based on intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).
Simultaneous flow cytometric analyses of enhanced green and yellow fluorescent proteins and cell surface antigens in doubly transduced immature hematopoietic cell populations.

Background Cell transduction with multiple genes offers opportunities to investigate specific gene interactions on cell function. Detection of multiple transduced genes in hematopoietic cells requires strategies to combine measurements of gene expression with phenotypic cell discriminants. We describe simultaneous flow cytometric detection of two green fluorescent protein (GFP) variants in immunophenotypically defined human hematopoietic subpopulations using only a minor physical adjustment to a standard FACSCalibur. Methods The accuracy and sensitivity of enhanced GFP (EGFP) and enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP) detection in mixtures of transduced and nontransduced PG13 packaging cells were evaluated by flow cytometry. Retroviral vectors encoding EGFP or EYFP were used to transduce CD34+ hematopoietic cells derived from umbilical cord blood. The transduction efficiency into subpopulations of hematopoietic cells was measured using multivariate flow cytometry. Results A bicistronic retroviral vector containing the EGFP and puromycin N-acetyltransferase (pac) genes afforded brighter EGFP signals in transduced cells than a retroviral vector encoding a pac-EGFP fusion protein. The sensitivity of detecting EGFP and EYFP-expressing cells among a background of nonexpressing cells was 0.01% and 0.05%, respectively. EGFP or EYFP was expressed in up to 95% of CD34+ DR- or CD34+ 38- subpopulations in cord blood 48 h posttransduction. Simultaneous transduction with EGFP and EYFP viral supernatants (1:1 mixture) led to coexpression of both GFP variants in 15% of CD34+ DR- and 20% of CD34+ 38- cells. Conclusions These results demonstrate simultaneous detection of EGFP and EYFP in immunophenotypically discriminated human hematopoietic cells. This technique will be useful to quantify transduction of multiple retroviral constructs in discriminated subpopulations. Cytometry 40:126–134, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Laryngeal dystonia causing inspiratory stridor in children with cerebral palsy.

Objective To present three cases of inspiratory stridor caused by laryngeal dystonia (LD) in children with cerebral palsy (CP), one of whom is being treated by periodic botulinum toxin type A (BTX) injection into a vocalis muscle, thereby avoiding tracheostomy. Study Design Case series. Results and Conclusions Laryngeal dystonia was diagnosed in three children with CP who presented with inspiratory stridor associated with generalized dystonia, all of whom were thought previously to have had laryngomalacia. The inspiratory stridor was severe enough in one patient that a tracheostomy was planned. In common with the movement disorder of generalized dystonia, the inspiratory stridor caused by LD was present in our patients when they were awake, worse when they were excited or agitated, diminished when they were awake and calm, and absent when they were asleep. Although there is overlap between the symptoms of LD and laryngomalacia (and other structural causes of upper airway obstruction) in children with CP, structural causes result in inspiratory stridor that is often persistent when patients are awake and relaxed or when they are asleep. Fiberoptic laryngoscopy in an awake patient with LD reveals vocal cord adduction in inspiration causing inspiratory stridor in association with generalized dystonia. Baclofen and gabapentin used together relieved the inspiratory stridor and improved the generalized dystonia of two patients, confirming the clinical diagnosis of LD, but for the last 2 years the third patient (the one with the most severe inspiratory stridor) also has required a periodic BTX injection into a vocalis muscle (the major vocal cord adductor) to relieve her inspiratory stridor, alternating the side of injection. Her mother considers this is a small price to pay to avoid tracheostomy. This is the first report of LD causing inspiratory stridor in patients with CP and the first reported use of BTX injection into a vocalis muscle for relief of inspiratory stridor due to LD in a child.
When child abuse overlaps with domestic violence: The factors that influence child protection workers' beliefs

Over the past decade, Child Protective Services (CPS) has been challenged with how to adequately respond to families experiencing domestic violence and whether exposure to domestic violence constitutes child abuse. Research provides a limited understanding of what factors (i.e. professional, personal, training) influence the beliefs of CPS workers but much more information is needed. The research described in this paper provides another opportunity to explore these factors that influence the beliefs and attitudes of 64 workers from a CPS system in a Midwestern state. Anonymous and confidential surveys queried respondents on demographic information, their beliefs about domestic violence and the intersection of domestic violence and child abuse, prior domestic violence training, and their professional and personal experiences with domestic violence. The results provide insight into challenges of addressing workers' beliefs about domestic violence and its overlap with child abuse and instill the need for more research to fully grasp how best to respond to families experiencing domestic violence.
Compton continuum suppression by analog pulse shape analysis

Abstract We present experimental results on Compton continuum suppression and Compton edge flattening by analog pulse shape analysis. The local peak-to-Compton ratio was increased by a factor of 1.7.
Spectrophotometric Assessment of Dose-Response Curves for Single Antimicrobial Agents and Antimicrobial Combinations

The activity of single antimicrobial agents and antimicrobial combinations was examined by measuring their effects on the growth rate constant of a test strain of Escherichia coli. This spectrophotometric method provides a kinetic view of antimicrobial action and is sufficiently precise to define dose-response curves, in contrast to standard methods such as broth or agar dilution testing, which are static and measure only all-or-none responses. The results demonstrate that dose-response curves for single antimicrobial agents are logarithmic (rather than linear) and that the effects of antimicrobial combinations may be exquisitely concentration dependent. Although the results for some antimicrobial combinations were similar with the spectrophotometric and checkerboard methods, other combinations produced different results in the two systems. Additional studies will be necessary to determine whether one or the other of these methods more accurately predicts clinical outcome.
The effects of founding bottlenecks on genetic variation in the European starling ( Sturnus vulgaris ) in North America

Genetic variation in European starlings in North America was examined using enzyme electrophoresis and compared to that in their home range. The effect of the founding bottleneck matched theoretical predictions. Heterozygosity was unaffected, whereas allelic diversity may have decreased. Results from this study and others suggest that theoretical predictions of bottlenecks are robust for allozyme data, and applicable under a wide variety of conditions.
SHORT‐CUT SIGNAL DETECTION MEASURES FOR SENSORY ANALYSIS

Traditional sensory difference tests demonstrate whether a difference exists or not between two flavors; to determine the degree of difference requires further scaling. The two processes can be combined for perceptually small differences using difference tests based on signal detection measures. Such measures provide a measure of degree of difference directly which being a probability value is susceptible to analysis by parametric statistics Traditional signal detection measures are complex and time consuming but the present paper outlines a short and simple means of calculating such measures.
Vulpius and Z-lengthening

An evaluation of ankle function in gait after 22 Vulpius lengthenings of the gastrocnemius fascia and 27 Z-lengthenings of the Achilles tendon was performed in 33 ambulatory cerebral palsy patients. Simultaneous hip or knee surgeries or both were performed in most instances. Gait analysis including ankle motion, moment, and power data was obtained before surgery and approximately 1 year after. The ankle moments were improved and approached normal in the majority of cases in each group. There were no significant differences between the Vulpius and Z-lengthening groups at follow-up in any of the parameters. There were significant differences between the initial and follow-up measurements of each group. The Vulpius group showed a notable presence of abnormal midstance work initially and had a significant decrease at follow-up. The Z-lengthening group showed a notable presence of equinus and a notable lack of push-off work initially and had a significant decrease in equinus and a significant increase in push-off work at follow-up. Each procedure appears to give satisfactory results because the follow-up results were similar.
The vibrational spectra of methyl and methyl-d3 nitrite

Abstract The infrared spectra of methyl and methyl- d 3 nitrite have been observed between 400 and 4000 cm −1 both in the gas phase and in an argon matrix. The very strong absorptions associated with the vibrations of the ONO group have also been observed for the carbon-13 and nitrogen-15 substituted methyl nitrites, produced by the photolysis of the corresponding nitromethane isolated in solid argon. The assignment of individual bands to the cis and trans rotamers has been facilitated by studies of the relative rates of photolysis of the two species trapped in solid argon. The vibrational assignments for the two rotamers are discussed in relation to a least-squares fit of the observed vibrational frequencies to a relatively simple set of valence force potential constants.
Genetic chimeras reveal the autonomy requirements for Vsx2 in embryonic retinal progenitor cells

Vertebrate retinal development is a complex process, requiring the specification and maintenance of retinal identity, proliferative expansion of retinal progenitor cells (RPCs), and their differentiation into retinal neurons and glia. The homeobox gene Vsx2 is expressed in RPCs and required for the proper execution of this retinal program. However, our understanding of the mechanisms by which Vsx2 does this is still rudimentary. To define the autonomy requirements for Vsx2 in the regulation of RPC properties, we generated chimeric mouse embryos comprised of wild-type and Vsx2-deficient cells. We show that Vsx2 maintains retinal identity in part through the cell-autonomous repression of the retinal pigment epithelium determinant Mitf, and that Lhx2 is required cell autonomously for the ectopic Mitf expression in Vsx2-deficient cells. We also found significant cell-nonautonomous contributions to Vsx2-mediated regulation of RPC proliferation, pointing to an important role for Vsx2 in establishing a growth-promoting extracellular environment. Additionally, we report a cell-autonomous requirement for Vsx2 in controlling when neurogenesis is initiated, indicating that Vsx2 is an important mediator of neurogenic competence. Finally, the distribution of wild-type cells shifted away from RPCs and toward retinal ganglion cell precursors in patches of high Vsx2-deficient cell density to potentially compensate for the lack of fated precursors in these areas. Through the generation and analysis of genetic chimeras, we demonstrate that Vsx2 utilizes both cell-autonomous and cell-nonautonomous mechanisms to regulate progenitor properties in the embryonic retina. Importantly, Vsx2’s role in regulating Mitf is in part separable from its role in promoting proliferation, and proliferation is excluded as the intrinsic timer that determines when neurogenesis is initiated. These findings highlight the complexity of Vsx2 function during retinal development and provide a framework for identifying the molecular mechanisms mediating these functions.
Neuron numbers in locus coeruleus do not change with age in fisher 344 rat

Abstract Counts of neurons in locus coeruleus of Fisher 344 rats of ages from 12 to 32 months showed no loss with advancing age. Species comparisons of age changes in locus coeruleus neuron counts and measures of catecholamine systems suggest that the human and nonhuman primate locus coeruleus shows age changes not seen in rodent locus coeruleus. It is suggested that although rodent models of human aging have value under some circumstances, rodent and primate brain should not be considered equivalent with regard to phenomena related to noradrenergic mechanisms.
Evaluation of the tetracycline-repressible transactivator system for inducible gene expression in human prostate cancer cell lines.

BACKGROUND Studies of genes that may inhibit growth or induce death of cells are facilitated greatly by tightly controlled expression of those genes. A promising system for control of transgene expression over a wide range is the tetracycline-repressible transactivator (tTA) system developed by Gossen and Bujard [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1992;89:5547–5551]. We investigated the effectiveness of this system in three well-established human prostate cancer cell lines. METHODS LNCaP, PC-3, and Tsu-Pr1 cells were transfected with a vector coding for the tTA protein and/or a luciferase reporter vector, and luciferase activity was measured in the presence and absence of tetracycline or the tTA protein. RESULTS In the absence of tetracycline, the tTA system yielded high levels of luciferase activity in all three cell lines. Background luciferase activity in the presence of tetracycline was nearly undetectable in LNCaP cells, moderate in Tsu-Pr1 cells, and more than 20-fold higher in PC-3 than in Tsu-Pr1 cells. Similar background activity was observed in Tsu-Pr1 and PC-3 cells, even in the absence of the transactivator protein. CONCLUSIONS The tTA system should be useful for stable transfection of cytotoxic transgenes in LNCaP cells and for control of transgene expression over a wide range in Tsu-Pr1 and PC-3 cells. Prostate 33:166–176, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
ENVELOPES OF GEOMETRIC LATTICES.

Abstract A categorical embedding theorem is proved for geometric lattices. This states roughly that, if one wants to consider only those embeddings into projective spaces having a suitable universal property, then the existence of such an embedding can be checked by seeing whether corresponding properties hold for many small intervals. Tutte's embedding theorem for binary geometric lattices is a consequence of this result.
Ultrahigh temperature vapor-core reactor - Magnetohydrodynamic system for space nuclear electric power

This article presents the conceptual design of a nuclear space power system based on the ultrahigh temperature vapor-core reactor (UTVR) with magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) energy conversion. This UF4-fueled gas-core cavity reactor operates at a maximum core temperature of 4000 K and 40 atm. Potassium fluoride working fluid cools the reactor cavity wall and mixes with the fissioning fuel in the core. Neutron transport calculations with specialized high temperature gas-core cross-sectional libraries indicate criticality at core radii of 60-80 cm, with BeO reflector thicknesses of —50 cm. The heated core exhaust mixture is directed through a regeneratively cooled nozzle into a disk MHD channel to generate electrical power. The MHD generator operates at fluid conditions below 2300 K and 1 atm. Fission fragment ionization enhances the electrical conductivity in the channel significantly, allowing an overall conversion efficiency of 20%. The mixture is condensed in heat exchangers, and pumped back to the core in a MHD-Rankine thermodynamic cycle. Heat rejection temperatures of 1500-2100 K lead to compact heat exchangers and an overall specific weight of ~1 kg/kWe for 200 MWe. Material experiments, performed with UF4 up to 2200 K (to date), show acceptable compatibility with tungsten-, molybdenum-, and carbon-based materials. This article discusses the supporting nuclear, fluid flow, heat transfer and MHD analysis, materials experiments, and fissioning plasma physics.
ANTIMICROBIAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR PATIENTS WITH COMMUNITY-ACQUIRED RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS

Abstract Key factors in the selection of first- and second-line antimicrobials in the management of patients with community-acquired respiratory tract infections include spectrum of activity against common respiratory tract pathogens, blood and tissue pharmacokinetics, efficacy in the management of a wide variety of respiratory tract infections, incidence of adverse events, and dosing regimen. On the basis of these factors, the following antimicrobial formulary and algorithm for management of patients with community-acquired respiratory tract infections can be suggested: sinusitis—first-line, amoxicillin; second-line, amoxicillin/clavulanate or clarithromycin; acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis—first-line, amoxicillin, erythromycin, or the tetracyclines; second-line, cefuroxime axetil or clarithromycin; outpatient pneumonia in patients without comorbidity who are 60 years of age or younger—first-line, erythromycin or the tetracyclines; second-line, clarithromycin; and pharyngitis—first-line, penicillin or erythromycin; second-line, cefuroxime axetil or clarithromycin.
An Approach to Evaluating Resilience in Command and Control Architectures

Abstract From a national defense, as well as a civilian infrastructure perspective, a need exists to design and develop systems resilient to disruption. Disruptions are often difficult to predict or may be potentially unavoidable. Systems able to survive and recover from disruption are referred to as resilient. In the case of mission critical systems, such as command and control systems, resilience is a necessary characteristic and must be considered early in the development cycle. This paper describes a quantitative approach to evaluating the expected resilience of a command and control system. The approach uses a Petri Net based executable model of the system architecture. The rigorous graph-theoretic and executable properties of Petri Nets are leveraged to support static and dynamic measures of the attributes of resilience. These measures are then combined into a holistic evaluation of resilience for the command and control system under study. The evaluation results can then be used to support selection among alternative candidate architectures and to identify areas for improvement in the selected architecture.
Launch processing system

This paper presents a functional description of the Launch Processing System, which provides automatic ground checkout and control of the Space Shuttle launch site and airborne systems, with emphasis placed on the Checkout, Control, and Monitor Subsystem. Hardware and software modular design concepts for the distributed computer system are reviewed relative to performing system tests, launch operations control, and status monitoring during ground operations. The communication network design, which uses a Common Data Buffer interface to all computers to allow computer-to-computer communication, is discussed in detail.
Singular points in generalized concatenation structures that otherwise are homogeneous

Abstract A generalized concatenation structure X is any ordered relational structure in which at least one relation is a function of two or more variables that is monotonically increasing in each of them. A point of X is said to be singular if it is fixed under all automorphisms of the structure. Examples are 0 in the additive real numbers, the velocity of light in special relativity, and the status quo in some theories of utility. A translation is an automorphism with no fixed points other than the singular ones. It is assumed that X is order dense and finitely unique, from which it follows (Theorem 1) that at most three singular points may exist; a maximum, a minimum, and/or an interior one. Assuming also that X is homogeneous in translations between adjacent singularities, the singular points are further characterized (Theorem 2), with the interior one being shown to be a generalized zero (Definition 4). It is shown how to replace a generalized zero by a zero (Theorem 3) and how to partition X into homogeneous structures on either side of the interior generalized zero (Theorem 4). The major problem in representing such structures lies in understanding how the two halves relate. For structures on a continuum that are translation homogeneous between singularities, finitely unique, and solvable relative to the zero, a representation exists in terms of unit structures (Theorem 5).
Hadronic structure functions as distributions of classical strings

Hadronic structure functions are modeled as a distribution of solutions to the classical string model of Nambu and Got{bar o}. In the model, the endpoints of the strings, identified as quarks, carry a finite amount of energy and momentum. The endpoint trajectories are assumed to be polygons and it is shown that the structure function in the scaling limit is directly related to the distribution of lengths of the straight line segments making up the polygons. The relationship is inverted to give an analytic expression for the distribution of straight line segments in terms of the structure function. The results are applied to the measured proton and pion structure functions. {copyright} {ital 1999} {ital The American Physical Society}