cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Early Years of Title V: Extending and Improving Care for Children with Special Health Care Needs, 1935–1941

This historical study examines the early years of the federal program of services for children with physical disabilities in the United States (US) during the 1930s, known today as services for Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN). Established as part of the Social Security Act (SSA) of 1935, the Crippled Children Services (CCS) program was one of the first medical programs for children supported by the federal government. Under the SSA, states and territories quickly developed state-level CCS programs during the late 1930s. The US Children’s Bureau administered the program for the federal government and helped states to incorporate preventive services and interdisciplinary approaches to service provision into state-level CCS programs. Factors that influenced the implementation of these programs included the availability of matching state funds, the establishment of state programs for crippled children prior to the SSA, and the accessibility of qualified health care professionals and facilities. The early efforts of this federal program on behalf of children with disabilities can be seen in services for CSHCN today.
Noninvasive photoacoustic imaging of the thoracic cavity and the kidney in small and large animals

The internal organs of rats and rabbits were clearly imaged noninvasively using a deeply penetrating reflection-mode photoacoustic imaging system. This imaging system had previously been found to provide an imaging depth limit of approximately 38 mm. In the thoracic cavity, major blood vessels connecting to the heart were imaged, and the right atrium was imaged as deeply as approximately 8 mm. In the abdominal cavities, the kidney and vena cava inferior were also imaged in situ. The vena cava inferior approximately 13.7 mm deep was imaged. The kidney of a New Zealand white rabbit was also imaged. This study shows the deep internal organ imaging capability of the system in animals. This technology can potentially be used to study tumors in internal organs, and be adapted to clinical diagnosis.
Corona in Aircraft Electric Systems as a Function of Altitude

Corona-starting voltages of the components of a 208-volt 400-cycle grounded-neutral electric system are reported for conditions to simulate altitudes between sea level and 50,000 feet. The corona characteristics are shown to be functions of air pressure, electric-field geometry, humidity, and the cleanliness of insulating surfaces. The effect of reducing pressure is shown to lower the corona-starting voltages of aircraft cables by as much as 60 per cent because the dielectric strength of large air gaps drops a comparable amount. Reducing the pressure has small effect on the corona-starting voltages of low-voltage capacitors, because the dielectric strength of small air gaps is nearly independent of pressure. Moisture and dust on insulating surfaces and moisture in aircraft cables produce corona-like disturbances below 208 volts. Data are presented on cables, capacitors, parallel studs, and needle gaps. Under dry conditions all corona-starting voltages were well above the operating voltages of the system.
Effects of RNA splicing and post-transcriptional regulation on HIV-1 growth: a quantitative and integrated perspective

Despite major advances over the last two decades in our understanding of RNA splicing and (post-) transcriptional regulation in human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1), debate continues on the mechanisms and effects of Rev protein on HIV-1 growth. Moreover, arguments that HIV-1 has been optimised for growth have been largely based on speculation. Here, we begin systematically to address these issues by developing a detailed kinetic model for HIV-1 intracellular development. The model accounts for transcription, successive steps in RNA splicing, nuclear export of mRNAs, translation and shuttling of Rev and Tat, Tat-mediated transactivation of transcription, thresholds on Rev in its effects on nuclear export of mRNA, and inhibitory effects of Rev on splicing. Using the model, we found that inefficient splicing of HIV-1 mRNA was generally beneficial for HIV-1 growth, but that an excessive reduction in the splicing efficiency could be detrimental, suggesting that there exists a splicing efficiency that optimises HIV-1 growth. Further, we identified two key contributors to splicing efficiency, the intrinsic splicing rate and the extent of Rev-mediated splicing inhibition, and we showed how these should be balanced for HIV-1 to optimise its growth. Finally, we found that HIV-1 growth is relatively insensitive to different levels of the Rev export threshold, and we suggest that this mechanism evolved to delay viral growth, perhaps to enable evasion of host defensive responses. In summary, our model provides a quantitative and qualitative framework for probing how constituent mechanisms contribute to the complex, yet logical, process of HIV-1 growth.
virG of Agrobacterium tumefaciens plasmid pTiC58 encodes a DNA‐binding protein

Summary Virulence genes of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens Ti plasmid are positively regulated by the products of virA and virG. To study the DNA-binding properties of the VirG protein, a translational fusion between virG and the frpEgene of Escherichia coli was constructed, and antiserum was raised against the encoded fusion protein. Using this antiserum, a protein of Mr= 29000, a size similar to that calculated from the virG nucleotide sequence, was detected in an E. coli strain harbouring a virG expression vector. Both the VirG protein and the fusion protein were found, by filter-binding and gel retardation analyses, to bind DNA nonspecifically. These data support an existing model for the two-component regulatory systems of bacteria.
Cardiac index measurements by transcutaneous Doppler ultrasound and transthoracic echocardiography in adult and pediatric emergency patients.

Introduction Non-invasive hemodynamic monitoring may facilitate resuscitation in critically ill patients. Validation studies examining a transcutaneous Doppler ultrasound technology, USCOM-1A, using pulmonary artery catheter as the reference standard showed varying results. In this study, we compared non-invasive cardiac index (CI) measurements by USCOM-1A with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE).
Quantitative tests of a three-dimensional gray scale texture model

A three-dimensional model for gray scale texture in ultrasound B-mode images has been extended to enable absolute quantitative predictions of echo signal levels and texture characteristics. The quantitative aspects of the model are tested with a phantom in which the ultrasonic scattering properties as well as the ultrasonic attenuation coefficient and the speed of sound are known as functions of frequency. Good agreement between theoretical predictions and experimental results was found in the overall brightness of B-mode images, in pixel value histograms, and in an autocorrelation function analysis of images. Passing quantitative tests is additional evidence that the model is a reliable tool for computer simulations involving many important facets of ultrasound B-mode imaging and tissue characterization.
Demand side load control with smart meters

Utility companies will seek additional electricity generation to satisfy the needs projected by increasing demands. Additional generation means investing in new power plants that will increase costs for the companies and customers. The increase in electric demand also includes increases in peak demands. Peak demands are mostly satisfied with costly and inefficient generators. In system planning for the future, given these circumstances, demand side management (DSM) needs to be given closer consideration, since it could be used to reduce peak demands. This paper proposes a DSM system using smart meters (SM) for load control. The proposed load control would reduce peak demands while not affecting the total power consumption by customers. The load control system would target appliances that consume larger amounts of power. Depending on a priority order, established by the customer, these appliances would be switched off for a period of time during the peak in demand. Additionally, customers would be able to use the Smart Meters to communicate back with the utility companies, reporting appliance use available for load control when the previous control periods are not active. This feature, our proposal, would allow a customer to switch on an appliance and decide to signal the utility company the availability for load control. The utility company could use this information and take action when system operation may require doing so.
Isolation by isoelectric focusing of a mitogenic substance released by stimulated human lymphocytes.

Abstract Supernatants of human lymphocytes incubated for 4 hr with extracellular products of group A streptococci (streptococcal filtrate) and then washed and reincubated had a mitogenic activity for homologous lymphocytes. Fractionation by isoelectric focusing of the lymphocyte supernatants and of the streptococcal filtrates showed mitogenic activity in fractions with different isoelectric points. Moreover, human lymphocytes stimulated either with a mitogenic fraction of the lymphocyte supernatant or with a mitogenic fraction of the streptococcal filtrate, after treatment with bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR) and reciprocal restimulation, were responsive only to the heterologous stimulant.
Landscape planning for agricultural non-point source pollution reduction. II. Balancing watershed size, number of watersheds, and implementation effort.

Agricultural non–point source (NPS) pollution poses a severe threat to water quality and aquatic ecosystems. In response, tremendous efforts have been directed toward reducing these pollution inputs by implementing agricultural conservation practices. Although conservation practices reduce pollution inputs from individual fields, scaling pollution control benefits up to the watershed level (i.e., improvements in stream water quality) has been a difficult challenge. This difficulty highlights the need for NPS reduction programs that focus efforts within target watersheds and at specific locations within target watersheds, with the ultimate goal of improving stream water quality. Fundamental program design features for NPS control programs—i.e., number of watersheds in the program, total watershed area, and level of effort expended within watersheds—have not been considered in any sort of formal analysis. Here, we present an optimization model that explores the programmatic and environmental trade-offs between these design choices. Across a series of annual program budgets ranging from $2 to $200 million, the optimal number of watersheds ranged from 3 to 27; optimal watershed area ranged from 29 to 214 km2; and optimal expenditure ranged from $21,000 to $35,000/km2. The optimal program configuration was highly dependent on total program budget. Based on our general findings, we delineated hydrologically complete and spatially independent watersheds ranging in area from 20 to 100 km2. These watersheds are designed to serve as implementation units for a targeted NPS pollution control program currently being developed in Wisconsin.
Growth and Facet Orientations in Single-Phase TiAl Single Crystals

Single crystals of single-phase TiAl alloy (Ti-56 at. % Al) have been grown at 10mm/h solidification rate in an ASGAL FZ-SS35W Optical Floating Zone Furnace. The orientations of the resulting single crystals have been determined using the Laue X-ray diffraction, and Electron Backscattering Pattern (EBSP) methods. A correlation between orientations of the crystal growth and grown-in facets has been established.
Regulating a monopolist with unknown demand: an alternative approach

Abstract Optimal regulatory schemes are designed in a setting where the regulator lacks adequate information regarding consumer demand and the industry is subject to declining marginal costs of production. Recent regulatory literature assumes that regulator depends exclusively on the regulated firm for demand information and as a consequence fails to achieve efficiency. When demand information is collected directly from the consumers, significant efficiency gains are demonstrated. Incentive mechanisms induce each consumer into truthful revelation as a dominant strategy. Efficient prices are always established, the firm commands no rents from its private information and the regulator's budget is balanced in expectation.
Pyrazolidine-3,5-diones and 5-hydroxy-1H-pyrazol-3(2H)-ones, inhibitors of UDP-N-acetylenolpyruvyl glucosamine reductase.

A series of pyrazolidine-3,5-dione and 5-hydroxy-1H-pyrazol-3(2H)-one inhibitors of Escherichia coli UDP-N-acetylenolpyruvyl glucosamine reductase (MurB) has been prepared. The 5-hydroxy-1H-pyrazol-3(2H)-ones show low micromolar IC50 values versus E. coli MurB and submicromolar minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) against Staphylococcus aureus GC 1131, Enterococcus faecalis GC 2242, Streptococcus pneumoniae GC 1894, and E. coli GC 4560 imp, a strain with increased outer membrane permeability. None of these compounds show antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans, a marker of eukaryotic toxicity. Moreover, these compounds inhibit peptidoglycan biosynthesis, as assessed by measuring the amount of soluble peptidoglycan produced by Streptococcus epidermidis upon incubation with compounds. A partial least squares projection to latent structures analysis shows that improving MurB potency and MIC values correlate with increasing lipophilicity of the C-4 substituent of the 5-hydroxy-1H-pyrazol-3(2H)-one ...
Operational Inductances of Turbine-Generators by the Finite-Element Method

As part of EPRI Program, RP 1288-1, Improvement in Accuracy of Prediction of Electrical Machine Constants, a method has been developed for calculating small-signal, terminal, operational inductances. The method is based on solutions to the magnetic diffusion equation by the finite-element method. To faithfully simulate the behavior of the rotor iron for small signal perturbations, measured values for incremental permeability are used. A finite-element grid tailored to handle the skin effect at frequencies up to 100 hertz has been developed. The paper is semi-tutorial in nature and is intended as a basis for future papers, which will compare the results of calculations by this method to test data. Sample flux plots are given, and examples of the frequency dependence of operational inductances are shown.
Computerized tomography in pulmonary sarcoidosis

Six patients with documented pulmonary sarcoidosis were selectively studied with the ACTA scanner. The CT scans were correlated with the standard chest radiographs of these patients. CT scans readily confirmed adenopathy, calcification, and pleural disease. Likewise, diffuse and isolated parenchymal disease was detected and in some cases unexpected lung involvement was noted.
When Math Worlds Collide: Intention and Invention in Ethnomathematics:

Ethnomathematics is a relatively new discipline that investigates mathematical knowl edge in small-scale, indigenous cultures. This essay locates ethnomathematics as one of five distinct subfields within a general anthropology of mathematics and describes interactions between cultural and epistemological features that have created these divisions. It reviews the political and pedagogical issues in which ethnomathematics research and practice is immersed and examines the possibilities for both conflict and collaboration with the goals, theories, and methods of social constructivism.
Evidence that actin disassembly is a requirement for matrix metalloproteinase secretion by sinusoidal endothelial cells during cold preservation in the rat.

Cold preservation induces the secretion of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) by hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells (SECs). These enzymes are important mediators of cold preservation injury. The purpose of this study was to determine if low temperature caused actin disassembly in SECs and whether actin disassembly was required for secretion of MMPs under these conditions. To establish the basis of interpreting the effect of low temperature, isolated SECs were exposed to cytochalasin B with or without pretreatment with phalloidin. Cytochalasin B produced actin disassembly and resulted in the secretion of MMPs. Both were retarded by phalloidin pretreatment. Low temperature (4°C) also induced actin disassembly and MMP secretion and pretreatment with phalloidin again retarded actin disassembly and MMP secretion. Cycloheximide had no effect on these results. Actin disassembly began with 30 minutes of exposure of isolated SECs to cold and reached a final state at 8 hours, at which time no actin stress fibers were visible, and the normally fusiform SECs were fully rounded. Increased MMP activity in the supernatant was also present at 30 minutes and continued to rise sharply in the first hour; thereafter the rate of rise diminished. The study shows that secretion of MMPs during cold preservation is dependent on the induction of actin disassembly by low temperature. The rapid appearance of increased MMP activity after exposure to cold and the studies using cycloheximide indicate that the MMPs originate from preformed MMPs rather than newly synthesized MMPs
Scattering of Mesons by Light Nuclei

An improved optical model is used to study the scattering of mesons by light nuclei, ${\mathrm{C}}^{12}$ in particular. It is found that the differential cross section can be fit reasonably well if a nucleus is used which has a diffuse edge; the Gaussian shape seems to work well for ${\mathrm{C}}^{12}$.
Statistical inevitability of Horton's laws and the apparent randomness of stream channel networks

The remarkably regular geometric relations observed in stream networks have been widely interpreted as evidence of a distinctive structure that reflects particular geomorphic processes. These relations have also been interpreted as evidence that stream networks are topologically random, formed by the laws of chance. Neither of these inferences is justified. The oft-cited geometric properties are not specific to particular kinds of stream networks or to topologically random networks; instead, they describe virtually all possible networks. They therefore compel no particular conclusion about the origin or structure of stream networks.
Toxicologic studies on monochloroacetaldehyde 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone, a foliar fungicide.

Abstract Toxicologic studies on monochloroacetaldehyde 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone (Olin 1763), a foliar fungicide, have been reported. In rats and dogs, single oral doses of 10 g/kg caused no deaths. In rabbits, an LD 50 of 1.4 ± 0.07 g/kg was obtained. In rats, 50,000 ppm in the diet was lethal in less than 2 weeks and a trend in this direction is suggestive for males on 6250 ppm. Feeding at 3200 ppm for 52 weeks had no effect on mortality but depressed growth in both sexes; 1250 ppm also depressed growth in males in subacute studies. Slight depression in hematocrit and hemoglobin values occurred in rats on 1600 and 3200 ppm for 97 and 52 weeks, respectively, and in rats on 6250 ppm for 3 months. Organ-to-body weight ratios were significantly increased for spleen and liver in females, and spleen, liver, and kidneys in males on 1250 ppm for 3 months. Feeding at 1600 and 3200 ppm for 97 and 52 weeks, respectively, caused increased spleen and decreased testes ratios. Testicular atrophy occurred in rats on 1600 and 3200 ppm diets for 97 and 52 weeks, respectively; splenic congestion resulted from 3200 ppm in the diet. Decreased fertility occurred in rats fed 1600 ppm for 11 weeks prior to mating. In 60-day feeding studies in chickens, 10,000 ppm proved lethal but 5,000 ppm did not; 2500 ppm depressed growth, but 1000 ppm did not. Death was preceded by inability to stand and development of twisted or curled necks. Histopathologic studies revealed no lesions attributable to treatment. In subacute studies, dogs fed 1500 ppm and higher concentrations developed marked rigidity of their hind legs and an inability to stand which was reversible on return to control diet. Dogs fed 1000 ppm for two years displayed brief episodes of hindlimb ataxia during the fifteenth month, and 2 of 4 subsequently became subject to convulsive seizures. Similar effects did not occur on 100 and 400 ppm, and there was no effect on body weight at either level. Hematocrit and hemoglobin values were somewhat lower in dogs receiving 1000 ppm, particularly during the first 6 months. Liver-to-body weight ratios were significantly higher in dogs receiving 400 and 1000 ppm, but liver function tests indicated no adverse trends. Histopathologic studies revealed no lesions to explain the neuromuscular effects. Hemosiderin was demonstrated in the kidney tubules and in focal areas in the liver, but there was no necrosis of the cells.
Generalized Serre conditions and perverse coherent sheaves

Abstract In algebraic geometry, one often encounters the following problem: given a scheme X, find a proper birational morphism Y → X where the geometry of Y is “nicer” than that of X. One version of this problem, first studied by Faltings, requires Y to be Cohen–Macaulay; in this case Y → X is called a Macaulayfication of X. In another variant, one requires Y to satisfy the Serre condition S r . In this paper, the authors introduce generalized Serre conditions—these are local cohomology conditions which include S r and the Cohen–Macaulay condition as special cases. To any generalized Serre condition S ρ , there exists an associated perverse t-structure on the derived category of coherent sheaves on a suitable scheme X. Under appropriate hypotheses, the authors characterize those schemes for which a canonical finite S ρ -ification exists in terms of the intermediate extension functor for the associated perversity. Similar results, including a universal property, are obtained for a more general morphism extension problem called S ρ -extension.
Mindful Ethics: Comments on Informant-Centered Practices in Sociological Research

In this article, I introduce the concept of “mindful ethics” to describe my experiences as a feminist qualitative researcher who has confronted ethical dilemmas in my sexuality research. Mindful ethics is informed theoretically by mindful inquiry, grounded theory, ethics in practice, and ethically important moments. Mindful ethics has been useful in dealing with ethical considerations throughout all stages of my sexuality research. Shifting my attention to the takenfor-granted social contexts and circumstances surrounding informants’ life experiences has helped me deal with ethical concerns that otherwise may have resulted in harm to informants.
Clinician’s View of Hypodontia

Hypodontia, agenesis of one or more teeth, is a common trait in modern populations and one that is often encountered by the dental practitioner. Specific patterns of the trait suggest its association with extraoral findings and may help to identify the etiology.
CT of localized lucent lung lesions

OCALIZED lucent lung lesions depicted by the standard chest radiograph are relatively rare, except for those occurring in patients with generalized chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The standard chest radiograph provides an inexpensive, sensitive means for determining the presence of most clinically significant focal, thinwalled, sharply demarcated areas of avascularity. Some of the limitations of the chest radiograph in this regard are: (a) it permits only a broad differential diagnosis; (b) it sometimes does not define the full extent of disease; (c) it sometimes does not allow localization to the precise anatomic compartment; and (d) it sometimes fails to demonstrate a small accompanying lesion adjacent to or remote from the lesion under investigation. Even with these radiographic limitations, other available data including clinical history, pulmonary function studies, and laboratory results significantly enhance the radiologist’s diagnostic accuracy. For those few but potentially life-threatening localized lucent lesions, more aggressive and risky procedures must be employed for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes, such as biopsy, chest tube insertion, or even thoracotomy. With the advent of CT, considerable improvement in the overall diagnostic accuracy of these localized lucent lung lesions has been obtained. By defining more precisely the location, margins, thickness, contents, and overall configuration, CT significantly narrows the differential diagnosis. If the CT characteristics of the lesion are nondiagnostic, interventional procedures such as bronchoscopy or percutaneous aspiration biopsy can more easily be obtained by CT guidance. The CT cross-sectional display and geometric resolution sometimes more clearly define previously recognized standard radiographic features of complicated versus uncomplicated and benign versus malignant lucent lung lesions. In addition, CT uniquely distinguishes pleural from subpleural lucent lesions. Probably the most important role CT serves is in demonstrating occult opaque or lucent lesions in proximity to the original lucency or in the contralateral lung. The presence or absence of abnormal pulmonary vascularity, adenopathy, calcification, or small pleural
Inverse Scattering in a Half Space with Passive Boundary

Consider the reduced wave equation where , δ > 0, and This equation can be rewritten in the form where Let u(x) satisfy Robin boundary condition The case when cot α <0 was considered in Karamyan ([...
LYM-type inequalities for tEC/AUED codes

Some LYM-type inequalities are introduced to obtain a relationship between the parameters of t-error correcting/all unidirectional error-detecting codes of length n. As an application of these inequalities, new lower bounds on the redundancies of systematic tEC/AUED codes are derived and an extensive table is given. >
Growth Constants in Solidification

In phase-change problems, there are domain and surface contributions to the dynamics of a moving front. It is ordinarily assumed that the surface contributions are in complete control. This is likely to be true in the case of planar fronts, but it may or may not be true in the cylindrical case. We study the growth rates of disturbances imposed on the surface of a cylindrical solid in equilibrium with its melt and deduce the conditions under which time derivatives of bulk-phase variables are important. They are important in the case of a whisker and are even more important if a solute is added.
Mineralogy and geochemistry of the Gualilán skarn deposit in the Precordillera of western Argentina

The Gualilan Au-rich Zn skarn is located in western Argentina. Skarn resulted from the interaction of hydrothermal fluids associated with Middle Miocene calc-alkaline magmatism and Ordovician limestones. The magmatism is associated with a tectonic environment of transitional post-subduction in the Tertiary back-arc basin of the Precordillera thrust-belt. The Gualilan skarn formed in a hypabyssal environment distal to the igneous source; it is structurally and lithologically controlled. Mineralization occurred in three main stages that are separated by faulting: (I) prograde skarn; (II) retrograde alteration of the skarn; and (III) lead-rich veins. Cogenetic subvolcanic dacite porphyries were emplaced at the end of Stage I and were subsequently hydrothermally altered during Stages II and III. The δ34S (−1.0‰ to 1.9‰) indicates a magmatic source for the sulfur of Stages I and II sulfides. During Stage I, metasomatism led to the formation of a calcic exoskarn consisting mainly of pyroxene (Hd38–98Di0–43Jo1–54) and minor garnet (Ad90–98Sp0–3Gr0–7) by selectively replacing a cherty unit in the Ordovician limestones. The exoskarn formed from H2O-rich fluids (XCO2<0.1) with an upper temperature limit between 420°C and 390°C and an upper limit for log fO2 between −28 and −29. The higher organic matter content in the cherty limestone compared to the other layers probably provided the optimal reducing environment to allow pyroxene formation at temperatures below 420°C. Magnetite, minor pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite were formed at the end of Stage I. Mineral assemblages indicate that the log fS2 in the system during Stage I was fairly constant at about −10. During Stage II, the alteration of pyroxene (to amphibole, ilvaite, chlorite, epidote, smectite, calcite and quartz) and of the dacite porphyries (to sericitic, argillic and propylitic assemblages), accompanied the main deposition of sulfides (pyrite, sphalerite and minor galena). Fluid inclusion data in quartz from the assemblages pyrite–sphalerite–quartz and ilvaite–quartz–calcite (decreasing filling temperatures and salinities from 294°C to 245°C and from 6.4 to 0.7 wt.% NaCl eq., respectively) suggest that mixing of fluids was an important mechanism in the sulfide deposition during Stage II. Stage III veins (galena, electrum, argentite, hessite, minor pyrite and sphalerite, quartz and calcite) cross-cut both the skarn and the dacite porphyry dikes. They formed from late mineralizing fluids that had temperatures ranging from 340°C to 300°C, and salinities varying from 4 to 0.4 wt.% NaCl eq., suggesting, therefore, that boiling was a permissible mechanism of gold deposition.
A high-rate granular material dispensing mechanism

Abstract A high-rate granule handling device is described 2 . The keys to the success of the device are three suction nozzles and a granule separation scheme. The three nozzles are arranged so that three-row seeding from an aircraft can be accomplished at near 3000 seeds/min per nozzle, or near 9000 seeds/min for the mechanism. The seeds, or granules, are 3/16-in.-diam. near-spheres when coated in a water-soluble clay coating, and emphasis is on the high-rate handling problems of the granular seeds. A theoretical analysis for predicting the exit velocites of the granules as they leave the nozzle is summarized. Good agreement with experiment is obtained. Tests and development of the device are described.
Genetic and environmental influences on sensory gating of mid-latency auditory evoked responses: A twin study

A deficit in sensory gating measured by the suppression of P50 auditory event-related potential (ERP) has been implicated in the biological bases of schizophrenia and some other psychiatric disorders and proposed as a candidate endophenotype for genetic studies. More recently, it has been shown that gating deficits in schizophrenics extend to ERP components reflecting early attentive processing (the N1/P2 complex). However, evidence for heritability of sensory gating in the general population is very limited. Heritability of P50, N1, and P2 amplitudes and gating was estimated in 54 monozygotic and 55 dizygotic twin pairs using a dual-click auditory paradigm. Genetic model-fitting analysis showed high heritability of peak amplitudes of P50, N1, and P2 waves. Genetic influences on P50 gating (S2/S1) were modest, while heritability of N1 and P2 gating was high and significant. The alternative gating measure (S1-S2 difference) showed significant heritability for all three ERP components. Weak genetic influences on P50 gating ratio can be related to its poor test-retest reliability demonstrated in previous studies. These results suggest that gating measures derived from the N1/P2 wave complex may be useful endophenotypes for population-based genetic studies of the sensory gating function and its impairments in psychopathology.
Jacob Sturm of Strasbourg and the Lutherans at the Diet of Augsburg, 1530

All through the second half of the year 1529, John the Constant, the Elector of Saxony, played a double game with the Evangelical towns of southwestern Germany. In April of that year at the Diet of Speier, John had led a united Evangelical party in a protest against the recess of the Diet and in an agreement to form a military alliance of all the Evangelical governments in the empire. A few weeks later, John began to regret that he had allied with cities suspected of Zwinglian heresies, a step which could only aggravate his relations with the emperor. John and his advisers searched for the proper instrument by which to win favor from Charles V by abandoning their Zwinglian associates. That instrument was the Schwabach Articles, an uncompromisingly Lutheran statement of doctrine which flatly excluded the disputed Zwinglian interpretation of the sacrament of the Eucharist. John kept the southwestern towns dangling in expectation until the meeting at Smalkalden in December, 1529. There he informed Jacob Sturm of Strasbourg and Bernhard Besserer of Ulm that his conscience forbade him to ally with the southerners so long as they supported the errors of Zwingli. Sturm and Besserer, who now began to understand John's duplicity, announced that their governments would not sign the Schwabach Articles. At the year's end, nothing remained of the solidarity the Evangelical estates had displayed at Speier.
Theoretical studies of diamond mechanosynthesis reactions

Density functional theory methods have been used to examine the interaction of (i) the carbene and tools with a pair of radical sites on the diamond (111) surface and (ii) the carbene tool with a surface dimer on the reconstructed diamond (100) surface. For the (111) surface, the carbene tool (carbenecyclopropene) is found to bond preferentially to a single radical site (on top site) rather than at a bridged site. This means this tool is not useful for adding a carbon to diamond (111) at this site. The tool, on the other hand, is found to add a bridged molecule, through a series of steps which are overall exothermic. The carbene tool can add a carbon to the bridged molecule, leading to a bridged molecule perpendicular to the surface, by an overall exothermic series of steps. If another radical site is activated, the can bend over to a threefold coordinated position, with only a small barrier. Thus, this series of steps can be used to create a threefold coordinated molecule on the diamond (111) surface. For the surface dimer on the reconstructed (100) surface, the carbene tool is found to add with no barrier if the angle between the tool and the surface is allowed to vary or with a 0.09 aJ barrier for a constrained approach. In this case, a bridged site is strongly favored, and the subsequent steps of sequentially breaking the and bonds between the tool and added carbon atom are all feasible. Thus, this series of steps can add a bridged C atom to the reconstructed diamond (100) surface.
Coupling EELS/EFTEM Imaging with Environmental Fluid Cell Microscopy

Insight into dynamically evolving electrochemical reactions and mechanisms encountered in electrical energy storage (EES) and conversion technologies (batteries, fuel cells, and supercapacitors), materials science (corrosion and oxidation), and materials synthesis (electrodeposition) remains limited due to the present lack of in situ high-resolution characterization methodologies. Electrochemical fluid cell microscopy is an emerging in-situ method that allows for the direct, real-time imaging of electrochemical processes within a fluid environment. This technique is facilitated by the use of MEMS-based biasing microchip platforms that serve the purpose of sealing the highly volatile electrolyte between two electron transparent SiNx membranes and interfacing electrodes to an external potentiostat for controlled nanoscale electrochemislly experiments [!]. In order to elucidate both stmctural and chemical changes during such in situ electrochemical experiments, it is impmtant to first improve upon the spatial resolution by utilizing energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy (EFTEM) (to minimize chromatic aben ation), then to detennine the chemical changes via electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). This presents a formidable challenge since the overall thickness through which electrons are scattered through the multiple layers of the cell can be on the order of hundreds of nanometers to microns, scattering through which has the deleterious effect of degrading image resolutionmore » and decreasing signal-to noise for spectroscopy [2].« less
Comments on Deutsch’s musical scale illusion

Furthermore, the majority of the right-handed subjects reported that they heard Stream 1 in the right ear and Stream 2 in the left ear regardless of which channel was presented to which ear. I am presenting here an explanation of the tonal pattern organization aspects of Deutsch's illusion based on recently developed rules of auditory pattern perception and known principles of auditory localization.' This explanation is supported by the perceptual reports resulting from several manipulations of Deutsch's stimuli. I will not offer any explanation of the lateral asymmetries Deutsch reported. The perceptual rules on which this explanation is based are those of auditory stream segregation. When rapid tone sequences (about 1-20 tones/sec.) are presented in which successive tones vary widely along such dimensions as pitch (Bregman & Campbell, 1971), location of sound source (Judd, Note 1), loudness (van Noorden, 1975), and possibly timbre, attack, and rhythm (Judd, Note 2), listeners tend to perceive the tones as grouped along these dimensions, i.e., they may hear a high-pitched melody approximately simultaneously with a low-pitched melody, a melody on the left approximately simultaneouslywith a melody on the right, or a loud melody approximately simultaneously with a soft melody. This separation of a single sequence of notes into two or more perceived melodies or streams is called stream segregation (SS) (van Noorden's "fission"). The term is modified according to the dimension of variation, i.e., pitch stream segregation (PSS), spatial stream segregation (SSS), loudness stream segregation (LSS), etc. When the tone presentation rate is decreased and/or the separation along the dimension of variation is decreased, the sequence is heard as a unified whole, i.e., there is . pattern integration (van Noorden's "temporal coherence"). At intermediate speeds and separations, the stimulus can generally be perceived in either mode depending on the attentional bias of the listener and possibly other factors. This range of stimulus parameters is designated the ambiguous region. These relationships are summarized in Figure 1. (Note that the perceptual phenomena are actually more complicated for loudness; see van Noorden, 1975.) Deutsch's illusion involves a stimulus in which the information favorable to a perceptual organization based on pitch range is in conflict with information favorable to a perceptual organization based on the spatial separation of the sound sources. In other words, if the notes are heard as organized by pitch, a particular pair of melodies or streams should be
Cytokine enhancement of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV/mac) from a chronically infected cloned T-cell line (HuT-78).

Simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIV) are a family of primate lentiviruses similar to human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) in their genetic sequence and pathogenesis. However, host-derived cofactors which may determine the extent of viral replication are not clearly defined for SIV or HIV infections. A HuT-78 cell line chronically infected with SIV/mac strain 251, was biologically cloned and characterized for the ability to produce infectious viral particles, viral structural protein profile, cellular antigen surface phenotype and tested to determine the effects of recombinant cytokines on SIV replication. Reverse transcriptase (RT) assay was used to measure the replication of SIV/mac in response to various concentrations of recombinant cytokines (1–1000 units/ml). We report that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rTNF-α), gamma-interferon (rIFN-γ), interleukin 2 (rIL-2), and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (rGM-CSF) induced approximately a 2 to 3 fold increase in virus RT activity compared with untreated SIV-infected HuT-78 cells. In contrast, viral replication was not enhanced or minimally enhanced by interleukin 1 (rIL-1), interleukin 3 (rIL-3), or interleukin 4 (rIL-4) at similar dosages. Furthermore, SIV replication in response to rTNF-α and rIFN-γ occurred in a dose dependent fashion. These data suggest that SIV-infected T-lymphocyte lines are responsive to particular cytokines resulting in increased virus production.
Adenylyl cyclase type VI gene transfer reduces phospholamban expression in cardiac myocytes via activating transcription factor 3.

Cardiac-directed expression of adenylyl cyclase type VI (ACVI) increases stimulated cAMP production, improves heart function, and increases survival in cardiomyopathy. In contrast, pharmacological agents that increase intracellular levels of cAMP have detrimental effects on cardiac function and survival. We wondered whether effects that are independent of cAMP might be responsible for these salutary outcomes associated with ACVI expression. We therefore conducted a series of experiments focused on how gene transcription is influenced by ACVI in cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes, with a particular focus on genes that might influence cardiac function. We found that overexpression of ACVI down-regulated mRNA and protein expression of phospholamban, an inhibitor of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase. We determined that the cAMP-responsive-like element in the phospholamban (PLB) promoter was critical for down-regulation by ACVI. Overexpression of ACVI did not alter the expression of CREB, CREM, ATF1, ATF2, or ATF4 proteins. In contrast, overexpression of ACVI increased expression of ATF3 protein, a suppressor of transcription. Following ACVI gene transfer, when cardiac myocytes were stimulated with isoproterenol or NKH477, a water-soluble forskolin analog that directly stimulates AC, expression of ATF3 protein was increased even more, which correlated with reduced expression of PLB. We then showed that ACVI-induced ATF3 protein binds to the cAMP-responsive-like element on the PLB promoter and that overexpression of ATF3 in cardiac myocytes inhibits PLB promoter activity. These findings indicate that ACVI has effects on gene transcription that are not directly dependent on cAMP generation.
Forecast value considering energy pricing in California

Abstract In this study, production forecast value is investigated using day-ahead market (DAM) and real-time market (RTM) locational marginal prices (LMP) at 63 sites in California. Using the North American Mesoscale (NAM) Model, day-ahead global horizontal irradiance (GHI) forecasts are established and converted to power assuming that a 1 MW solar photovoltaic plant is co-located at each observation site. Using this forecast, energy is hypothetically sold in the DAM. As the RTM occurs, deviations between forecast and observation are settled by hypothetically purchasing or selling energy at the RTM price. Total revenue is calculated by the sum of these two transactions. Comparison of NAM forecast revenue to perfect day-ahead forecast revenue shows that perfect forecast revenue is always greater. However, yearly NAM forecast revenue is as much as 98% of the perfect forecast revenue for some sites. After a bias-correction is applied to NAM forecasts, NAM forecast revenue decreases. This demonstrates that based on the observed DAM-RTM price spread, biased forecasts can have a higher forecast value than more accurate forecasts. However, when a deviation penalty is assessed, the most accurate forecasts always yield the highest total revenue.
Levels of analysis problems in international studies

The international studies literature often refers to the “level of analysis problem.” This paper points out that what has often passed for a single problem actually consists of at least three separate issues: the use of aggregate data to make ecological inferences in statistical analyses; the definition of primitive units in international relations theory; and the identification of the effects of systems on their individual constituent units. The paper goes on to show that some of the problems that have been discussed under the “level of analysis” rubric can be better understood if each of these different issues is considered separately.
Automated record linkage: a response to the commentary and letters to the editor.

Critique de la validite et de l'avenir de l'informatique dans l'etude de la pharmacovigilance des medicaments. Etablissement des banques de donnees
Nanostructure array of coupled RTDs as cellular neural networks

The processing capabilities of a proposed nanoelectronic device are investigated. The device is considered as a global dynamical system with local circuit model components. The system equations and the corresponding network model are presented. The characteristics of this network model are compared with the cellular neural networks. Certain characteristics of the network are analysed theoretically and demonstrated with circuit-system level simulations. As a novel property, it is shown that the single layer nanodevice network structure is a basic reaction–diffusion system and it is capable of autowave propagation. Furthermore, the same network structure exhibits several image processing capabilities like image smoothing, edge enhancement, and horizontal or vertical line detection using simple arrangements of the device parameters. Copyright ©2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
National standard for Death-Scene Investigation of Sudden, Unexpected Infant Deaths in the United States.

In Reply .— As Tomashek et al state, it is of outstanding importance to have uniform diagnostic criteria when diagnosing sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and other causes of sudden, unexpected infant death. Otherwise, any comparison of SIDS rates and research results from different countries, or even different hospitals within 1 country, is impossible. In the Nordic countries, the SIDS epidemic hit differently among the countries: Norway and Denmark reached very high SIDS rates, Sweden experienced less increase, and Finland had almost no increase at all. Therefore, in 1990 the Nordic Council of Ministers initiated the “NORD SIDS” project. The aim was to investigate both the increase in …
Inactivation of the inducible nitric oxide synthase by peroxynitrite.

The simultaneous production of superoxide and nitric oxide by stimulated human neutrophils leads to the formation of peroxynitrite, a physiologically important bactericidal agent. We have investigated two possible pathways for the inactivation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS-II) by peroxynitrite: inactivation of NOS-II through oxidation of the tightly bound cofactor calmodulin (CaM) and direct interaction of ONOO-/ONOOH with the NOS-II protein. Studies of two model peptides indicated that the Ca2+-dependent binding to CaM of a typical high-affinity sequence, melittin, significantly prevented Met oxidation in CaM by ONOO-/ONOOH. In contrast, binding of the putative CaM-binding domain of human hepatocyte NOS-II (NOS-II509-534) to CaM only marginally prevented the oxidation of Met residues in CaM. When the native NOS-II/CaM complex was exposed to peroxynitrite, CaM was inert toward oxidation. Nevertheless, even small amounts of peroxynitrite abolished the activity of NOS-II through direct interaction with the heme. The loss of activity was paralleled by a decrease in heme absorbance and a shift of the absorbance maximum from 419 to 409 nm. The presence of the cofactor tetrahydrobiopterin during peroxynitrite exposure did not prevent inactivation of the enzyme but altered the change of the heme spectrum, i.e., a shift of lambda(max) from 419 to 420 nm rather than to 409 nm. In conclusion, peroxynitrite inactivates NOS-II through changes in the heme or its environment in NOS-II rather than via oxidation of the cofactor CaM.
Fast and scalable priority encoding using static CMOS

The design of high speed, compact and low power priority encoder circuits using static CMOS gates is presented. The proposed hierarchical static design has improved delay and power compared to a dynamic domino circuit implementation. For an 8-bit priority encoder design the proposed approach shows 77.1% power dissipation, 63.6% transistor count and 36% delay improvement. The improvement increases with the number of priority encoder bits, with a delay improvement of 41.2% for a 16 inputs design.