cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Binding and entry of Clostridium difficile toxin B is mediated by multiple domains

Clostridium difficile is responsible for a number of serious gastrointestinal diseases caused primarily by two exotoxins, TcdA and TcdB. These toxins enter host cells by binding unique receptors, at least partially via their combined repetitive oligopeptides (CROPs) domains. Our study investigated structural determinants necessary for binding and entry of TcdB. Deletion analyses identified TcdB residues 1372-1493 as essential for cytotoxicity in three cell lines. Consistent with this observation, overlapping TcdB fragments (residues 1372-1848, 1372-1493 and 1493-1848) were able to independently bind cells. Our data provide new evidence supporting a more complex model of clostridial glucosylating toxin uptake than previously suggested.
Urokinase-type plasminogen activator induces tyrosine phosphorylation of a 78-kDa protein in H-157 cells

Studies from our laboratory have shown that exposure of human lung epithelial cells to urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) induces their proliferation. This effect of uPA is likely to occur via a...
State Spending Restraint: An Analysis of the Path Not Taken

State and local government spending has grown at a remarkable clip over the last half-century. Since the close of World War II, aggregate state and local spending grew 34 percent faster than the private sector and 37 percent faster than federal government spending. In recent years, the difference in growth rates has widened. From 2000 to 2009, state and local government spending grew nearly twice as fast as the private sector (while over the same period, the federal government grew even faster). Spending growth has not been uniform across spending categories, and Medicaid spending is by far the fastest-growing component of state expenditures. In this paper, I review some of these trends and then estimate what would have happened under an alternate scenario in which spending growth had been restrained. I look at the ten states with the largest FY2009 budget gaps and the ten states with the largest FY2010 budget gaps. Because six states make both lists, I analyze fourteen states in total. For each, I estimate what its FY2009 spending level would have been had its budget grown at the pace of population growth and inflation, beginning in two periods: 1987 and 1995. In twelve of the fourteen states, the entire FY2009 budget gap would have been avoided had the state kept spending at real 1995 per capita levels. In thirteen of the fourteen states, the budget gap would have been avoided had the state kept spending at real 1987 per capita levels. I conclude by reviewing some state-level institutional reforms that may be able to restrain the growth of state governments. But given the prominent role that Medicaid plays in state spending growth and given the fact that the program is financed jointly by the states and the federal government, reform may need to be addressed at the federal level as well.
The Breaking the Logjam Project

This essay serves as an introduction to the Breaking the Logjam project, a joint undertaking of New York Law School and NYU School of Law to propose concrete and comprehensive reforms to federal environmental laws. It discusses the impetus for the project and the four guiding principles for environmental reform around which it was organized: (1) supplementing traditional hierarchical regulatory approaches with market and property-rights-like mechanisms, such as cap and trade and information disclosure, whenever these tools can reliably achieve environmental objectives; (2) realigning authority so that the federal government has responsibility for national and transnational environmental problems, and states and their subdivisions have responsibility for essentially local ones; (3) openly facing trade-offs in decision-making and ensuring that decisions are made on the basis of reliable information; and (4) approaching regulatory problems in a cross-cutting way that addresses underlying problems. The article then goes on to give brief synopses of Project articles published in the January 2009 issue of the NYU Environmental Law Journal, most of which were presented at the Breaking the Logjam Symposium held at NYU in March 2008.
Personality Correlates of Locus of Control among College Women

Personality correlates of locus of control were investigated for a group of 205 college women. Eight 16-Personality Factor variables were reliably correlated with scores on locus of control. Internal women were more likely to be controlled, emotionally stable, conscientious, trusting, shrewd, and sociable; external women were more likely to be excitable and insecure. A 6-variable stepwise regression model using will power, ego strength, sociability, trust, creativity, and shrewdness as variables gave a mutiple R of .442 and accounted for 20% of the variance.
A Thermistor Thermometer for Physiological Preparations

In the course of research work on the heart of the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana (L.), it was necessary to record the temperature actually experienced by the heart tissue itself. The preparation involved the isolated dorsal-side-down abdominal heart. The dorsum of the cockroach was pinned to a small bit of wax in the bottom of a glass trough. Continuously perfused saline covered the heart tissues.
An experimental evaluation of a torch ignition system for propulsion research

The details of a swirl torch ignition system and the evaluation process to determine its capabilities in terms of ignitability limits and combustion range are presented. The torch ignition system was designed as the ignition source for a series of experiments with the purpose of characterizing the properties of methane as they are involved in its performance as a rocket fuel. This is done with putting it on par research-wise with other more widely used fuels, such as hydrogen or monomethylhydrazine[1]. The experimental approach of the project entails the use of GOX/LOX/GCH4/LCH4 due to the proposed benefit of feeding the torch ignition system from the boil-off generated in the main storage tanks, therefore expanding the operational inlet condition range without compromising the system’s functionality. The torch ignition system is designed to be integrated into, and serving as the ignition source for, a Multi Purpose Optically Accessible Combustor (MOAC). The objective of this system’s development and testing is to obtain the operability limits during ignition and establish the conditions leading to a stable and reliable ignition. This document discusses the iterative design process of the torch ignition system and its parts, the experimental approach to its characterization, and the test results that have been so far analyzed and documented in the form of flammability maps.
Radiation Testing of Er and Yb Doped Optical Fibers

Gamma induced transmission losses for ErYb and Yb fibers are evaluated with and without the presence of pump light. Significant photo-induced annealing is observed, which renders them viable for space applications.
Modified Fourier Spectral Method for Non-periodic CFD

Standard Fourier spectral method can be used to solve a lot of problems with periodic boundary conditions. However, for non-periodic boundary condition problems, standard Fourier spectral method is not efficient or even useless. This work has used the modified Fourier spectral method for non-periodic boundary condition problems. The modified spectral method has two parts, first, the original function is normalized and then a smooth buffer polynomial is developed to extend the normalized function domain. The new function will be smooth and periodic with both function values and derivatives, which is easy to be treated by standard FFT for high resolution. This method has obtained high order accuracy and high resolution with a penalty of 25% over standard Fourier spectral method, as shown by our examples. The scheme demonstrates to be robust. The current examples include a 2D Poisson solver and solution for 2-D incompressible driven cavity flow. The method will be further used for simulation of transitional and turbulent flow.
Vestibular Electrical Evoked Potential (VEEP) Findings in Normal Controls and in Patients with Vestibular Dysfunction (P02.251)

Objective: To report results of human VEEP studies in normal controls compared to patients with peripheral or central vestibular dysfunction. Background The VEEP has been described in animal models (cat and guinea pig) and more recently in humans. In contrast to other evoked potentials, a unique linear relationship between current strength and latency has been reported with VEEP responses in normal individuals. Design/Methods: Normal control subjects (n=5) and patients with vestibular dysfunction (n=3) were studied with electrical stimulation over the mastoid in one mA increments from threshold to no higher than 20 mA. Evoked potentials were recorded with standard signal averaging techniques. Results: In normal controls, mastoid stimulation at 2.5mA yielded Cz-A1/2 VEEP responses of median latency 10.2ms (range 6.0-13.3; SD 4.9). These responses progressively increased in latency from 8.6 to 22.6ms (mean latency increase of 1.3ms/mA) as current strength was increased in 10 steps (1mA/step) from threshold. VEEP responses differed significantly in stimulation threshold, morphology, amplitude and latency from mastoid dermatomal somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs), great auricular sensory nerve action potentials (SNAPs), and frontalis compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs). Neither acoustic stimuli nor white noise masking affected the VEEP. In 3 patients with vestibular dysfunction (one each with acoustic neuroma, Meniere disease and multiple sclerosis as the cause) VEEP late response latencies were absent or markedly asymmetric, with recordable responses showing a median latency of 12.2ms (range 11.2-12.7; SD 0.4); none demonstrated the linear increasing current strength-latency pattern seen in normals. Conclusions: 1) VEEP studies produced reproducible responses in normal controls; 2) VEEP responses cannot be attributed to auditory or somatic sensory nerve responses; 3) VEEP current strength-latency curves showed a linear increase in normals in contrast to absent, flat, and/or decreasing patterns in patients with vestibular dysfunction. Supported by: Mayo Foundation. Disclosure: Dr. Smith has nothing to disclose. Dr. Cevette has nothing to disclose. Dr. Stepanek has nothing to disclose. Dr. Cocco has nothing to disclose. Dr. Pradhan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Brookler has nothing to disclose. Dr. Zapala has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ross has nothing to disclose.
Effect of Sodium Salicylate on Antibodies Produced in Guinea Pigs.

SummaryAntibody titers produced in guinea pigs receiving Rh+ type O human red blood cells intraperitoneally were compared each week after immunization with those produced in similarly treated guinea pigs which also received varying doses of sodium salicylate for one day before drawing blood for the measurement of antibody titers and salicylate plasma levels. Rh+ type O human red blood cells were antigenic in the guinea pig. The Rh+ antigen added little to the antigenicity of the type O cells. The average Rh+ or Rh− antibody titers rose to 1:778 or 1:819 on the 4th day after immunization, fell to 1:313 or 1:136 on the 12th day and by the 20th day had fallen to 1:50, the baseline level. A more lasting circulating antibody titer was produced after a booster dose of Rh+ type O cells. It is concluded that the natural antihuman hemoagglutinins cannot be depressed by sodium salicylate. The data indicated that the depressant action of sodium salicylate on the Rh+ type O human antigen-antibody reaction in guinea p...
An Analysis on the Relation between Schools' Organizational Fairness and Teachers' Organizational Citizenship Behaviors

Objective: To analyze the relation between school's organizational fairness and teachers' organizational citizenship behaviors.Methods: Making use of the survey to investigate 856 teachers chosen from 21 schools in Chongqing in a random way,the author observed the relations between schools' organizational fairness and teachers' organizational citizenship behaviors.Results: The schools' organizational fairness was positively correlated to teachers' organizational citizenship behaviors.After regression analysis,it further showed significantly positive relation between process fairness and teachers' organizational citizenship behaviors.Conclusion: The higher the feeling of the schools' organizational fairness is,the higher the level of teachers' organizational citizenship behaviors is,and the process fairness is a factor to predict positive teachers' organizational citizenship behavior.
Investigation on bacterial contamination of materials in ward and the countermeasures

Objective:To investigate the bacterial contamination situation of medicine cup,thermos bottle and thermos plug for patients in endemic area,and explore practical sterilization ways and ways to achieve the control and prevention of nosocomial infection.Methods:Patients were using the 200 medicine cups,150 thermos bottles and thermos plugs in use were tested for bacterila contamination,then the medicine cups and thermos plugs were sterilized for 30 min in UV disin-fection cabinet,thermos bottle washed 1 s with boiling water.After the sterilization,bacterial detection was made.The number of bacterial clonies detected before and after sterilization was statistically analyzed.Results:Medicine cups,ther-mos bottles and thermos plugs were seriously contaminated,which in majority would lead to nosocomial infection;the re-sults were significantly difference(P0.01).Conclusion:Medicine cups,thermos bottles will increase the risks of nosoco-mial infection,in order to effectively control and prevent nosocomial infections,we suggest that,①use disposable medicine cups,if not,sterilize them in UV Disinfection cabinet after use.②place thermos plugs in UV Disinfection cabinet more than 30 min for sterilization,and pour boiling water to the plug before each use.③regularly detect and record the bacterial contamination of medicine cups and thermos plugs.④improve the patients′ and medical care personnels′ awareness of the contamination of materials used in ward,strengthen the prevention training for nosocomial infections,and effectively pre-vent the occurrence of nosocomial infection.
The Perception of the Government and Private Sectors on the Procurement System Delivery Method in Saudi Arabia

Abstract This paper is part of doctoral research to improve the current Saudi Arabian (SA) procurement system. SA has the largest construction market in the Middle East. However, the use of the traditional procurement system in SA has been identified as one of the causes for poor performance in the delivery of construction. The system has been identified as a major risk to the SA government, due to consistent increased costs and delays of up to 70% on projects. A survey was conducted with 1396 participants including engineers, buyers, contractors, consultants, academics, and architects. The purpose of the survey was to identify the validity of the recent claims that the procurement system in SA is broken. The participants work in both the private and government sectors. The survey results showed that the procurement system is a major risk to projects, affects construction projects negatively, and is in need of improvement.
Characterization of spatio-temporal epidural event-related potentials for mouse models of psychiatric disorders

Distinctive features in sensory event-related potentials (ERPs) are endophenotypic biomarkers of psychiatric disorders, widely studied using electroencephalographic (EEG) methods in humans and model animals. Despite the popularity and unique significance of the mouse as a model species in basic research, existing EEG methods applicable to mice are far less powerful than those available for humans and large animals. We developed a new method for multi-channel epidural ERP characterization in behaving mice with high precision, reliability and convenience and report an application to time-domain ERP feature characterization of the Sp4 hypomorphic mouse model for schizophrenia. Compared to previous methods, our spatio-temporal ERP measurement robustly improved the resolving power of key signatures characteristic of the disease model. The high performance and low cost of this technique makes it suitable for high-throughput behavioral and pharmacological studies.
Paralysis of the Larynx and Pharynx

Widespread neurologic dysfunction of the pharynx and larynx is catastrophic. A system of surgical management has evolved based upon an understanding of functional priorities, leading to an organized plan of treatment and rehabilitation.
Familial Incidence of Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Age-adjusted familial rates for MS were determined in children and siblings of patients studied at the MS Clinic and Dept of Genetics, Health Sciences Centre Hospital, Univ British Columbia, Vancouver BC, Canada.
A New Generation of Electron Cyclotron Emission Imaging System for Plasma Diagnostics

Electron cyclotron emission imaging (ECEI) is a novel millimeter wave plasma diagnostic technique, which has been extremely successful in the imaging and visualization of electron temperature profiles and fluctuations in magnetic fusion plasma devices. The unique feature of the ECEI diagnostic derives from the use of wideband, low cost planar Schottky diode mixer arrays coupled with innovative, low cost electronics. A new generation of ECE imaging diagnostics is now being developed to extend the current 128-channel system to systems with 256-1054 channels.
Not for Novices: WIPEOUT Your Files

Have you ever gone through your diskettes or hard disk subdirectories to weed out obsolete or unwanted files? It is easy enough to use the “?” and “*” wildcard characters to delete files with common elements in their names or extensions, using commands like “ERASE *.BAK” or “ERASE RESULT?.DAT” but, if you want to delete a group of files without common elements to their names, you have to issue a separate ERASE command for each one. Until now!
Determination of the concentration of depressor additive in diesel fuel produced from Talakan oil

The problems of utilizing diesel fuel produced from oil from Talakan oil field (Sakha Republic, Yakutia) have been considered. The analysis of applying depressor additives has been conducted with the objective of improving low-temperature properties of the produced fuel.
Epistemic and Ethical Constraints in Personal and Social Constructions: A Response to Raskin and Debany

In response to Raskin and Debany's lead article (this issue), I offer support for their general conclusion that ethical implications are inescapable in relation to any version of constructionism, and concur that the frequent characterization of constructivism as ultimately reducing to a position of “anything goes” is not sustainable. I depart from Raskin and Debany on the question of whether an integrative framework for constructivist positions is possible, especially in relation to questions concerning the ethical dimension. I suggest that the reasons for considering the anything goes charge inappropriate are different for different versions of constructivism, and illustrate with analysis of the ethical dimensions of personal construct theory and social constructionism.
Development of multiple cloning site cis-vectors for recombinant adeno-associated virus production.

Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) has become a very popular gene therapy vector in the past several years. A cis-plasmid is used to generate the rAAV stocks. In this plasmid, the entire exp...
Enhancing the Interface for Ontology-Supported Homonym Search

Keyword-based search engines face a complication when a search term is a homonym, that is, a word with multiple meanings. In a pervious study, we have built an Ontology-Supported Web Search system to categorize the homonymous terms and display their suggested completions separately. The suggestions of the homonyms are extracted from an ontology developed in this research. In this paper, we present new ways of displaying homonymous search results. To help the user better understand and differentiate the homonymous terms, we display snippets of search results belonging to the suggested completions separately as follows. For every homonymous sense, the snippets are in a separate pane, and panes are tiled horizontally, i.e., are next to each other. In addition, we present an improvement of Google’s instant feature, in that snippets are refreshed as soon as a user hovers with the mouse on a suggested completion for more than a certain period, e.g. two seconds.
Aberrant oxygen metabolism in neoplastic cells injured by cytotoxic macrophages.

The focus of this workshop is to explore the mechanisms by which leukocytes injure other cells. Macrophages are particularly unique cells to study for two reason. First, cytotoxicity may not always be manifested as a lytic event. The early work of Evans and Alexander clearly demonstrated the profound and long-term antimitotic effect macrophages exert on neoplastic targets (1). When death does occur it may be many hours following the arrest of cell division. In no other effector-target cell interaction is the complete cessation of reproduction so dissociable from cell death and such a paramount feature of cell injury. Secondly, the efficiency and spectrum of macrophage-mediated cytostasis is remarkable. Under appropriate in vitro conditions virtually all added cells of a given target cell line are prevented from dividing. Furthermore, of the numerous neoplastic cell types which have been studied, none are capable of dividing in the presence of macrophages which have differentiated to the cytotoxic state (2). Our contribution to this conference deals with macrophage cytostasis. We have studied metabolic changes which occur in neoplastic cells upon contact with mouse peritoneal cytotoxic macrophages (CM) invitro. These studies followed an observation that macrophage-injured neoplastic cells developed an unusual carbohydrate dependence. It is possible that understanding changes which occur in target cells upon CM-induced injury may provide insight into defining the biochemical mechanisi (s) by which CM exert their universal antimitotic action.
Neuropsychiatric Syndromes in the Elderly: Pharmacologic Management

The burgeoning number of elderly individuals in the population is inevitably accompanied by an increase in the number of patients with organic psychosyndromes. Degenerative disorders and vascular disease increase markedly in the aged. Similarly, trauma, some types of neoplasms, and toxic-metabolic conditions are more common in the elderly than in younger individuals. Most of these disorders are accompanied by behavioural alterations and psychopharmacologic treatment will be a major component of most therapeutic regimens. In this chapter, the prevalence of organic psychosyndromes in the elderly will be reviewed, the principal geriatric neuropsychiatric disorders will be presented, and the current approach to psychopharmacologic management of organic psychosyndromes occurring in the aged will be discussed.
Anaphylactoid Reactions After Instillation of Contrast Material Into the Urinary Tract: A Survey of Contemporary Practice Patterns and Review of the Literature

Abstract Objective To assess drug reactions (ADRs) encountered by practicing urologists for contrast instilled into the urinary collecting system, and to describe current practice patterns regarding contrast administration into the urinary tract for patients with known contrast allergies. Methods Endourological Society members were e-mailed a web-based survey about their prior experience with contrast-related ADRs and practices for contrast administration into the urinary tract among patients with known intravenous contrast allergies. Chi-squared analysis was used to compare management patterns between patients with established allergies and those without. Results An estimated 2300-2500 e-mails were reached, resulting in an estimated response rate of 6.3%-8%. Over 75% of respondents were fellowship trained. Average time in practice was 16 years, and respondents performed a mean of 6.7 urologic contrast studies per week. Among respondents, 32.6%, 14.7%, and 4.0% had treated at least 1 patient with a mild, moderate, or severe reaction, respectively. Contrast-related ADRs were most commonly associated with retrograde pyelogram (50%). For patients with known contrast allergies, 5.4% pursue additional work-up before administering contrast in the urinary tract. Pretreatment with antihistamine or steroids is used by 24.8% and 23.4%, respectively. When performing retrograde pyelograms for such patients, urologists are more likely to use dilute contrast (P = .003), but otherwise do not significantly alter technique. Conclusion Contrast ADRs are encountered not infrequently among practicing urologists. There is notable practice variation in the management of patients with known contrast allergies, though the overall perceived risk of contrast use in these patients is low, provided good technique is used.
Identification of cooperating oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in p53+/- mouse osteosarcomas

2154 We are investigating the cooperating functional mutations in p53-related osteosarcomagenesis, in an effort to discover new oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes. p53 is important in maintenance of genomic stability. Loss of p53 function is important, but not sufficient for tumorigenesis, as additional cooperating mutations are required. Our lab has generated p53 knockout mice and we found that osteosarcomas are the most frequent tumor type in the heterozygous knockout mice (p53+/-). In this study, 41 osteosarcomas from p53+/- mice have been analyzed by BAC Array Comparative Genomic Hybridization and six regions of frequent chromosomal copy number gain or loss were found. One of the frequent copy number gains was on chromosome 9, on which reside ten Matrix Metalloproteinase (MMP) genes and the Baculoviral IAP Repeat-Containing 2 and 3 (Birc2 and Birc3) genes. This region has also been shown to be amplified in human pancreatic and oral squamous cell carcinomas. The MMPs are a family of endopeptidases involved in matrix remodeling, and have been implicated in both early and late stages of tumorigenesis. Of the MMP genes in this region, MMP13 was of particular interest because it is specifically expressed in osteoblasts. Real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry both revealed that MMP13 is highly overexpressed in all mouse p53+/- osteosarcomas (but not in p53+/- rhabdomyosarcomas or normal osteoblasts). Moreover, gene expression microarray profiling of 147 human osteosarcomas showed consistent high expression levels of MMP13. This expression pattern is unique to MMP13, as other MMPs in this amplicon do not have the same overexpression pattern. Stable osteosarcoma cell lines expressing MMP13 shRNA were constructed by lentivirus transduction. By allograft study, we found that the tumors formed by MMP13-knockdown osteosarcoma cells had significantly reduced growth rate compared to the tumors formed by control lines. This suggested that MMP13 contributes to the development or progression of osteosarcomas. Birc2 and Birc3 are anti-apoptotic proteins and have been indicated as oncogenes in a liver cancer model. Their expression was also examined, and found to be universally overexpressed in both human and mouse osteosarcomas. Future studies will attempt to understand the mechanistic and synergistic roles of MMP13, Birc2 and Birc3 in p53-related osteosarcomagenesis, and their potential as targets for osteosarcoma diagnosis and treatment.
Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells

Most solar cells are fabricated from crystalline or semicrystalline silicon since they are relatively inexpensive starting materials and the resulting solar cells are very efficient. As a result, the optical properties of silicon are extremely important in many aspects of solar cell manufacture, and have been determined by many groups using several techniques. The most reliable values of the optical functions of silicon have been determined using spectroscopic ellipsometry, augmented by optical transmission measurements of the absorption coefficient for wavelengths greater than 700 nm. Obviously, these optical functions depend on the wavelength of light, but they also depend significantly on temperature and morphology. Several thin films are very important to solar cell manufacture, including silicon nitride, silicon dioxide, and aluminum oxide. While the optical properties of these thin films are strong functions of deposition conditions, spectroscopic ellipsometry is ideal for characterizing them. This work will present recent spectroscopic ellipsometry data and optical transmission data from which the optical functions of silicon are obtained. The optical transmission data have been fit from 700 to 1200 nm to a modification of Macfarlane’s et al. formula [Phys. Rev. 111, (1958) 759], resulting in a reduced χ2 of 0.84. This formulation is particularly valuable in that it gives the optical absorption coefficient from 700 to 1200 nm as a function of both wavelength and temperature.
Random Subspace Projection for Predicting Biogeographical Ancestry

Human biogeographical ancestry estimation using genomic information is an important problem with applications in population stratification, admixture mapping, forensic ancestry inference, and in healthcare. Various studies have proposed panels of ancestry informative single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for distinguishing between widely separated continental populations. There has been limited investigation on identifying SNP panels for sub-continental ancestry prediction, especially given the difficult challenge of identifying SNP markers to distinguish closely associated sub-populations, for instance, within a continent. In this study, we propose an ancestry informative SNP selection algorithm exploiting the concept of random subspace projection using supervised learning. The proposed approach identifies small panels of useful SNPs for subcontinental level ancestry classification. We show results for sub-continental level classification for all five continents in our dataset.
Neoliberalism, Race, and the American Welfare State: A Discussion of Joe Soss, Richard C. Fording, and Sanford F. Schram's Disciplining the Poor: Neoliberal Paternalism and the Persistent Power of Race

Disciplining the Poor: Neoliberal Paternalism and the Persistent Power of Race. By Joe Soss, Richard C. Fording, and Sanford F. Schram. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2011. 368p. $75.00 cloth, $25.00 paper. It is more than 15 years since the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act was passed in 1996, famously described by then-President Bill Clinton as “the end of welfare as we know it.” In Disciplining the Poor , Joe Soss, Richard Fording, and Sanford Schram analyze recent changes in US welfare policy as reflections of broader transformations of the “governance” of poverty, arguing that these transformations represent a new form of “neoliberal paternalism” in which race continues to be an important element. In this symposium, a diverse group of political scientists working on welfare issues have been asked to critically assess the book's account and to comment more broadly on the importance of the “governance of poverty” to the future of American politics.—Jeffrey C. Isaac, Editor
Endoscopic Visualization of the True Maxillary Ostium Following Uncinectomy.

Objectives:To examine the frequency in which angled endoscopes are necessary to visualize the true maxillary ostium (TMO) following uncinectomy and prior to maxillary antrostomy. Additionally, to i...
Contrast-enhanced serial optical coherence scanner with deep learning network reveals vasculature and white matter organization of mouse brain

Optical coherence tomography provides volumetric reconstruction of brain structure with micrometer resolution. Gray matter and white matter can be highlighted using conventional and polarization-based contrasts; however, vasculature in ex-vivo fixed brain has not been investigated at large scale due to lack of intrinsic contrast. We present contrast enhancement to visualize the vasculature by perfusing titanium dioxide particles transcardially into the mouse vascular system. The brain, after dissection and fixation, is imaged by a serial optical coherence scanner. Accumulation of particles in blood vessels generates distinguishable optical signals. Among these, the cross-polarization images reveal the vasculature organization remarkably well. The conventional and polarization-based contrasts are still available for probing the gray matter and white matter structures. The segmentation and reconstruction of the vasculature are presented by using a deep learning algorithm. Axonal fiber pathways in the mouse brain are delineated by utilizing the retardance and optic axis orientation contrasts. This is a low-cost method that can be further developed to study neurovascular diseases and brain injury in animal models.
State of Undergraduate Business Education: A Perfect Storm or Climate Change?

Many students show little improvement in critical thinking, complex reasoning, and written communication while in undergraduate school, but the data are especially unfavorable for business majors. ...
Patient-Reported Allergies, a Marker of Preoperative Pain and Disability in Elective Spine Surgery:

Study Design:Retrospective review.Objective:Previous literature demonstrates mixed results regarding the relationship between patient-reported allergies and pain, function, and satisfaction scores....
Parallel tunnel channels of the Huron-Erie Lobe of the Laurentide Ice Sheet: A variation of tunnel channels with implications on lobe history and subglacial meltwater dynamics

Abstract Newly available high resolution elevation data across North America and Europe have revealed previously unknown glacial landforms. This study focuses on the morphology and stratigraphy of a variation of tunnel channels with unique morphology that we have named parallel tunnel channels (PTCs). They are found in northeastern Indiana, northwestern Ohio, and southeastern Michigan, which were previously glaciated by the Huron-Erie Lobe (HEL) of the Laurentide Ice Sheet (LIS). PTCs are discontinuous, quasi-parallel pairs of depressions separated by a continuous central ridge that can extend upwards of 50 km, cross-cut multiple recessional moraines, and transition into standard tunnel channels. The PTCs range in width from 200 to 900 m, and the depressions range in width from 100 to 200 m and in depth from 3 to 10 m. Using water well logs and multiple electrical resistivity surveys, we determined that the stratigraphy beneath and surrounding the PTCs consists of a lower layer of sand and gravel (confined aquifer) and an upper layer of New Holland till, both of the Lagro Formation. A vibracore and multiple resistivity surveys reveal that depressions are filled with ~4 m of lacustrine sediment and occasionally are floored with gravel channel deposits. The depressions are erosional in origin, rather than a product of ice block melt-out and are cut into the upper surface of the New Holland till. We interpret the PTCs as subglacial, erosional landforms, similar to tunnel channels, which represent distinct pathways transporting subglacial meltwater from the interior to the ice margin. Identification of these landforms has several important implications for understanding the deglaciation of the HEL: 1) the major recessional moraines may not record the final deglaciation of the HEL (i.e., are palimpsest features); 2) a large portion of the HEL must have stagnated to preserve the subglacial landscape including the PTCs; and 3) the combined network of PTCs, tunnel channels, and proglacial spillways may represent a partially complete subglacial drainage network with distinct morphological changes as meltwater was transported from the interior to the margin of the HEL. An initial formational model is proposed for the formation of the PTCs by way of a supra- and/or subglacial lake draining through an ice-walled subglacial tunnel, but additional work is required to understand the distinct pattern of depressions observed.
Erosion Control and Soil Quality

Soil is a living, complex, and three-dimensional body, which undergoes continuous and dynamic changes. Rapid changes in energy fluxes and organic matter decomposition reflect the dynamic nature of the soil. The need for a greater understanding of implications of different land use and management scenarios on soil function resulted in the emergence of a conceptual paradigm in late 1970’s known as soil quality (Warkentin and Fletcher, 1977). This concept has received greater attention since 1990’s (Karlen et al., 1990; Larson and Pierce, 1991). It stemmed from an innovative perspective that attempts to define how a soil functions and what measures or management practices maintain and improve a soil for a specific use. Soil quality concept has attained importance for merging traditional concepts of soil taxonomy with management and conservation to address growing concerns about the depletion of natural resources, non-point source pollution, and the projected global climate change. Present and future needs of food production and environmental protection depend on how the soil responds to external and internal stresses. Soil attributes in interaction with science-based agricultural inputs determine soil productivity. Introduction of soil quality concept represents an innovative paradigm in soil science research.
The relationship between progesterone, uterine volume, intrauterine pressure, and clinical progress in hypertonic saline—induced abortions

Abstract During hypertonic saline—induced abortions, intrauterine pressure (IUP) and plasma progesterone (P) have been measured and the uterine volume (V) estimated in 13 patients. During the initial third of the instillation-abortion time, the decrease in P was proportionately greater than the increase in IUP, indicating that P withdrawal precedes the evolution of IUP and clinical progress. In 2 additional patients, with low P levels, the evolution of IUP and abortion have been induced by a mere increase in V, using isotonic (rather than hypertonic) saline. In these 2 patients P withdrawal only manifested when the evolution of IUP approached completion. Since the changes in P did not account fully for the changes in IUP, the ratio V/P was calculated at various phases of hypertonic saline—induced abortion. It then became apparent that whenever V increases or P decreases markedly, without compensatory changes in P or V, the IUP evolves and pregnancy terminates. It is concluded that current concepts in myometrial regulation may be advanced by quantitating V and P in individual patients whose IUP is measured.
On the Behavior of Almost Ill-Posed Linear Discrete-Time Systems

The purpose of this note is to explore the limits on the behavior of a regulation scheme when the underlying model is not well controllable or observable. We examine what happens when the open loop system is close to uncontrollable or unobservable, either in the sense that some of the second order modes are small, or in the sense that some small perturbation to the coefficients in state-space realization will yield an uncontrollable or unobservable system. We show that in this situation, the system behaves very close to an uncontrollable and/or unobservable system, thus making the system undesirable, and we give analytic bounds on how close this behavior is.
Predictive Behavioral Cues of Patient Violence in the Emergency Department

Nurses are often subject to violence at the hands of their patients. The Emergency Department (ED) has become the area most vulnerable in the hospital setting, with contributing factors including the rise of polysubstance drug abuse, the increasing psychiatric population, and overall stressors related to the economy. The ED is the “gateway” to the availability of shelter, medications, and resources for many people that pass through every year. Accurate and timely identification of the most common and easily identifiable precursors of violence is essential in order to develop and implement effective de-escalation techniques that have the potential to reduce actual events. The purpose of this research project was to demonstrate the usefulness of a behavioral cue assessment tool in providing a simple predictor for potential violence in the ED setting. The methodology included a behavioral assessment checklist containing 17 cues developed by Wilkes, Mohan, Luck and Jackson (2010). Nurses completed the 17 item behavioral assessment on all patients being treated in the ED during a three-week time period. All 17 behavioral cues demonstrated a positive predictive factor for violence based on statistical analysis. Given the simplicity, cost effective nature, and predictability, the checklist appears to be feasible to use to potentially reduce healthcare costs related to injuries and emotional distress of nurses at the hands of violent patients. Further research is indicated. This study further exemplifies the qualities of an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), including research, education, cost containment, and improved patient care.
A low power 10 bit 80 MSPS pipelined ADC in digital CMOS process

This paper describes a 10 bit 80 MSPS low power ADC designed in a 0.18 /spl mu/m digital CMOS process for an 802.11a baseband PHY chip. The receive channel in the AFE consists of dual ADCs used to digitize the I & Q channels in a direct conversion receiver. Novel features in this design include a 6-bit offset cancellation DAC integrated in the S/H and a amplifier sharing topology that help in reducing overall power and area. Low power is achieved through the use of the digital supply (1.8 V) provided to the chip which allows the fastest digital core transistors to be used in the design without reliability issues and also makes the design suitable for integration with the digital baseband section. Each ADC consumes less than 60 mW of analog power including the reference and about 20 mW of switching power. The device is designed for -62 dB THD performance and 58 dB SNR for an 11 MHz signal band making it among the lowest power ADCs in its class described in literature.
Fluid Cognitive Abilities and General Intelligence

This chapter contrasts the developmental and psychometric approaches to intelligence and examines the distinction between fluid and crystallized intelligence. Behavioral studies indicate that developmental trajectories for fluid and crystallized aspects of intelligence are distinct and provide no evidence of a single underlying factor that can explain change over time in various domains of intelligence. As well, neuroimaging studies indicate that brain areas associated with fluid and crystallized abilities are distinct and provide no evidence of a single unitary neural substrate for general intelligence. Both the developmental and neuroimaging literatures point to the role of experience in shaping the behavioral and biological expression of intelligence in both its fluid and crystallized forms. Keywords: cognition; fluid abilities; crystallized abilities; intelligence; neuroscience
Response to Comment on “Neutrophil Apoptosis: Selective Regulation by Different Ligands of Integrin αMβ2”

We thank Drs. Pillay, Ulfman, and Koenderman for their comments and are pleased that they appear to accept our major conclusion that certain soluble ligands of αMβ2, including fibrinogen, delay neutrophil apoptosis by engaging both subunits of the integrin. The role of soluble fibrinogen in
Wavelet Image and Video Compression

1. Introduction P.N. Topiwala. I: Preliminaries. 2. Preliminaries P.N. Topiwala. 3.Time-Frequency Analysis, Wavelets and Filter Banks P.N. Topiwala. 4. Introduction to Compression P.N. Topiwala. 5. Symmetric Extension Transforms C.M. Brislawn. II: Still Image Coding. 6. Wavelet Still Image Coding: A Baseline MSE and HVS Approach P.N. Topiwala. 7. Image Coding Using Multiplier-Free Filter Banks A. Docef, et al. 8. Embedded Image Coding Using Zerotrees of Wavelet Coefficients J.M. Shapiro. 9. A New Fast/Efficient Image Codec Based on Set Partitioning in Hierarchical Trees A. Said, W.A. Pearlman. 10. Space-Frequency Quantization for Wavelet Image Coding Zixiang Xiong, et al. 11. Suband Coding of Images Using Classification and Trellis Coded Quantization R. Joshi, T.R. Fisher. 12. Low-Complexity Compression of Run Length Coded Image Subbands J.D. Villasenor, Jiangtao Wen. III: Special Topics in Still Image Coding. 13. Fractal Image Coding as Cross-Scale Wavelet Coefficient Prediction G. Davis. 14. Region of Interest Compression in Subband Coding P.N. Topiwala. 15. Wavelet-Based Embedded Multispectral Image Compression P.N. Topiwala. 16. The FBI Fingerprint Image Compression Specification C.M. Brislawn. 17. Embedded Image Coding Using Wavelet Difference Reduction Jun Tian, R.O. Wells, Jr. 18. Block Transforms in Progressive Image Coding Trac D. Tran, Truong Q. Nguyen. IV: Video Coding. 19. Brief on Video Coding Standards P.N. Topiwala. 20. Interpolative Multiresolution Coding of Advanced TV with Subchannels K.M. Uz, et al. 21. Subband Video Coding for Low to High Rate Applications W.C. Chung, et al. 22. Very Low Bit Rate Video Coding Based on Matching Pursuits R. Neff, A. Zakhor. 23. Object-Based Subband/Wavelet Video Compression Soo-Chul Han, J.W. Woods. 24. Embedded Video Subband Coding with 3D SPIHT W.A. Pearlman, et al. A: Wavelet Image and Video Compression -- The Homepage P.N. Topiwala. B: The Authors. C: Index.
The month of conception of 935 congenitall malformed individuals

F OR the City of Chicago, Petersen has found a greater frequency of conceptions of congenitally malformed individuals during the months of March and April (120 per cent of expectancy), than in July, August, and September.l Throughout the spring months, he also notes a greater variability in barometric pressures than during the summer season. Believing that human protoplasm is more unstable in spring than in summer, he suggests that there may be a cause and effect relationship between the spring variations in barometric pressures and the unusually high conception rate of malformed children observed by him at that time. Recently, the month of conception of 935 congenitally malformed children born in the City of Philadelphia was determined. This information is of interest in the light of Petersen’s conclusions.
CDC53P ACTS IN CONCERT WITH CDC4P AND CDC34P TO CONTROL THE G1-TO-S-PHASE TRANSITION AND IDENTIFIES A CONSERVED FAMILY OF PROTEINS

Regulation of cell cycle progression occurs in part through the targeted degradation of both activating and inhibitory subunits of the cyclin-dependent kinases. During G1, CDC4, encoding a WD-40 repeat protein, and CDC34, encoding a ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, are involved in the destruction of these regulators. Here we describe evidence indicating that CDC53 also is involved in this process. Mutations in CDC53 cause a phenotype indistinguishable from those of cdc4 and cdc34 mutations, numerous genetic interactions are seen between these genes, and the encoded proteins are found physically associated in vivo. Cdc53p defines a large family of proteins found in yeasts, nematodes, and humans whose molecular functions are uncharacterized. These results suggest a role for this family of proteins in regulating cell cycle proliferation through protein degradation.