cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Labelling and Discrimination of a Synthetic Fricative Continuum in Noise: A Study of Absolute Duration and Relative Onset Time Cues

Categorical perception was evaluated for a nine-token voice onset time (VOT) continuum with endpoint tokens /feil/-/veil/. The synthetic speech continuum was presented in a random-level noise masker at different signal-to-noise ratios (SNR=0, +6, +12 dB) and overall presentation levels (50 and 70 dB HL). Overall labelling performance deteriorated as the SNR was reduced. Labelling results for the +12-dB-SNR condition reflected a category boundary at 87 ms for listeners with normal hearing sensitivity. The companion two-step discrimination function revealed better-than-chance performance between pairs of tokens labelled fail, chance performance between pairs of tokens labelled vail, and a slight performance peak at the labelling boundary between fail and vail. Listeners with high-frequency audiometric deficits produced labelling results for the +12-dB-SNR condition that were similar to normal functions measured for the 0-dB-SNR condition. These listeners were unable to discriminate two-step differences in v...
p38γ mitogen-activated protein kinase suppresses chondrocyte production of MMP-13 in response to catabolic stimulation

Summary Objective The signaling protein p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase is required for inflammatory signaling in chondrocytes that regulates matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) production. We sought to determine the role of specific p38 isoforms in chondrocyte catabolic signaling in response to IL-1β and fibronectin fragments (Fn-f). Methods Human articular chondrocytes isolated from normal ankle cartilage from tissue donors or from osteoarthritic knee cartilage obtained during knee replacement were stimulated with IL-1β or Fn-f, with or without pretreatment with p38 inhibitors (SB203580 or BIRB796) or growth factors (IGF-1 and OP-1). p38 isoform phosphorylation was measured by antibody array and immunoblotting. MMP-13 expression was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and immunoblotting. Chondrocytes were transfected with plasmids expressing constitutively active (CA) p38γ or with adenovirus expressing dominant negative (DN) p38γ. Results Stimulation of chondrocytes with either IL-1β or Fn-f led to enhanced phosphorylation of p38α and p38γ, with little phosphorylation of p38β or p38δ isoforms. p38α localized to the nucleus and p38γ to the cytosol. Inhibition of both p38α and p38γ with BIRB796 resulted in less inhibition of MMP-13 production in response to IL-1β or FN-f than did inhibition of only p38α with SB203580. Transfection with CA p38γ resulted in decreased MMP-13 production while transduction with DN p38γ resulted in increased MMP-13 production. IGF-1 and OP-1 pretreatment inhibited p38α phosphorylation but not p38γ phosphorylation. Conclusions p38γ is activated by catabolic stimulation of human articular chondrocytes, but interestingly suppresses MMP-13 production. Treatments that increase p38γ activation may be of therapeutic benefit in reducing chondrocyte production of MMP-13.
The mechanism of action of antilymphocytic serum: an electron microscopic study☆

Abstract Antilymphocytic serum (ALS) was prepared from rabbits immunized against Lewis rat lymph node and thymus gland cell suspensions. The antiserum was shown to be immunosuppressively active by the normal lymphocyte transfer reaction. Intraperitoneal injection of active antilymphocyte serum into male Lewis rats resulted in the following findings. First, peripheral blood lymphocyte counts were depressed up to 95%. Second, extensive phagocytosis of lymphocytes was observed from 2–4 hr after treatment. This phagocytosis was more prominent in the liver followed by lymph node and spleen. Third, the phagocytic process included engulfment of the lymphocytes, lysosomal association with the phagosomes, presumably release of enzymes into the phagosomes, and lymphocyte degradation. Fourth, erythrocytes were also phagocytized. The implications of these findings were discussed in relationship to the proposed mechanisms of action of the ALS.
Searching for a Self-Reflexive Theology: Ways Forward for Systematic Theology in Relation to (Non) Religious Thought in Contemporary Western Culture:

This article aims to draw attention, first, to the need to explore the inner plurality of theological discourse, as such plural discourses serve to promote a certain dynamism and fullness of the human person in theology as a field, especially in relation to religious studies today. Second, such a potential fullness is reflected in the modern struggle to characterize the relationship between faith and reason. Comprehending the misunderstandings, often construed as an impasse between faith and reason, could foster new relations between scientific methods and theological imaginations. Third, understanding these tensions from a systematic theological perspective also entails a more precise analysis of the structural dynamics between theology and the Church. Our contention is that there must be a permanent, dynamic tension between theology and the institutional structures that are the Church in order for self-critical impulses to be maintained as well as for the individual’s life of faith to come to its highes...
Understanding the Initial Stages of Reversible Mg Deposition and Stripping in Inorganic Nonaqueous Electrolytes

Multivalent (MV) battery architectures based on pairing a Mg metal anode with a high-voltage (∼3 V) intercalation cathode offer a realistic design pathway toward significantly surpassing the energy storage performance of traditional Li-ion-based batteries, but there are currently only few electrolyte systems that support reversible Mg deposition. Using both static first-principles calculations and ab initio molecular dynamics, we perform a comprehensive adsorption study of several salt and solvent species at the interface of Mg metal with an electrolyte of Mg2+ and Cl– dissolved in liquid tetrahydrofuran (THF). Our findings not only provide a picture of the stable species at the interface but also explain how this system can support reversible Mg deposition, and as such, we provide insights in how to design other electrolytes for Mg plating and stripping. The active depositing species are identified to be (MgCl)+ monomers coordinated by THF, which exhibit preferential adsorption on Mg compared to possible...
July 29, 1977, magnetospheric studies: Impulsive waves, global dynamics and geomagnetic indices

Problems of magnetospheric physics addressed by the Coordinated Data Analysis Workshop are grouped into general areas. Immediate magnetospheric response to changes in the solar wind is considered in studies of impulsive waves traced through the magnetosphere to the ground, and interpreted in terms of fast-mode wave propagation. Magnetopause geometry and microstructure after the arrival of the interplanetary shock were analyzed with data from near-geostationary satellites. A model of particle convection during the first quarter of the day gave important evidence that the convection electric field penetrated to small radial distances for extended intervals, and another model is presented which relates the local time of substorm onset to the sector of the tail that was stressed immediately after the onset of daytime reconnection. The evidence for different reconnection patterns is assessed, and a pattern not previously considered is introduced.
Gastric function in dogs with naturally acquired gastric Helicobacter spp. infection.

The association of Helicobacter pylori with gastritis, peptic ulcers, and gastric neoplasia has led to fundamental changes in the understanding of gastric disease in humans. The relationship of Helicobacter spp. infection to gastric disease in dogs is unclear. The objective of this study was to determine if Helicobacter infection affects the gastric secretory axis of dogs. Eight Beagle dogs with naturally acquired Helicobacter spp. infection were studied before and after (4 and 29 days) the attempted eradication of Helicobacter spp. with a combination of amoxicillin, metronidazole, and famotidine (AMF). Six specific-pathogen-free, Helico-bacter-free Beagle dogs served as controls. The electron microscopic appearance of spiral organisms in infected dogs indicated coinfection with Helicobacter felis- and H bizzozeronii-liks organisms. Unstimulated gastric pH and fasting, postprandial, and bombesin-stimulated plasma gastrin were similar in both infected and uninfected dogs, although a trend (P= .09) toward higher meal-stimulated gastrin was observed in infected dogs at 60 minutes. Pentagastrin-stimulated maximal acid output (mmol HC1/ kg0 75/hour) and titratable acidity (mmol HCl/mL) were similar in both infected and uninfected dogs, but gastric pH during maximal acid output was lower (P < .01) in uninfected dogs. Mild gastric inflammation was present in both infected and uninfected dogs. Gastric spiral organisms were undetectable in 6/8 infected dogs 4 days after AMF but had recurred in 8/8 dogs 29 days after AMF. Analysis of gastric DNA with Helicobacter-specific primers indicated persistence of Helicobacter DNA at 4 and 29 days after antibiotic therapy. Acid secretion, plasma gastrin, and mucosal inflammation were not affected by the transient suppression of Helicobacter spp. by AMF. These findings suggest that gastric secretory function in dogs is not markedly perturbed by naturally acquired Helicobacter spp. infection and that treatment with amoxicillin, metronidazole, and famotidine causes suppression rather than eradication of gastric Helicobacter spp. in dogs.
Boron diffusion into diamond under electric bias

Three natural type IIa diamond crystals were used for forced diffusion of boron. The diffusion was performed under bias otherwise with the same conditions. The boron diffusion coefficient in diamond was found to be 8.4 × 10 −15 and 4 × 10 −14 cm 2 /s at 1000 °C, depending on the direction of the electric field. The drift velocity of boron in diamond under 850 V at 1000 °C was found to be about 1.2 × 10 −8 cm/s.
"Mending Fences on the Immigrant Frontier": A Call for Better Integration of Demographic Information in Human Resource Management Practice and Theory:

The authors argue that human resource management practitioners and researchers do not adequately take national origin into account when devising policies and theories. It is further asserted that t...
Binary decision diagrams on network of workstations

The success of all binary decision diagram (BDD) based synthesis and verification algorithms depend on the ability to efficiently manipulate very large BDDs. We present algorithms for manipulation of very large Binary Decision Diagrams (BDDs) on a network of workstations (NOW). A NOW provides a collection of main memories and disks which can be used effectively to create and manipulate very large BDDs. To make efficient use of memory resources of a Now, while completing execution in a reasonable amount of wall clock time, extension of breadth-first technique is used to manipulate BDDs. BDDs are partitioned such that nodes for a set of consecutive variables are assigned to the same workstation. We present experimental results to demonstrate the capability of such an approach and point towards the potential impact for manipulating very large BDDs.
To Build a More `Perfect Discipline': * Ideologies of the Normative and the Social Control of the Criminal Innocent in the Policing of New York City

The post-September 11 reality is quickly becoming one of ubiquitous social control. Frame Critical Analysis is used to examine the continuity of crime and social control practice in urban centers i...
Gastric Bypass Surgery is Associated with Reduced Inflammation and Less Depression: a Preliminary Investigation

Prior studies have documented elevated symptoms of depression among patients undergoing gastric bypass surgery, in addition to significant elevations of inflammatory markers including C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). No prior study has examined the relationship of changes in depression with change in inflammation among patients undergoing gastric bypass surgery. This pilot study was designed to examine the relationship of inflammation and depression among gastric bypass patients in a 12-month longitudinal study. 13 Caucasian women (mean age 46.9 ± 5.7 years) who were scheduled to undergo a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) were recruited prior to surgery for measurement of body mass and blood markers of inflammation, as well as self-report measures of depression, quality of life, and disordered eating. 12 months later, subjects completed the same battery of physiological and psychological measures. Data were analyzed with paired t-tests and Pearson correlations. In addition to significant reductions in BMI (P < .001), participants experienced significant reductions in CRP (P < .001), IL-6 (P = .002), and depressive symptoms (P = .025). Reductions also were observed in binge eating (P = .005). Decreased depression during the 12-month follow-up was highly correlated with reduced CRP (r = .98, P < .001). Results from this pilot study indicate that RYGBP is associated with significant reductions in inflammatory markers of cardiovascular disease risk (e.g., CRP, IL-6) and depressive symptoms, in addition to reductions in weight. Results suggested that reductions in depression were associated with the observed decreases in inflammation.
Individual differences: A third component in problem‐solving instruction

Present research in problem solving appears to be primarily concerned with problem-solving methods and with degree of knowledge acquisition. A brief argument is advanced that this conceptualization is incomplete because of failure to consider individual differences among problem solvers (other than in problem-solving methods and extent of knowledge). A viable theory of problem-solving instruction must take into account all three areas. Evidence for the argument is presented in the form of data on problem-solving success in junior high school students with extreme scores on Witkin's field independence-field dependence measure of cognitive style. Problem-solving protocols are examined as a second source of data. Field independent students significantly out-performed field dependent students on the problems. Examination of protocols revealed consistent performance patterns favoring field independent students.
The NIRS Analysis Package: Noise Reduction and Statistical Inference

Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a non-invasive optical imaging technique that can be used to measure cortical hemodynamic responses to specific stimuli or tasks. While analyses of NIRS data are normally adapted from established fMRI techniques, there are nevertheless substantial differences between the two modalities. Here, we investigate the impact of NIRS-specific noise; e.g., systemic (physiological), motion-related artifacts, and serial autocorrelations, upon the validity of statistical inference within the framework of the general linear model. We present a comprehensive framework for noise reduction and statistical inference, which is custom-tailored to the noise characteristics of NIRS. These methods have been implemented in a public domain Matlab toolbox, the NIRS Analysis Package (NAP). Finally, we validate NAP using both simulated and actual data, showing marked improvement in the detection power and reliability of NIRS.
Cellular DNA damage by the antitumor protein macromomycin and its relationship to cell growth inhibition.

Abstract Macromomycin, an antitumor protein, after purification inhibited HeLa S 3 cell growth at low nanomolar concentrations. DNA synthesis was inhibited at drug levels that left RNA and protein synthesis unaffected. Incubation of macromomycin with HeLa S 3 cells resulted in a rapid fragmentation of cellular DNA that was detectable at low nanomolar drug levels. Heat denaturation of macromomycin showed that both its ability to inhibit cell growth and to fragment cellular DNA were lost at similar rates.
Application of Remote Wind-Forced Coastal Trapped Wave Theory to the Oregon and Washington Coasts

Abstract The theory of coastal trapped waves generated by remote wind forcing (Clarke) is used to calculate coastal subsurface pressure (SSP) and longshore velocity along the Oregon and Washington coasts for three two-month periods: summer of 1972, summer of 1978 and winter of 1977. The response in SSP and longshore velocity is assumed to be dominated by the mode one wave. In every case, coherence squared between observed and modeled SSP is significant at the 95% level over the entire low frequency band (≤0.2 cpd) with an average phase difference less than ±30°. Greater than 80% of the variance in coastal SSP is accounted for by the mode one coastal trapped wave (CTW). The SSP response off Washington and Oregon during summer is primarily (∼35% of the variance) a result of wind forcing between San Francisco and Cape Mendocino, California. Wind stress in this region during summer is significantly larger than that off Oregon and Washington at low frequencies so that the CTW generated off California propagate...
Altered methylation of ras oncogenes in benzidine-induced B6C3F1 mouse liver tumors

The B6C3F1 mouse is a hybrid strain which exhibits a high (30%) spontaneous hepatoma incidence and sensitivity to chemical induction of liver tumors. The spontaneous hepatoma incidence of the paternal C3H/He strain is approximately 60%, while that of the maternal C57BL/6 strain is very low. The presence of activated oncogenes, primarily Ha-ras, and to a lesser extent, Ki-ras, has been reported in B6C3F1 mouse liver tumors. Because alterations in a gene's capacity for expression, as well as mutation, may be involved in oncogene activation, this investigation was directed toward an examination of a putative control point for transcription, i.e., the methylation state of a gene. Hypomethylation is believed to be necessary, but not sufficient, for transcription. It was therefore hypothesized that alterations in the methylation state of the Ha-ras and Ki-ras oncogenes may facilitate the aberrant expression of these genes in B6C3F1 mouse liver. Restriction enzyme analysis (MspI, HpaII, and HhaI) was used to assess the extent of DNA methylation. MspI digestion of B6C3F1 and C3H/He DNA revealed the absence of a 15-kb Ha-ras band presen in MspI-digested C57BL/6 DNA, suggesting that the Ha-ras oncogene of B6C3F1 and C3H/He mouse liver lacks a methylated site. In other respects, the Ha-ras and Ki-ras oncogenes are methylated to a degree which suggests that these oncogenes have a low potential for expression in normal mouse liver. The methylation state of the Ha-ras and Ki-ras oncogenes was also assessed in benzidine-induced hepatomas and adjacent nontumor tissue from B6C3F1 mice. In four out of four cases, the Ha-ras oncogene was hypomethylated in tumor as compared to nontumor tissue and increased expression of the gene was detected in three out of four hepatomas; the Ki-ras oncogene was hypomethylated in two out of four cases. These results suggest that hypomethylation of oncogenes may provide an epigenetic mechanism for facilitating their aberrant expression. The lack of a methylated site observed in the Ha-ras oncogene in B6C3F1 and C3H/He mouse liver may indicate an increased potential for its expression which could, in part, account for the high propensity for hepatoma development in these two strains.
Local brainstem glucose utilization in the squirrel monkey

The 2-deoxy-D-[14C]-glucose method for the measurement of local cerebral glucose utilization (LCGU) in individual brain nuclei and regions has been applied to the squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus). The determinations were conducted in five conscious, lightly restrained adult, female, Colombian squirrel monkeys. Local glucose utilization in brainstem structures (LBGU) was highest in nuclei involved in auditory and vestibular functions and in some nuclei involved in general motor activity. The values for glucose utilization (mumoles/100 g/min) were generally lower than in comparable structures reported by other authors in the rat and slightly lower than those in the macaque monkey. In the Beagle dog the values for "medulla" are markedly lower than for most individual structures in the squirrel monkey medulla, about equal in the inferior colliculus and appreciably higher in the superior colliculus.
External economic drivers and US agricultural production systems

US agriculture operates in a market driven economy, although government policies can have influence on what farmers produce and how they produce it. As with other businesses, agricultural producers respond to economic incentives and disincentives, and make decisions to maximize their welfare; usually measured as net income. We examined how external economic drivers shape the type of agricultural systems that producers adopt. Specifically, we considered the influence of technological advancements, income supports embodied in farm legislation, and changes in market structure and consumer demand. Changes in technology have often favored large-scale and specialized operations. Many of the technological advancements have required large-scale production units to justify the investment. Often the technology has been commodity specific. However, there is some evidence that more diversified production units might be able to achieve economies of both scale and scope. The influence of commodity support programs has been ambiguous. As farm legislation has evolved to decouple production decisions from program benefits, the incentives to specialize in program crops (crops that receive price and/or income benefits under federal legislation, such as corn, other grains and oil seeds) have diminished. However, wealth and risk effects, albeit small, may have promoted or inhibited the adoption of a more integrated system. The ability of producers to adopt more integrated systems has been primarily influenced by their natural resource base and proximity to markets. Changes in market structure, channels and consumer demand in the past five decades have been dramatic with consolidation and specialization in both production and marketing sectors. However, the diversity of consumer demand has also created opportunities for more integrated farm operations. There is an increasing number of consumers who have become concerned about how and where their food has been produced. Markets for organic, locally produced, free range and the like are expected to grow. While price and income supports may have been biased towards specialization (as these programs were targeted to specific commodities), the reduction in risk associated with the programs has enabled producers to expand the number and diversity of their production enterprises. Furthermore, through the use of strategic alliances, cooperation among producers on a regional basis may eventually lead to greater integration and diversification than could be achieved for the individual farm operation.
Comparison of Army Aviation maintenance methods via discrete event simulation

Army Aviation utilizes two distinct types of overhaul maintenance schedules on its rotary wing aircraft, Phase Maintenance and Progressive Phase Maintenance. All but one aircraft, the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, use Phase Maintenance. This aircraft has both the highest operational readiness rate and average flight hours in the Army's rotary wing fleet. The Army values uniformity in maintenance procedures across its fleets; however this inconsistency has existed for two decades. This study models the value and tradeoffs of one method versus the other using discrete event simulation. Progressive Phase Maintenance offers more efficiency in terms of time available for missions and may be applicable other airframes. Using the airframe specific Aeronautical Equipment Maintenance Management Policies and Procedures Training Manual and a operational data set from a deployed aviation unit, this study compares the two overhaul maintenance schedules in terms of operational readiness. The effectiveness of each method is measured in the amount of time each airframe is for missions.
Stent Angioplasty for Cervical Carotid Artery Stenosis in High-Risk Symptomatic NASCET-Ineligible Patients

Background and Purpose—Although the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET) has shown carotid endarterectomy (CEA) to be protective compared with medical therapy alone, its stringent eligibility criteria excluded patients with severe medical, angiographic, and neurological risk factors. We sought to determine the safety and efficacy of stent angioplasty in this high-risk subset for whom the perioperative morbidity and mortality of surgery are elevated. Methods—Twenty-eight consecutive symptomatic NASCET-ineligible patients (10 female; median age, 72.2 years) underwent microcatheter-based carotid stent angioplasty. Half of the patients had sustained a previous stroke. Classification of surgical risk by Sundt criteria yielded no patients in grade 1, 3 patients in grade 2 (10.7%), 8 in grade 3 (28.6%), and 17 (60.7%) in grade 4. Stratification of stroke risk for medical therapy according to the European Carotid Surgery Trial (ECST) 5-point score showed 8 patients with a score of 3 (2...
MCMC methods for integer least-squares problems

We consider the problem of finding the least-squares solution to a system of linear equations where the unknown vector has integer entries (or, more precisely, has entries belonging to a subset of the integers), yet where the coefficient matrix and given vector are comprised of real numbers. Geometrically, this problem is equivalent to finding the closest lattice point to a given point and is known to be NP hard. In communication applications, however, the given vector is not arbitrary, but is a lattice point perturbed by some noise vector. Therefore it is of interest to study the computational complexity of various algorithms as a function of the noise variance or, often more appropriately, the SNR.
Albumin as a prognostic marker in myelodysplastic syndromes: still relevant after all these years

Although classified as a single entity [1], the myelodysplastic syndromes are a heterogeneous group of disorders with respect to clinical outcomes. Thus, prognostic models have been developed to se...
HIGH DOSE-RATE MICROSELECTRON MOLDS IN THE TREATMENT OF SKIN TUMORS

Abstract Purpose : The feasibility of high dose rate iridium afterloaded molds in the treatment of skin tumors. Methods and Materials : Expanded silicone rubber and bronchial applicator tubes were used in the construction of various molds. The number of tubes used and the separation between them depends on the size and area to be treated. Source dwell position and time are set to follow Paterson—Parker rules. Single plane expanded silicone rubber molds between 15 × 15 mm and 60 × 70 mm were used in 120 different sites, and of the others, seven were perspex double molds, two were cylindrical applicators, and one was a partially shielded intranasal applicator. One hundred and thirty lesions of various site and histology were treated in all. After exclusion of treatments that were combined with either external beam or chemotherapy, 106 lesions (76 patients) were evaluated. Results : Full response was obtained in all but four basal cell carcinomas. The acute reaction ranged from moist desquamation (27 sites) to erythema only. Follow-up at 5 or more months revealed no changes whatever in 47 sites; 53 showed an excellent cosmetic outcome, although slight changes in pigmentation or minimal atrophy was demonstrable and 6 sites became noticeably atrophic with patchy pigmentation. For 9.6 months of average follow-up time, no recurrences have been observed. Conclusion : The high-dose-rate iridium-loaded skin applicators offer the possibility of improved therapeutic ratio in the treatment of superficial skin tumors. With the availability of a high-dose-rate afterloader this technique is simple and straightforward.
Efficient Energy Computation for Monte Carlo Simulation of Proteins

Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) is a common methodology to compute pathways and thermodynamic properties of proteins. A simulation run is a series of random steps in conformation space, each perturbing some degrees of freedom of the molecule. A step is accepted with a probability that depends on the change in value of an energy function. Typical energy functions sum many terms. The most costly ones to compute are contributed by atom pairs closer than some cutoff distance. This paper introduces a new method that speeds up MCS by efficiently computing the energy at each step. The method exploits the facts that proteins are long kinematic chains and that few degrees of freedom are changed at each step. A novel data structure, called the ChainTree, captures both the kinematics and the shape of a protein at successive levels of detail. It is used to find all atom pairs contributing to the energy. It also makes it possible to identify partial energy sums left unchanged by a perturbation, thus allowing the energy value to be incrementally updated. Computational tests on four proteins of sizes ranging from 68 to 755 amino acids show that MCS with the ChainTree method is significantly faster (as much as 12 times faster for the largest protein) than with the widely used grid method. They also indicate that speed-up increases with larger proteins.
Gene expression analysis with integrated fuzzy C-means and pathway analysis

A workflow for associating fuzzy clusters to biological pathways has been implemented as a Java-based software tool. Its software implementation is comprised of a correlation-based fuzzy c-means algorithm and an enrichment test on Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes' pathways. We applied this workflow to gene expression in classification of lung cancer cell types and achieved satisfactory results. The software could aid in the validation of results of fuzzy clustering algorithms and the exploration of un-annotated associations between genes and gene ontology categories.
Applying sensors to automatic assembly systems

The author describes the classes of sensors that are available to the automatic assembly machine designer. Examples of each class of sensor along with a discussion of their specific benefits and problems are included. Guidelines that will aid a machine designer in the selection and application of sensors for automatic assembly systems are provided. The necessity of providing methods in the automation for verifying the sensors' accuracy is discussed. >
Social science in supreme court death penalty cases: Citation practices and their implications

This study examines the use of evidence based on social science research in Supreme Court capital punishment cases decided between 1963 and 1985. These years mark the beginning of the Court's modern decisions regarding the death penalty and extend to the approximate midpoint in this body of jurisprudence. The frequency and the major correlates of social science research citations in the Supreme Court's death penalty cases are described, and these findings are contrasted with the justices' use of social science evidence in other types of criminal cases. The justices have used social science materials relatively often in capital punishment cases, although it does not necessarily follow that social science findings have been important to the decision of these cases. The results of this research are discussed, along with other issues relevant to the judicial use of research evidence based on social science.
A novel test to compare two treatments based on endpoints involving both nonfatal and fatal events.

In a clinical trial comparing two treatment groups, one commonly-used endpoint is time to death. Another is time until the first nonfatal event (if there is one) or until death (if not). Both endpoints have drawbacks. The wrong choice may adversely affect the value of the study, by impairing power if deaths are too few (with the first endpoint) or by lessening the role of mortality if not (with the second endpoint). We propose a compromise that provides a simple test based on the time to death if the patient has died, or time since randomization augmented by an increment otherwise. The test applies the ordinary two-sample Wilcoxon statistic to these values. The formula for the increment (the same for experimental and control patients) must be specified before the trial starts. In the simplest (and perhaps most useful) case, the increment assumes only two values, according to whether or not the (surviving) patient had a nonfatal event. More generally, the increment depends on the time of the first nonfatal event, if any, and the time since randomization. The test has correct Type I error even though it does not handle censoring in a customary way. For conditions where investigators would face no easy (advance) choice between the two older tests, simulation results favor the new test. An example using a renal-cancer trial is presented.
Changes in Disability Before and After Myocardial Infarction in Older Adults

Background Disability in older adults is thought to occur primarily as a consequence of clinical disease episodes. However, the temporal relationship between clinical disease and disability has received little systematic attention. Methods Data from a prospective population-based study of 2812 older adults were analyzed to examine changes in disability before and after acute myocardial infarction. Disability outcomes included up to 9 yearly assessments of disability in activities in daily living, disability in basic physical functions, and disability in tasks requiring basic mobility and strength. Results A total of 279 myocardial infarctions occurred during 9 years of follow-up. After adjustment for age and sex, the average yearly increase in disability in activities of daily living and basic physical functions was not significantly greater in the 1-year period after myocardial infarction than in the 3-year period before myocardial infarction ( P values >.20). Disability in basic mobility and strength showed a significantly greater increase in the year after myocardial infarction ( P = .02). The results did not change after adjustment for comorbidity and chest pain or when restricted to incident cases of myocardial infarction or survivors. An additional exploratory analysis suggested that the rate of increase in some forms of disability may start to accelerate at about 1 year before the event, rather than after the event. Conclusions The increase in disability after myocardial infarction may form a continuation of increases that occur before the event and challenge commonly held notions about the temporal relationship between clinical disease and disability. Changes in disability before acute disease episodes may be related to subclinical disease.
Bolshevizing Communist Women: The Red Women and Girls' League in Weimar Germany

The year 1924 marked a fundamental turning point in the history of the Weimar Republic. After months of deep crises in 1923, which included foreign occupation, hyperinflation, and attempted coups d'etat by both communists and Nazis, the German economy and polity entered a phase of relative stability, and social peace loomed on the horizon. Recognizing the dramatic shift in the sociopolitical landscape, the German Communist Party ( Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands , KPD) also underwent a significant transformation. On the political front, the most notable event was the ousting of Ruth Fischer and Arkadij Maslow, under the heavy hand of Moscow, in favor of Ernst Thalmann.
Introduction: “The Missing Feminist Revolution” Symposium

, Vol. 53, Issue 4, pp. 444–447, ISSN 0037-7791, electronic ISSN 1533-8533. © 2006 by Society for the Study of Social Problems, Inc. All rights reserved. Please direct all requests for permission to photocopy or reproduce article content through the University of California Press’s Rights and Permissions website, at http://www. ucpress.edu/journals/rights.htm. Introduction: ”The Missing Feminist Revolution” Symposium
Bridging the Gap Between Neuroscience and the Social World: Theory, Research, and Mechanisms in Social Neuroscience

Essays in Social Neuroscience . John T. Cacioppo and Gary G. Berntson (Eds.). 2004. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, 168 pp., $32.00/£20.95. Essays in Social Neuroscience , edited by John T. Cacioppo and Gary G. Berntson, is a slim collection of highly engaging and—for the overextended neuropsychologist—enjoyably brief essays surveying current research and theory in the emerging field of social neuroscience. Each contributor attests to the variety of examples of research bridging the historic divide between neuroscience and social psychology. For neuropsychologists, this volume offers enlightening demonstrations of the potential for traditional methods in neuroscience to speak to the complex and reciprocal interplay between neural systems and the social world. From Sue Carter's essay “Oxytocin and the Prairie Vole: A Love Story” to Shelley E. Taylor's contribution “The Accidental Neuroscientist: Positive Resources, Stress Responses, and Course of Illness,” these essays speak to such diverse issues as interpersonal attraction, loyalty, emotional reactivity, and environmental contributions to autoimmune disease. Some essays speak more to the potential for bridging the gap than to demonstrated success in this effort, but those essays remain pleasurable, rewarding reads. The large majority of essays, four of which are described in more detail below, beautifully exemplify the fruitfulness of this area of inquiry.
Toward accurate dynamic time warping in linear time and space

Dynamic Time Warping (DTW) has a quadratic time and space complexity that limits its use to small time series. In this paper we introduce FastDTW, an approximation of DTW that has a linear time and space complexity. FastDTW uses a multilevel approach that recursively projects a solution from a coarser resolution and refines the projected solution. We prove the linear time and space complexity of FastDTW both theoretically and empirically. We also analyze the accuracy of FastDTW by comparing it to two other types of existing approximate DTW algorithms: constraints (such as Sakoe-Chiba Bands) and abstraction. Our results show a large improvement in accuracy over existing methods.
First-order morphological transition of ferroelastic domains in ferroelectric thin films

Ferroelastic domains are common defects in epitaxial ferroelectric thin films, being typically observed around interfacial dislocations due to attractive elastic interactions. Because of their large stress fields, domain size and shape can influence local ferroelectric switching behavior. Here the morphology of ferroelastic domains in Pb(Zr0.2 ,T i 0.8)O3 thin films is investigated as a function of film thickness and substrate strain using phase field modeling in combination with transmission electron microscopy. Increasing film thickness or strain is found to induce switching from typical ferroelastic domains extending to the free surface of the film to nanosized domains localized near the substrate interface. An analysis of thermodynamic properties reveals hysteretic and discontinuous changes in the first derivatives of the free energy resulting from competing electrostatic and elastic energies. Such first-order morphological transitions are expected to be very common in epitaxial thin films during switching under an external electric or stress field. 2014 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Characteristics of Flunitrazepam Binding to Intact Primary Cultured Spinal Cord Neurons and Its Modulation by GABAergic Drugs

The interaction of [3H]flunitrazepam and its modulation by various drugs was studied in intact primary cultured spinal cord neurons. In the intact cells, the [3H]-flunitrazepam binding was rapid and saturable. The benzodiazepine binding sites exhibited high affinity and saturability, with an apparent KD of 6.1 +/- 1.6 nM and Bmax of 822 +/- 194 fmol/mg protein. The association and dissociation of [3H]flunitrazepam binding exhibited monoexponential kinetics. Specifically bound [3H]flunitrazepam was displaced in a concentration-dependent manner by benzodiazepines like flunitrazepam, clonazepam, diazepam, Ro 15-1788, and beta-carbolines like methyl-6,7-dimethoxy-4-ethyl-beta-carboline-3'-carboxylate. Specific [3H]flunitrazepam binding to intact cells was enhanced in a concentration-dependent manner by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) agonists and drugs which facilitate GABAergic transmission like etazolate, (+)-etomidate, and pentobarbital. The enhancing effect of GABA agonists was antagonized by bicuculline and picrotoxinin. These results suggest that the intact cultured spinal cord neurons exhibit the properties of benzodiazepine GABA receptor-ionophore complex. Since these cells can also be studied in parallel for characterizing GABA-induced 36Cl-influx, they provide an ideal in vitro assay preparation to study GABA synaptic pharmacology.
Stay-green ranking and maturity of corn hybrids: 2. Effects on the performance of lactating dairy cows

To address producer concerns that feeding high stay-green (SG) corn hybrids is associated with decreased performance and health problems in dairy cows, this study examined how the performance of cows was affected by feeding hybrids with contrasting SG rankings and maturities. Two near-isogenic corn hybrids with high (HSG; Croplan Genetics 691, Croplan Genetics, St. Paul, MN) and low (LSG; Croplan Genetics 737) SG rankings were grown on separate halves of a 10-ha field, harvested at 27% (maturity 1) or 35% (maturity 2) dry matter (DM) and ensiled in bag silos for 84 and 77 d, respectively. A further treatment involved addition of water (15 L/t) to the HSG maturity 1 hybrid during packing to compound the potential negative effects of excess water in the HSG hybrid. Each of the resulting silages was included in a total mixed ration consisting of 35, 55, and 10% (DM basis) of corn silage, concentrate, and alfalfa hay, respectively. In experiment 1, the total mixed ration was fed for ad libitum consumption twice daily to 30 Holstein cows (92±18 d in milk). This experiment had a completely randomized design and consisted of two 28-d periods, each with 14 d for adaptation and 14 d for sample collection. In experiment 2, the ruminal fermentation of the diets was measured using 5 ruminally cannulated cows on the last day of three 15-d periods. Ruminal contraction rate (2.28±0.14 contractions/min), milk yield (36.7±1.3 kg/d), yield of milk protein (1.1±0.03 kg/d), and concentration of milk protein (2.9±0.03%) were not affected by treatment. Feeding diets containing HSG instead of LSG reduced intake of crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fiber, digestibility of neutral detergent fiber, and concentrations of ruminal total volatile fatty acids (VFA) and milk fat when the hybrids were harvested at 27% DM but not 35% DM. Across maturity stages, feeding diets containing HSG instead of LSG decreased DM and CP digestibility, increased rectal temperature and plasma ceruloplasmin concentration, and increased the efficiency of milk production. Except for increasing yeast and mold counts, adding water to the HSG hybrid harvested at 27% DM did not have adverse effects but was associated with greater starch intake, CP digestibility, and ruminal total VFA concentration, and decreased acetate to propionate ratio in dairy cows.
Terminal Guidance for Impact Attitude Angle Constrained Flight Trajectories

The design of a suboptimal terminal guidance system for reentry vehicles with a constraint on the body attitude angle at impact is studied. Permissible range of the miss distance and the body attitude angle at impact is specified. The problem is formulated as a linear quadratic control problem. The Riccati equation is derived to provide time-varying feedback gains. The desired scheme is suboptimal. The region of initial states for which the system meets the specifications becomes smaller as the initial height of the reentry vehicle at initial time is decreased.
Ternary gradient elution markedly improves silver-ion high performance liquid chromatography of unsaturated sterols.

Abstract A wide variety of unsaturated sterols can accumulate in eukaryotic cells as a consequence of normal metabolism, genetic disorders, and actions of enzyme inhibitors. Resolving these sterol mixtures into individual components by conventional chromatographic methods is inefficient because unsaturated sterols differ little in polarity, hydrophobicity, and volatility. Although sterol mixtures are well-resolved by silver-ion high performance liquid chromatography (Ag+-HPLC), existing methods require derivatization to acetates for best results, and the isocratic mobile phases lead to long analysis times and low sensitivity for late-eluting sterols. We show that these problems can be overcome with ternary gradient elution using acetone, hexanes, and acetonitrile. Separation of a mixture of 20 underivatized sterols gave dramatically shortened analysis times, with good peak shapes for both early- and late-eluting components. In a similar separation of blood sterols from a patient with Smith–Lemli–Opitz syndrome, the band for 7-dehydrocholesterol was much narrower than with isocratic elution. Column re-equilibration was rapid, and the separations could be monitored with ultraviolet spectroscopy at 210 nm, which affords universal, non-destructive detection of unsaturated sterols. Also discussed are retention mechanisms and reproducibility of Ag+-HPLC separations. The overall results represent a major advance in chromatographic methods for resolving mixtures of unsaturated sterols differing in the number and position of olefinic bonds.
Implication of Serine Residues 271, 273, and 275 in the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Cofactor Activity of Lens Epithelium-Derived Growth Factor/p75

Lens epithelium-derived growth factor (LEDGF)/p75 is a cellular cofactor for HIV-1 DNA integration. It is well established that the simultaneous binding of LEDGF/p75 to chromatin and to HIV-1 integrase is required for its cofactor activity. However, the exact molecular mechanism of LEDGF/p75 in HIV-1 integration is not yet completely understood. Our hypothesis is that evolutionarily conserved regions in LEDGF/p75 exposed to solvent and harboring posttranslational modifications may be involved in its HIV-1 cofactor activity. Therefore, a panel of LEDGF/p75 deletion mutants targeting these protein regions were evaluated for their HIV-1 cofactor activity, chromatin binding, integrase interaction, and integrase-to-chromatin-tethering activity by using different cellular and biochemical approaches. The deletion of amino acids 267 to 281 reduced the cofactor activity of LEDGF/p75 to levels observed for chromatin-binding-defective mutants. This region contains a serine cluster (residues 271, 273, and 275) recurrently found to be phosphorylated in both human and mouse cells. Importantly, the conversion of these Ser residues to Ala was sufficient to impair the ability of LEDGF/p75 to mediate HIV-1 DNA integration, although these mutations did not alter chromatin binding, integrase binding, or the integrase-to-chromatin-tethering capability of LEDGF/p75. These results clearly indicated that serine residues 271, 273, and 275 influence the HIV-1 cofactor activity of integrase-to-chromatin-tethering-competent LEDGF/p75.