cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Should the US Congress appropriate funds for the repurchase of older vehicles

Proponents of vehicle buyback programmes maintain that the earlier retirement of older vehicles will reduce pollution, increase income for lower income households and stimulate the automobile industry. This article provides a brief assessment of costs and benefits of vehicle buyback programmes. There are environmental benefits from the early retirement of automobiles and light trucks; however, some pollutants are not closely related to vehicle age. Moreover, vehicle buyback programmes are unlikely to reduce consumption of gasoline by a substantial amount and may even increase gasoline consumption in the short run because vehicle age is associated with an increase in miles travelled. Vehicle buyback programmes are not unambiguously progressive because they will increase the price of older vehicles, the only source of transportation for lower income groups. This analysis does not justify the creation of a national large-scale vehicle buyback programme. However, vehicle buyback programme targeting the highes...
An Analysis of Applying STIR/SHAKEN to Prevent Robocalls

The robocall epidemic has caused millions of phone scam victims resulting in billions of financial loss in the USA. To address this issue, Federal Communication Commission (FCC) mandates all Internet Telephony Service Providers (ITSP) to implement Secure Telephony Identity Revisited (STIR) with the Signature-based Handling of Asserted information using toKENs (SHAKEN) to authenticate Voice of Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls on their networks. This chapter provides an analysis of the effectiveness of STIR/SHAKEN in protecting users from being victims of robocalls which are mostly scam calls with fake caller ID. Our analysis shows three majors issues that could have impact on the effectiveness of STIR/SHAKEN. These issues are (a) poorly protected enterprise IP-PBX, (b) unscrupulous service providers, and (c) lack of support of Q.1912.5, which is the interworking standard between IP and Public Switch Telephone Network (PSTN).
New Paleomagnetic results and evidence for a geomagnetic field excursion during the pleistocene-holocene transition at Pichincha province, Ecuador

Resumen Se reportan datos paleomagneticos de tres secciones sedimentarias del noroeste de Sudamerica (Ecuador). Las direcciones del magnetismo remanente natural obtenido de 109 muestras orientadas tomadas en 4 sitios -ciudad de Quito (QC), Mullimica (Mu) y El Tingo (ET)- mostraron que algunas registraron un componente magnetico diferente al campo geomagnetico (CGM) normal actual. La magnetizacion caracteristica fue determinada por desmagnetizacion progresiva de campos alternos. El analisis de las muestras mostro que las secciones registraron una magnetizacion remanente caracteristica de polaridades normales, intermedias y reversas durante la transicion Pleistoceno-Holoceno y Holoceno. En QC se registraron direcciones de polaridad normal, mientras que normal e intermedia en Mu y, polos geomagneticos virtuales (VGPs) reversos en el ET. QC y la parte superior de Mu corresponden a la variacion paleosecular del Holoceno en Ecuador durante los ∼≤4,7 ka BP. Por otro lado, la parte inferior del registro de Mu representa la transicion de direcciones normales a intermedias ocurridas a ≥∼5,6 ka BP. En ET se observaron dos registros estables oblicuos reversos con una gran fluctuacion lejana del campo geomagnetico actual a los ∼10,5 ka BP. Los polos geomagneticos virtuales (PGV) transicionales generalmente coinciden con los registrados durante la posible excursion acaecida durante la transicion Pleistoceno-Holoceno observada en otros lugares del planeta. Cuando se los representa en un mapa del mundo actual, los PGV calculados a partir de las muestras normales de QC estan muy bien agrupados en el norte de America del Norte, Groenlandia y el norte de Europa; la mayoria de los de Mu se situan entre 30° y 60° de latitud norte en America del Norte, Groenlandia, oeste de Europa, Africa y el norte del Oceano Pacifico. La mayoria de las direcciones reversas de ET se agrupan en un parche ubicado en el sur de Africa, y unos pocos estan situados en el centro de Africa, el este de Australia y la Antartida. Con los PGV resultantes de QC y Mu se calculo un paleopolo ecuatoriano; tambien fueron procesados otros paleopolos de la misma edad en sitios de Norte y Sud America. Cabe destacar que coinciden bien, aunque mostraron una diferencia angular ∼15° con respecto al eje de la rotacion de la Tierra. Finalmente, se discute la hipotesis del estado excursional global del CGM durante los ultimos ∼11,0 ka BP y el uso potencial como herramienta de datacion de la excursion fechada en 10.5 ka BP.
American Politics and its Debt Issue

The purpose of this paper is to shed some light on the on-going debate about the United States’ debt level and how U.S. lawmakers are attempting to resolve it. On the surface, it seems like they are not working together to resolve the issue, but further complicating it with various tactics, such as the government shutdown. That raises the question, “why is this the case?” to which the answer can be found through the understanding of the American political system and the way it was founded. It should be noted that many leading economists have questioned the very idea as to why we are making a big deal about the U.S. debt issue and assert that the U.S. does not have a debt crisis to begin with, and the issue is simply made up for political reasons. Many leading economists have a position on this argument and they strongly believe that their position is the correct one. The objective of this paper is to highlight those views as well as share its own view on the important topic while keeping an eye on why the U.S. political system functions the way it does. Keywords: U.S. Debt Level, Debt Crisis, American political system, Dollar Dilemma, Debt Dilemma, Global Financial Crisis
Antimicrobial Dosing Considerations in Obese Adult Patients

As obesity continues to increase in prevalence throughout the world, it becomes important to explore the effects that obesity has on antimicrobial disposition. Physiologic changes in obesity can alter both the volume of distribution and clearance of many commonly used antimicrobials. These changes often present challenges such as estimation of creatinine clearance to predict drug clearance. Although these physiologic changes are increasingly being characterized, few studies assessing alterations in tissue drug distribution and the effects of obesity on antimicrobial pharmacokinetics have been published. The available data are most plentiful for antibiotics that historically have included clinical therapeutic drug monitoring. These data suggest that dosing of vancomycin and aminoglycosides be based on total body weight and adjusted body weight, respectively. Obese patients may require larger doses of beta-lactams to achieve similar concentrations as those of patients who are not obese. Fluoroquinolone pharmacokinetics are variably altered by obesity, which prevents a uniform approach. Data on the pharmacokinetics of drugs that have activity against gram-positive organisms-quinupristin-dalfopristin, linezolid, and daptomycin-reveal that they are altered in the presence of obesity, but more data are needed to solidify dosing recommendations. Limited data are available on nonantibacterials. An understanding of the physiologic changes in obesity and the available literature on specific antibiotics is valuable in providing a framework for rational selection of dosages in this increasingly common population of obese patients.
Why New Zealand Took Itself out of ANZUS: Observing “Opposition for Autonomy” in Asymmetric Alliances

In 1985, a dispute over nuclear ship visits led the United States to formally suspend its security guarantee to New Zealand under the trilateral ANZUS Treaty. In this article, I conceptualize this dispute as a case of intra-alliance opposition by a small state toward its stronger ally. I generate four hypotheses from the literature on alliances in international relations to explain why New Zealand chose to oppose its ally on the nuclear ships issue. Using new evidence, including interviews with 22 individuals involved in the dispute and content analysis of debates in the New Zealand parliament from 1976 to 1984, I conclude that a desire for greater autonomy in foreign policy was the driving factor behind New Zealand’s opposition.
Tholeiitic Aleutian arc plutonism: The Finger Bay pluton, Adak, Alaska

The earliest representatives in the sequence of Tertiary to Recent magmatic rocks on Adak island in the central Aleutians, are the Finger Bay Volcanics and associated small shallow-level gabbroic intrusives. The tholeiitic Finger Bay pluton (gabbro to quartz monzodiorite) is among the least altered representatives of this earliest period. The field relations, mineralogy, and geochemistry of the Finger Bay pluton contrast with the more recent calcalkaline plutons in the arc (e.g. on Adak, Hidden Bay pluton: 33 m.y. and on Kagalaska, Kagalaska pluton: 15 m.y.). Compared with the Hidden Bay pluton, the Finger Bay pluton is smaller (8 km2 versus 100 km2), has a greater proportion of gabbro (84% versus 5%), has a somewhat different mineralogy, and has higher whole rock and mafic mineral FeO/MgO ratios, higher K2O, and higher concentrations of incompatable elements in rocks of equivalent SiO2 (particularly for the more siliceous units). Magmatic amphibole occurs only in the most siliceous units in the Finger Bay pluton, whereas it is common in the calc-alkaline plutons. Except for the size, these differences parallel those between tholeiitic and calc-alkaline volcanic rocks from the active Aleutian volcanic centers. Textural, miner-alogical, and trace element analyses indicate that mixing of magmas and gabbros generated some of the rocks of intermediate (monzodiorite) composition in the Finger Bay pluton. Most of the differences in magmatic trends between the calc-alkaline and tholeiitic plutons are attributed to the physical conditions of magmatic evolution in the crust, rather than to differences in initial magmatic types. This conclusion rests on the similarity of fractionation-independent isotope ratios and trace element ratios in Aleutian magmas of all ages. In particular, compared to magmas of the north Pacific ocean basin (MORB, oceanic islands), Aleutian magmas show excess enrichment of Ba, K, Rb, and U relative to REE and high 207Pb/204Pb ratios for a given 206Pb/204Pb ratio. Recognition of tholeiitic series plutons in the arc provides direct evidence for magmatic conditions accompanying fractionation, and serves to emphasize the diversity of magmatic trends that are found over time and space at convergent plate margins.
Cross-entropy based symbol selection and partial iterative decoding for serial concatenated convolutional codes

Cross-entropy based symbol selection and partial iterative decoding for serial concatenated convolutional codes (SCCC) is developed in this paper. We first apply symbol classification in terms of detection convergence status to all coded bits of the outer code. After that, computations are focused on symbols that have not reached convergence, by applying short windows around these symbols at both the inner and outer component decoders. By utilizing the converged soft output from their neighboring symbols and exchanging extrinsic information only among the windowed symbols, the component decoders performs very closely to standard full iterations but at only a small fraction of the original computational complexity.
Tomographic stability of condyle fossa relationships in 40 treated temporomandibular disorder patients

Abstract Statement of problem. Condylar position and stability after treatment of 40 temporomandibular disorder patients was studied. Purpose. This study determined pretreatment position and posttreatment condylar stability. Material and methods. Forty temporomandibular disorder patients with symptoms of muscles of mastication pain, temporomandibular joint sounds, attrition, interceptive occlusal contacts, and restricted range of motion were used. Axial corrected midcut sagittal tomograms were made of the 80 temporomandibular joints before treatment. Tracings from the tomograms were used to measure and analyze pretreatment position and posttreatment stability. Results. Pretreatment condyle fossa position was not concentric in 26 of 80 patients (32.5%). Posttreatment condylar position showed no change and was statistically stable. Conclusion. In this study of 40 temporomandibular disorder patients, no statistical change in condylar position was detected. Variable condylar positions were found in the 80 pretreatment axial corrected midcut sagittal tomograms. All patients were asymptomatic after 1 year. (J Prosthet Dent 1998;79:570-4.)
Inhibitory effect of new anticholinergics on the basal and secretin-stimulated pancreatic secretion in patients with and without pancreatic disease: therapeutic and theoretic implications.

1. The anticholinergic piperidyl drugs are more potent inhibitors of pancreatic secretion than atropine or the Banthine compounds. Greater suppression of secretion can be obtained with them without the undesirable side reactions noted with the atropine-Banthine drugs. Therefore, these anticholinergics should be superior to the latter in the therapy of pancreatic inflammation. Preliminary clinical experiences would indicate a worthiness for further therapeutic scrutiny. 2. The previously reported pharmacologic observation of preferential anticholinergic action appears to be substantiated by the experimental findings. 3. The inhibition of the secretin responses to ranges up to 95 per cent has not been previously noted with anticholinergics either in man or in the experimental animal. This finding casts doubt upon the present physiologic concept of the regulation of pancreatic secretion by independent mechanisms—i.e., the hormonal and nervous—and favors rather the Thomas-Pavlovian hypothesis of interdependence. 4. Analysis of the alteration of flow-bicarbonate relationships following these anticholinergics indicate a persistence of bicarbonate concentration at falling rates of secretion. This observation supported by the changes in electrolyte secretion after Diamox and after ACTH and the adrenal steroids, and by those changes recorded in diseased states of the pancreas, adds further evidence to the hypothesis of ductular function within the pancreas.
An architecture for a business and information system

The transaction-processing environment in which companies maintain their operational databases was the original target for computerization and is now well understood. On the other hand, access to company information on a large scale by an end user for reporting and data analysis is relatively new. Within IBM, the computerization of informational systems is progressing, driven by business needs and by the availability of improved tools for accessing the company data. It is now apparent that an architecture is needed to draw together the various strands of informational system activity within the company. IBM Europe, Middle East, and Africa (E/ME/A) has adopted an architecture called the E/ME/A Business Information System (EBIS) architecture as the strategic direction for informational systems. EBIS proposes an integrated warehouse of company data based firmly in the relational database environment. End-user access to this warehouse is simplified by a consistent set of tools provided by an end-user interface and supported by a business data directory that describes the information available in user terms. This paper describes the background and components of the architecture of EBIS.
Development of a function block designer for collaborative process planning

The research objective is to develop methodologies and framework for collaborative process planning and scheduling, supported by a real-time monitoring system in distributed environments. A function block enabled collaborative process planning approach is proposed to handle various dynamic changes during process plan generation and execution. This paper focuses on collaborative process planning, particularly on the development of a function block designer As function blocks can sense environmental changes, it is expected that a so generated process plan can adapt itself to the changes with dynamically optimized solutions for plan execution and process monitoring.
Genome wide association studies (GWAS) and common forms of human epilepsy

Several GWAS focused on common forms of epilepsy are underway. Currently, only one locus has been published that reached genome wide statistical significance. Two other loci that also reach genome wide statistical significance have been reported as preliminary data and are awaiting publication. Several additional loci identified in these studies fall just short of statistical significance, and it is hoped that future large scale meta-analyses will confirm these early findings and identify new loci that influence common forms of human epilepsy. Next generation DNA sequencing (NGS) studies are also underway and in the future will identify rare DNA variations of large effect that also contribute to the final epilepsy phenotypes under study. Finally, these studies have the potential to identify biomarkers of antiepileptic drug (AED) response as epilepsy patient GWAS and NGS data are stratified based on AED efficacy and tolerability.
Assessment of Erythropoiesis Suppression in Patients on Chronic Blood Transfusions: Value of Serum Transferrin Receptor, Erythropoietin and Reticulocytes † 803

Assessment of Erythropoiesis Suppression in Patients on Chronic Blood Transfusions: Value of Serum Transferrin Receptor, Erythropoietin and Reticulocytes † 803
Phase behavior of blends of poly(vinyl chloride) with an α‐methyl styrene/acrylonitrile copolymer

Poly(vinyl chloride), PVC, is shown to be miscible with an α-methyl styrene/acrylonitrile copolymer, αMSAN, containing 30 percent AN by weight using differential scanning calorimetry for blends prepared by several methods. Melt blending gave single Tg mixtures; whereas, solution techniques gave results that depended on the solvent choice and the manner in which it was removed. These blends do not phase separate on heating prior to significant PVC decomposition (∼250°C) in contrast to PVC/SAN blends which have much lower cloud points. Repulsion between α-methyl styrene and acrylonitrile units in the copolymer is the principal cause for miscibility of this system as shown by an analysis based on a binary interaction model using calorimetry data for low molecular weight liquid analog compounds.
The use of precipitin analysis in agar for the study of human streptococcal infections. III. The purification of some of the antigens detected by these methods.

As evidenced by precipitin analysis with pooled human gamma globulin, at least 12 distinct antigens were produced in cultures by one strain of Group A streptococcus (C203S). It was suggested on this basis, that these antigens were produced in vivo during human infections. By the combined use of continuous flow electrophoresis on paper curtains, and column chromatography with calcium phosphate gels, five of these have been isolated in a probable high state of purity. One of the components was obtained from culture filtrates of a Group C streptococcal strain. Three of the purified antigens have been tentatively identified as streptolysin "O", diphosphopyridinenucleotidase, and proteinase precursor. The latter could be very readily crystallized, and appears "identical" with that described by Elliott. The DPNase was of extremely high potency, 1 mg. being capable of destroying 12.6 gm. of DPN in 7½ minutes at 37°C. The identity of the other two components is uncertain as yet. They are distinct from each other and the above products immunologically, and are not related to the "C" carbohydrate. The applicability of these methods for the analysis of infectious diseases generally was discussed.
Securing Health Information

Healthcare in the digital age is undergoing an IT revolution. In the US, spurred by legislation such as the Health Information Technology and Economics Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, electronic health records (EHR) adoption has dramatically increased. Meanwhile, enabled by mobile devices and ubiquitous networks, patients and physicians interact with health information in novel ways. Given health information's sensitive nature, however, a cautious approach to IT integration is warranted to ensure that patients' sensitive information is protected. Although health information security is of great interest in both academia and practice, relatively little scholarship has examined the security implications of the behavior of those who actually use IT in the healthcare sector. To stimulate this important discussion, the authors briefly describe the changing landscape of an IT-enabled healthcare ecosystem and discuss the emerging issues of mobility and security. This article is part of a special issue on IT security.
Determination of in vivo RNA structure in low-abundance transcripts

RNA structure plays important roles in diverse biological processes. However, the structures of all but the few most abundant RNAs are presently unknown in vivo. Here we introduce DMS/SHAPE-LMPCR to query the in vivo structures of low-abundance transcripts. DMS/SHAPE-LMPCR achieves attomole sensitivity, a 100,000-fold improvement over conventional methods. We probe the structure of low-abundance U12 small nuclear RNA (snRNA) in Arabidopsis thaliana and provide in vivo evidence supporting our derived phylogenetic structure. Interestingly, in contrast to mammalian U12 snRNAs, the loop of the SLIIb in U12 snRNA is variable among plant species, and DMS/SHAPE-LMPCR determines it to be unstructured. We reveal the effects of proteins on 25S rRNA, 5.8S rRNA and U12 snRNA structure, illustrating the critical importance of mapping RNA structure in vivo. Our universally applicable method opens the door to identifying and exploring the specific structure-function relationships of the multitude of low-abundance RNAs that prevail in living cells.
Fiber optic chemical sensor for nitrite based on an electropolymerized cobaltporphyrin film.

Abstract Fiber optic sensors for nitrite were prepared by first electrochemically depositing a film of cobalt(II) tetrakis( o -aminophenyl)porphyrin, [Co( o -NH 2 )TPP], on the surface of indium(tin) oxide glass slides. Then, the slides with the immobilized porphyrin were positioned at the tip of an optical fiber bundle. The response of the sensors was based on a change in absorbance caused by the interaction between nitrite and the poly[Co( o -NH 2 )TPP] film. The sensors had a detection limit of 6 × 10 −9 M nitrite. The selectivity of the sensors was determined under both separate solutions and fixed interference conditions. The sensor had a long lifetime and was reversible.
Circadian variations of stellate ganglion nerve activity in ambulatory dogs.

Background The presence of circadian variations in sympathetic outflow from the stellate ganglia is unclear. Objectives The purpose of this study was to continuously record stellate ganglion nerve activity (SGNA) in ambulatory dogs. Methods We performed continuous 24-hour left (N = 3) or bilateral (N = 3) SGNA recordings in normal ambulatory dogs using implanted Data Sciences International transmitters. We also performed simultaneous ECG recording (n = 5) or simultaneous ECG and blood pressure recordings (n = 1). Results The total duration of continuous ambulatory recording averaged 41.5 ± 16.6 days. Five dogs had persistent stable recording, and one dog developed hardware malfunction in week 3. SGNA was followed immediately ( P = 0.007). Heart rate correlated significantly with SGNA. When there was a sudden increase of SGNA, the sudden increase occurred bilaterally in 90% of the episodes. Both heart rate and SGNA showed statistically significant ( P P = .001) but did not significantly alter SGNA. Immunohistochemical staining of the stellate ganglia showed tyrosine hydroxylase-positive ganglion cells and nerves at the recording site. Conclusion There is a circadian variation in sympathetic outflow from canine stellate ganglia. Circadian variation of SGNA is an important cause of circadian variations of cardiac sympathetic tone.
Robust optimal deployment in mobile sensor networks with peer-to-peer communication

This paper presents a distributed robust deployment algorithm for optimal coverage by a mobile sensor network (MSN). Much past research has focused on versions of the coverage problem that partition the workspace into regions, and then assign exactly one sensor to cover each region. For this case it has been shown that the optimal partition is the Voronoi partition, and that Lloyd’s algorithm converges to the optimal solution, with each sensor located at the centroid of its Voronoi region. In this paper, we consider the case in which k sensors are assigned to each region in the partition, in order to obtain coverage that is robust to sensor failure. For this case, we prove that the optimal workspace partition is the order−k Voronoi partition, with each sensor assigned to those order−k Voronoi regions for which it is a generator. The collection of these regions for a given sensor defines its effective sensing region (ESR), and we prove that in the optimal configuration each sensor is located at the centroid of its ESR. Finally we introduce a distributed algorithm for our optimal sensor placement problem that requires only simple peer-to-peer (P2P) communications. We show via simulation results that our algorithm converges in finite time, and provides competitive coverage performance in the presence of individual node failures.
From Surviving to Thriving

ABSTRACT This article focuses on the need for continual organizational change and new thinking about the work that libraries, librarians, and staff must do to remain key players in the academic world of the future.
Social goals and appropriate policy for corrections: An economic appraisal

This paper presents a logical approach to the problem of devising socially acceptable policy for the operation of a corrections system. As an alternative to considering separately the frequently mentioned, but conflicting goals of providing rehabilitation, retribution, detention of dangerous criminals, and general and specific deterrence of criminal behavior, the authors suggest that the goal be couched in terms of minimizing the social cost of crime. By developing a model which illustrates how the corrections process relates to the various facets of the criminal justice system, and by isolating the functional relationships which must be taken into account, the authors are able to show there is an optimal level of rehabilitation, detention, and deterrence associated with a socially optimal level of criminal activity and criminal justice control activity. Although much remains to be learned before such a model can be effectively implemented, considerable research has already pointed the way for learning how to more effectively balance the alternatives for policy. An enumeration of the policy implications of the model identifies targets for further research.
Effects of gastric filling and vagotomy on ingestion, nipple attachment, and weight gain by suckling rats

The importance of gut signals for the short-term and long-term control of ingestion was investigated using rat pups in the natural suckling situation. Pups at 10 days of age were deprived of milk and their dam for 9 hr. Pyloric ligation, vagotomy, and preloading procedures were performed on the pups shortly before testing began. The initial latency to attach to a nipple and the incidence of attachment were recorded during the 2-hr suckling period. Milk intake and the weight of gastric contents were measured following the test. Pregastric stimulation together with natural or artificial gastric filling suppressed ingestion. Acute subdiaphragmatic truncal vagotomy enhanced ingestion under these conditions, and vagotomy alone resulted in controlled hyperphagia concomitant with exaggerated gastric filling. The data suggest that the stomach is one site where milk activates a suppression mechanism for ingestion. This mechanism is mediated primarily by the vagus nerve. The importance of nipple-attachment behavior is discussed in relation to ingestive behavior, and the question of satiety in suckling rats is raised. The chronic effects of truncal vagotomy on rat pups were also investigated, beginning with denervation at 10 days of age. The pups were challenged with deprivation and tested in the natural suckling situation on Day 20. Weaning occurred on Day 22, and the pups were sacrificed on Day 41, followed by measurements of body weight, body length, and gastric contents. The physical and behavioral changes that developed during the chronic phase of vagotomy included (1) permanent gastric distension following the first postsurgical bout of ingestion; (2) reduced intake of milk when the availability of milk was greatest during the suckling test; (3) increased resting behavior regardless of milk letdown conditions during the suckling test; (4) failure to gain weight at a normal rate; and (5) failure to grow at a normal rate. The data indicate that the vagus nerve is necessary for normal internal control of ingestion as well as normal gastric filling and emptying in the suckling rat. The inability of suckling and weanling pups to thrive in the chronic phase of vagotomy indicates that nonvagal internal controls of ingestion and digestion function adequately for survival, but they are not optimal for growth and maintenance of body weight in rats.
Psychiatric Confidentiality in Child Custody Disputes

Abstract Objective The various legal and ethical issues that may arise in the context of divorce proceedings when custody of a child is disputed are noted. A latent issue in such cases pertains to the treatment records of the parents, as well as the child, if any of the parties have ever been in any type of psychiatric treatment or mental health therapy. The principal parties may seek access to each others' records, and courts and attorneys may do so as well. Method The issues that arise are explored by way of hypothetical clinical cases, as well as a consideration of leading appellate cases from different legal jurisdictions. Results Access to psychiatric treatment records is often handled in diverse ways by clinicians in disputed custody proceedings. Their clinical experience offers little to guide them in this confusing area. To complicate matters, legal rulings may differ from one jurisdiction to another as well as within one jurisdiction. Positions taken vary along a continuum from the extremes of advocating that all past and current psychiatric treatment records be made available in such disputes, to no records being made available. Conclusions In the state of current confusion and risk for psychiatrists, as well as past and present patients, a proposal is made that only when issues of “parental fitness” are raised should consideration be given to the release of psychiatric treatment records, in contrast to the traditional rule of “best interests of the child,” which would continue to operate in other areas of family disputes.
Effect of crystal density on sublimation properties of molecular organic semiconductors

Abstract Thermal evaporation is an essential process employed in the fabrication of optoelectronic devices based on small molecular organic materials. Knowing the evaporation properties (e.g. sublimation enthalpy, vapor pressure) of archetypal compounds and being able to predict these properties of new compounds is therefore important for the design of processes and deposition apparatus. To address this lack of reliable, easily reproducible information we used thermogravimetry to characterize the sublimation properties of pentacene; tris(8-hydroxyquinolino) aluminum (Alq3); 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA); metal-free phthalocyanine (H2Pc); boron subphthalocyanine chloride (SubPc); iron phthalocyanine (FePc); copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) and zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc). A linear relationship was found between enthalpy and vapor pressure, and crystal density, allowing for the estimation of thermophysical properties of untested compounds of a similar class using a simple model.
Infectious Disease, Governance, and Security

Contagion and Chaos: Disease, Ecology, and National Security in the Era of Globalization. By T. Price-Smith Andrew. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, 2009. 296 pp., $48 hardcover (ISBN-13: 978-0-262-16248-7); $24 paperback (ISBN-13: 978-0-262-66203-1). There is no shortage of historical literature documenting the significant and pervasive effects of infectious disease (Zinsser 1935; McNeill 1989; Watts 1997; Hays 1998; Crosby 2003). As Thucydides (1980) vividly described in the History of the Peloponnesian War , disease, war and poor governance were intertwined and mutually reinforcing. Rulers and policy makers alike were keenly aware of the implications of population health on state power and military readiness, which led to the establishment of Registration in France in 1802 and the institution of two Contagious Disease Acts in Great Britain in 1864. Yet in the Cold War era, infectious disease was generally considered a “low politics” issue in international relations (IR) or security studies. It was not until the latter half of the 1990s that some political scientists began their inquiries of the impact of disease on development, governance, and security. Authored also by Price-Smith, The Health of Nations (2001) provides a theoretical and empirical foundation for the relationship between disease and state capacity, thereby representing the first systematic effort toward establishing a health security paradigm. An extension of previous work, Price-Smith's new book features significant revisions to the original model: it …
Signaling Activity of Homologous and Heterologous Transforming Growth Factor-β Receptor Kinase Complexes

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) signaling in Mv1Lu lung epithelial cells requires coexpression of TGF-beta receptors I (T beta R-I) and II (T beta R-II), two distantly related transmembrane serine/threonine kinases that form a heteromeric complex upon ligand binding. Here, we examine the formation of TGF-beta receptor homo-oligomers and their possible contribution to signaling. T beta R-I can contact ligand bound to T beta R-II, but not ligand free in the medium, and thus cannot form ligand-induced homo-oligomers. T beta R-II, which binds ligand on its own, formed oligomeric complexes when overexpressed in transfected COS cells. However, these complexes were largely ligand-independent and involved immature receptor protein. Since ligand-induced homo-oligomers could not be obtained with the wild-type TGF-beta receptors, we studied receptor cytoplasmic domain homo-oligomerization by using receptor chimeras. The extracellular domain of T beta R-II was fused to the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of T beta R-I, yielding T beta R-II/I, and the extracellular domain of T beta R-I was fused to the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of T beta R-II, yielding T beta R-I/II. When contransfected with wild-type receptors and exposed to ligand, T beta R-II/I formed a complex with T beta R-I, and T beta R-I/II formed a complex with T beta R-II, thus yielding complexes with homologous cytoplasmic domains. T beta R-II/I transfected alone or with T beta R-I did not restore TGF-beta responsiveness in T beta R-II-defective cell mutants. Furthermore, T beta R-II/I acted in a dominant negative fashion, inhibiting restoration of TGF-beta responsiveness by a cotransfected T beta R-II in T beta R-II-defective cells and by a cotransfected T beta R-I in T beta R-I-defective cells. Similarly, T beta R-I/II transfected alone or with T beta R-II did not restore TGF-beta responsiveness and acted in a dominant negative fashion against T beta R-I. Together with previous genetic and biochemical evidence, these results suggest that TGF-beta mediates transcriptional and antiproliferative responses through the heteromeric T beta R-I.T beta R-II complex and not through homo-oligomeric T beta R-I or T beta R-II complexes.
A Revisit to The Identification of Contexts in Recommender Systems

In contrast to traditional recommender systems (RS), context-aware recommender systems (CARS) emerged to adapt to users' preferences in various contextual situations. During those years, different context-aware recommendation algorithms have been developed and they are able to demonstrate the effectiveness of CARS. However, this field has yet to agree on the definition of context, where researchers may incorporate diversified variables (e.g., user profiles or item features), which further creates confusions between content-based RS and context-based RS, and positions the problem of context identification in CARS. In this paper, we revisit the definition of contexts in recommender systems, and propose a context identification framework to clarify the preliminary selection of contextual variables, which may further assist interpretation of contextual effects in RS.
Indian Yellow Making and Breaking the Imperial Palette

This article examines the economics and politics of the pigments that British artists used in order to depict non-white subjects and thus attempts to begin to reconstruct the palette of empire. In ...
Steric Stabilization of Nonaqueous Silicon Slips: II, Pressure Casting of Powder Compacts

The application of a steric stabilization strategy to the processing of nonaqueous silicon slips is investigated. With this method, unfavorable particle interactions within silicon slips processed in benzene and trichloroethylene can be effectively controlled. Use of specific polymers additives (poly(styrene), poly(methyl methacrylate), and their copolymer) results in a substantial improvement in the pressure casting performance of silicon slips. Control of particle agglomeration during processing yields green compacts with better packing as reflected by the measurements of cake permeability and casting resistance. Substantial improvement in green compacts density was seen. The polymer additives also acted as binders providing sufficient green strength to the compacts so as to render them handleable.
Immunizations in women

Abstract Women should be immune to tetanus, diphtheria, poliomyelitis, measles, mumps, and rubella. Depending upon age, occupation, life style, and medical conditions, they may also benefit from hepatitis B, influenza, and pneumococcal vaccinations. With exposure to different infections, they may need active and passive immunization. Adult immunization is an effective but underutilized method of disease prevention. For women to benefit from the effective vaccines available in the United States, primary care practitioners will need to make vaccination a routine service during office visits and hospitalizations. Applying general recommendations about the administration and timing of vaccinations increases their safety and efficacy. Appropriate counseling and documentation improve patient acceptance and compliance with federal law. Practices serving women can provide immunizations just as pediatric practices have done traditionally. However, adults have more individualized vaccination needs. The indications, doses, and schedules for specific immunizations in women are discussed.
Allocating synthesis R & D resources in the agricultural chemicals industry

Traditional methods for allocating synthesis resources in the agricultural chemicals industry are examined in this article. These methods are compared with the theoretical conditions for an optimum allocation. Potential alternatives in the form of linear programming models are suggested.
Quantitative Aspects of Plasma Membrane-Associated Immunoglobulin in Clones of Diploid Human Lymphocytes

The amount of kappa and lambda chains and Fc fragment associated with the plasma membrane and in the entire cell has been measured for eight lines of human lymphocytes and 21 clones derived from two diploid lines. There was considerable variation in the nature and amount of membrane-associated immunoglobulin and total immunoglobulin among different cell lines and clones. Cells with different phenotypes for membrane-associated immunoglobulin were utilized to show that it is not simply absorbed from the culture medium onto the plasma membrane. The methods are useful for selecting variants which lack or have altered membrane-associated immunoglobulin.
An Acceleration Technique for the Computation of Participating Radiative Heat Transfer

It is known that the finite volume and discrete ordinates methods for computing participating radiation are slow to converge when the optical thickness of the medium becomes large. This is a result of the sequential solution procedure usually employed to solve the directional intensities, which couples the ordinate directions and the energy equation loosely. Previously published acceleration techniques have sought to employ a governing equation for the angular-average of the radiation intensity to promote inter-directional coupling. These techniques have not always been successful, and even where successful, have been found to destroy the conservation properties of the radiative transfer equation. In this paper, we develop an algorithm called Multigrid Acceleration using Global Intensity Correction (MAGIC) which employs a multigrid solution of the average intensity and energy equations to significantly accelerate convergence, while ensuring that the conservative property of the radiative transfer equation is preserved. The method is shown to perform well for radiation heat transfer problems in absorbing, emitting and scattering media, both and without radiative equilibrium, and across a range of optical thicknesses.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Rapid exchange between soil carbon and atmospheric carbon dioxide driven by temperature change

Comparison of 14C (carbon-14) in archived (pre-1963) and contemporary soils taken along an elevation gradient in the Sierra Nevada, California, demonstrates rapid (7 to 65 years) turnover for 50 to 90 percent of carbon in the upper 20 centimeters of soil (A horizon soil carbon). Carbon turnover times increased with elevation (decreasing temperature) along the Sierra transect. This trend was consistent with results from other locations, which indicates that temperature is a dominant control of soil carbon dynamics. When extrapolated to large regions, the observed relation between carbon turnover and temperature suggests that soils should act as significant sources or sinks of atmospheric carbon dioxide in response to global temperature changes.
A comparison of assessor and self dimension ratings in an advanced management assessment centre

The relationships between assessor and self-ratings of assessment centre dimensions were analysed. Participants were 167 candidates from an advanced management assessment programme. Assessor and self-ratings showed significantly different means and low correlations. Overall assessment ratings, cognitive ability and gender did not moderate these relationships. Furthermore, self-ratings were not strong predictors of overall assessment ratings. Despite the discrepancies between assessor and self-ratings, these ratings had very similar factor structures.
Perceived family environments of depressed and anxious children: child's and maternal figure's perspectives.

This study examined perceived environment among families with a depressed, depressed and anxious, anxious, or normal child from the 4th to 7th grades. Fifty-one such children were classified according to criteria from the K- SADS and a set of self-ratings of depression and anxiety. Results showed that children in all three diagnostic groups, and to a lesser extent their mothers, experienced their families as more distressed on a host of dimensions relative to controls. In addition, significant differences were found between families with a depressed and anxious child and those with an anxious child. Discriminant function analyses revealed that 68.63 % of the youngsters could be classified correctly into depressed and anxious groups on the basis of their family ratings alone.
Deep hypothermia and the vascular response to thiopental.

Objective: The vascular response to intravenous thiopental in patients on cardiopulmonary bypass during deep hypothermia was examined. Design: This was a prospective observational study. Setting: A university teaching hospital. Participants: Twenty-one consecutive adult patients undergoing pulmonary thromboendarterectomy during which deep hypothermic circulatory arrest was instituted. Interventions: Immediately before circulatory arrest, each patient was administered a 500-mg dose of thiopental intravenously. Arterial blood pressure was monitored and recorded by using a femoral artery catheter and serum electrolytes, acid-base status and arterial hematocrit were determined immediately before the administration of thiopental. Measurements and Main Results: Thiopental was associated with a dose-related increase in mean arterial pressure of 32 ± 11 mmHg ( p p = 0.066). Of the other factors investigated, only serum-ionized calcium had a statistically significant association with the vascular response in that higher ionized calcium was associated with less hypertensive response ( p = 0.014). Conclusions: The administration of thiopental to deeply hypothermic patients during cardiopulmonary bypass is associated with a dramatic increase in mean arterial blood pressure. The mechanism responsible for this vasoconstrictive response may involve thiopental’s potentiation of the effects of norepinephrine in the peripheral vasculature.
A computational scheme for optimal investment – consumption with proportional transaction costs

Abstract We consider the optimal investment – consumption strategy of an investor who can invest in a stock and a bank. We consider the case where proportional transaction costs are present and the objective is to maximize the discounted utility of consumption. We describe an efficient computational scheme that transforms the arising free-boundary problem to a sequence of fixed-boundary problems. We prove the convergence of the scheme and also show that the converged solution is the optimal value function. Finally, we compare and contrast the results obtained by our procedure with certain well-known results and approximations. The proposed scheme also lends itself to optimizing portfolios with multiple risky assets.
Unenhanced helical CT: the “unbeatable” emergency examination for acute flank pain

Unenhanced helical CT has made the excretory urogram virtually obsolete in the evaluation of patients presenting to the emergency department with acute flank pain. A case is presented demonstrating yet another advantage of unenhanced helical CT: that of unmasking the clever malingerer who feigns renal colic in order to obtain controlled drugs.
Superclustering of Galaxy Clusters

The use of Abell's (1958) complete redshift sample of rich clusters of galaxies with distance class less than or equal to 4 to calculate the spatial correlation function of the rich clusters of galaxies is described. The distance and separations for the clusters of galaxies are estimated. It is observed that the mean density remains constant for small redshifts and then the density falls off due to the limited accuracy of the estimated distance. The calculated density data are compared with random catalog data; the observed density selection function is applied to the development of a supercluster catalog. 18 references.