cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Technological change and interior settlement on western Santa Rosa Island, California

Abstract We use data on site distributions, chronology, and artifact assemblages from a large, flat upland landscape on Santa Rosa Island to better understand the relationship between coastal and interior settlement patterns on California’s northern Channel Islands. This region, Pocket Field, was an important hub of occupation during the late Pleistocene/early Holocene (before 7550 cal BP) and throughout the late Holocene (3600–168 cal BP). A radiocarbon chronology for the region suggests that settlement patterns are consistent with what has been observed in coastal locations, with an increase in site density throughout the late Holocene. Groundstone is an important component of the late Holocene archaeological record, although it decreases in importance following the droughts of the Medieval Climatic Anomaly (MCA; 1150–600 cal BP). Olivella biplicata shell bead production at dense midden sites indicates that occupation of the region was not just for access to terrestrial resources. An increase in sites with projectile points during the MCA may reflect an increase in interpersonal violence and indicate that increasing territoriality that occurred on the coast may have extended into the island interior. Our study demonstrates that interior sites were integral components of island settlement and subsistence patterns, even when diet is heavily marine-oriented.
A/B Testing at Scale: Accelerating Software Innovation

The Internet and the general digitalization of products and operations provides an unprecedented opportunity to accelerate innovation while applying a rigorous and trustworthy methodology for supporting key product decisions. Developers of connected software, including web sites, applications, and devices, can now evaluate ideas quickly and accurately using controlled experiments, also known as A/B tests. From front-end user-interface changes to backend algorithms, from search engines (e.g., Google, Bing, Yahoo!) to retailers (e.g., Amazon, eBay, Etsy) to social networking services (e.g., Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter) to travel services (e.g., Expedia, Airbnb, Booking.com) to many startups, online controlled experiments are now utilized to make data-driven decisions at a wide range of companies. The theory of a controlled experiment is simple, but for the practitioner the deployment and evaluation of online controlled experiments at scale (100’s of concurrently running experiments) across a variety of web sites, mobile apps, and desktop applications presents many pitfalls and new research challenges. In this tutorial, we will introduce the overall A/B testing methodology, walkthrough use cases using real examples, and then focus on practical and research challenges in scaling experimentation. We will share key lessons learned from scaling experimentation at Microsoft to thousands of experiments per year and outline promising directions for future work.
ACM SIGGRAPH 2011 papers

Welcome to the SIGGRAPH 2011 Technical Papers Program! It has been an amazing honor to chair the technical papers program. This rare opportunity let me experience the process from a unique perspective, and I am now even more impressed by the dedication and professionalism of everyone involved, from authors and reviewers to all those working behind the scenes. Over many years, we have fine-tuned a conference program that does our community proud. This proceedings contains some of the most exciting and inspiring recent research in the area of computer graphics and interactive techniques. There were 432 submissions, a 10% increase over last year. The papers committee, comprised of 51 experts from academia and industry, accepted 82 papers. Although this acceptance rate of 19% is lower than last year, it is in line with the long-term distribution (2006=18%, 2007=24%, 2008=17%, 2009=18%, 2010=27%). Another 10 papers were referred to ACM Transactions on Graphics (TOG) as "Accept with major revision." If one counts those papers, acceptance rate was 21%.
Quantitative In Vivo Proteomics of Metformin Response in Liver Reveals AMPK-Dependent and -Independent Signaling Networks

Metformin is the front-line treatment for type 2 diabetes worldwide. It acts via effects on glucose and lipid metabolism in metabolic tissues, leading to enhanced insulin sensitivity. Despite significant effort, the molecular basis for metformin response remains poorly understood, with a limited number of specific biochemical pathways studied to date. To broaden our understanding of hepatic metformin response, we combine phospho-protein enrichment in tissue from genetically engineered mice with a quantitative proteomics platform to enable the discovery and quantification of basophilic kinase substrates in vivo. We define proteins whose binding to 14-3-3 are acutely regulated by metformin treatment and/or loss of the serine/threonine kinase, LKB1. Inducible binding of 250 proteins following metformin treatment is observed, 44% of which proteins bind in a manner requiring LKB1. Beyond AMPK, metformin activates protein kinase D and MAPKAPK2 in an LKB1-independent manner, revealing additional kinases that may mediate aspects of metformin response. Deeper analysis uncovered substrates of AMPK in endocytosis and calcium homeostasis.
The Challenges and Opportunities for Public Safety Communications: The Adams County Case Study

On September 23, 2011, the Silicon Flatirons Center brought together academics, lawyers, and members of the public safety communications industry to discuss the challenges and benefits of implementing a 21st century nationwide wireless broadband public safety network that is envisioned by the National Broadband Plan. This discussion was held at the University of Colorado School of Law, and it was moderated by Phil Weiser, Executive Director of the Silicon Flatirons Center and Dean of the University of Colorado School of Law, and Dale Hatfield, Silicon Flatirons Senior Fellow and University of Colorado Adjunct Professor. The discussion addressed the implementation of a 21st century broadband public safety communications network through study and dialogue surrounding the development of a broadband public safety network in Adams County, Colorado.
A Mechanistic Account of Stress-Induced Performance Degradation

Stress-induced performance degradation in high-pressure situations has been documented empirically and generated different explanations. The existing theories often assume the distinction between implicit and explicit processing but speculate differently on the impact that high-pressure situations have on their interaction. Although few attempts have been made so far at clarifying these underlying processes mechanistically (e.g., computationally), this paper proposes a detailed, mechanistic, and process-based account based on the Clarion cognitive architecture. This account incorporates facets of existing theories, but explores motivation, metacognition, and their effects on performance degradation. This account has been applied to different tasks that have previously suggested different explanations. These tasks were simulated within the Clarion cognitive architecture and results matched well with human data. Utilizing data from different tasks, we come up with a unified model of stress-induced performance degradation in high-pressure situations, which shows a unified, motivation-based, mechanistic account of these phenomena is possible, thus shedding light on the phenomena and pointing to mechanistic explanations of other related phenomena.
Assessment of Patient and Caregiver Attitudes and Approaches to Decision-Making Regarding Bone Marrow Transplant for Sickle Cell Disease: A Qualitative Study

Importance Bone marrow transplant (BMT) is a potentially curative treatment for sickle cell disease (SCD). Patient and caregiver attitudes toward BMT for SCD and the willingness to accept risks of BMT vary, but these attitudes are not well understood. Objective To understand patient and caregiver perceptions of and attitudes toward BMT for SCD and decision-making about BMT. Design, Setting, and Participants Qualitative study of interview transcripts from a convenience sample. Transcripts were from adults with SCD and caregivers of patients with SCD recruited from national and regional SCD conferences, symposia, and sickle cell clinics in 2 cities. Interview transcripts were used from the needs assessment phase to develop a patient-decision aid in 2013 to 2014 (group 1) and from the baseline point in 2015 to 2016 (group 2) of the parent trial, a randomized clinical trial of adults and caregivers of patients with SCD to evaluate the effectiveness of a patient decision aid. Main Outcomes and Measures Participant perspectives on decision-making regarding BMT for SCD. Results Fifty-seven transcripts from adults with SCD and 50 transcripts from caregivers of patients with SCD were included. Median (interquartile range [IQR]) age of adults with SCD was 34 (21-50) years in group 1 and 30 (23-38) years in group 2. The median (IQR) age of caregivers was 42.5 (31-52) years in group 1 and 41 (35-46.5) years in group 2. Most transcripts from adults with SCD (75.0% in group 1 and 72.4% in group 2) and caregivers of patients with SCD (76.7% in group 1 and 85.0% in group 2) were from female participants. Bone marrow transplant was perceived as a treatment option associated with serious risks. Reported attitudes toward BMT occurred on a continuum ranging from unfavorable to favorable. Participants reported serious decisional dilemma regarding BMT for SCD. Most participants expressed interest in learning about BMT or curative treatments. Conclusions and Relevance This qualitative study found a continuum in attitudes toward BMT for SCD and highlights the complexity of decision-making in BMT for SCD. Patients and families with SCD expressed an interest in learning about BMT. Future prospective studies of patient decision-making regarding BMT, especially in the context of emerging curative and novel disease-modifying therapies for SCD, are warranted.
Three Cases of Recovery from Sensorineural Hearing Loss in the First Year of Life: Implications for Monitoring and Management.

Background Three infants with different risk factors, behavioral and physiologic audiometric histories, and diagnoses were fit with amplification between 3 and 8 months of age. Two of the three met criteria for cochlear implantation. Purpose This article aims to heighten awareness of the rare possibility of recovery from sensorineural hearing loss in infants with varying histories and emphasize the importance of a full diagnostic test battery in all infants diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss every 3 months until objective and subjective thresholds are stable to ensure appropriate intervention. Research Design Case reports. Results All three infants demonstrated improvement or full recovery of hearing and cochlear function by approximately 12 months old. Their change in hearing was discovered due to frequent follow-up and/or caregiver report. One of these infants was tentatively scheduled to have cochlear implant surgery 2 months later. Conclusion Appropriate early intervention for infants with hearing loss is critical to ensure maximum accessibility to speech and language cues. The Federal Drug Administration approves cochlear implantation in infants as young as 12 months. When providing audiometric management of infants with sensorineural hearing loss, it is imperative to conduct a full diagnostic test battery every 3 months (including tympanometric, acoustic reflex, and otoacoustic emission measurement) until objective and subjective thresholds are stable. There was no apparent pattern of factors to predict that the infants highlighted in these cases would recover. Discussion among pediatric audiologists and otologists and comparison of data from clinics across the U.S. is needed to identify predictive patterns and determine appropriate, consistent monitoring of infants with sensorineural hearing loss.
Not so exceptional? Prosocial influences on union support among US workers:

US unions have often been characterized as ‘exceptional’ in their weakness and conservatism compared to their Western European counterparts. American organized labor is associated with a ‘business ...
Orientia tsutsugamushi modulates cellular levels of NF-κB inhibitor p105.

Background Scrub typhus is a neglected tropical disease that threatens more than one billion people. If antibiotic therapy is delayed, often due to mis- or late diagnosis, the case fatality rate can increase considerably. Scrub typhus is caused by the obligate intracellular bacterium, Orientia tsutsugamushi, which invades phagocytes and endothelial cells in vivo and diverse tissue culture cell types in vitro. The ability of O. tsutsugamushi to replicate in the cytoplasm indicates that it has evolved to counter eukaryotic host cell immune defense mechanisms. The transcription factor, NF-κB, is a tightly regulated initiator of proinflammatory and antimicrobial responses. Typically, the inhibitory proteins p105 and IκBα sequester the NF-κB p50:p65 heterodimer in the cytoplasm. Canonical activation of NF-κB via TNFα involves IKKβ-mediated serine phosphorylation of IκBα and p105, which leads to their degradation and enables NF-κB nuclear translocation. A portion of p105 is also processed into p50. O. tsutsugamushi impairs NF-κB translocation into the nucleus, but how it does so is incompletely defined. Principal findings Western blot, densitometry, and quantitative RT-PCR analyses of O. tsutsugamushi infected host cells were used to determine if the pathogen's ability to inhibit NF-κB is linked to modulation of p105. Results demonstrate that p105 levels are elevated several-fold in O. tsutsugamushi infected HeLa and RF/6A cells with only a nominal increase in p50. The O. tsutsugamushi-stimulated increase in p105 is bacterial dose- and protein synthesis-dependent, but does not occur at the level of host cell transcription. While TNFα-induced phosphorylation of p105 serine 932 proceeds unhindered in infected cells, p105 levels remain elevated and NF-κB p65 is retained in the cytoplasm. Conclusions O. tsutsugamushi specifically stabilizes p105 to inhibit the canonical NF-κB pathway, which advances understanding of how it counters host immunity to establish infection.
As simplificações criminosas do negacionismo da COVID-19

Neste artigo, o Professor Jean-Pierre Dupuy busca explorar as dimensoes eticas trazidas a tona pelo contexto da pandemia da Covid-19, baseando-se na ideia de que o Sars-Cov2 e eminentemente um virus moral. O pensador frances, inicialmente, desconstroi os argumentos dos negacionistas da pandemia, em particular em relacao a gravidade relativa da doenca e da supremacia da economia. Em seguida, o autor conclui sua reflexao argumentando que a propria ideia de liberdade nao e irrestrita, propondo assim uma postura etica necessaria a esses tempos, basea- da no bom senso e na consciencia de que para me proteger do virus preciso, acima de tudo, proteger o outro.
Nanoparticle diffusion in polymer melts in the presence of weak nanoparticle–monomer attractive interactions: A mode-coupling theory study

Mode-coupling theory is developed and employed to compute the nanoparticle diffusion coefficient in polymer solutions. Theoretical results are compared with molecular dynamics simulation data for a similar model. The theory properly reproduces the simulated effects of the nanoparticle size, mass, and concentration on the nanoparticle diffusion coefficient. Within the mode-coupling theory framework, a microscopic interpretation of the nonmonotonic dependence of the diffusion coefficient on the nanoparticle concentration is given in terms of structural and dynamic effects. Both the size dependence and mass dependence of the diffusion coefficient indicate a pronounced breakdown of the Stokes–Einstein relation for the present model.
A Structural Equation Modeling Investigation of the Theory of Planned Behavior Applied to Accounting Professors’ Formal Enforcement of Cheating Rules

This study investigates factors that influence accounting professors’ formal enforcement of academic misconduct rules using the Theory of Planned Behavior (“TPB”) as a theoretical framework. Obtaining a better understanding of formal enforcement will inform efforts to improve it. We emailed survey requests to 8,663 accounting faculty in 35 countries and received a reasonably representative sample of 1,207 (13.9% response rate) complete surveys from 23 countries — exceeding sample-size requirements for structural equation modeling to test our TPB model, which explains 43.3% of the variance in Formal Enforcement Behavior and 52.4% of Intention, consistent with past TPB studies. Results indicate that of the direct antecedents to Intention, Formal Enforcement Attitude is most important in explaining and predicting professors’ Formal Enforcement Behavior, followed by Perceived Behavioral Control and Subjective Norm. Model-fit results are unsurprisingly mixed but appear adequate in light of theory. Model estimates and model-fit statistics are robust to sensitivity checks, including analysis of only domestic respondents.
The Level of Measurement of Subjective Situation Awareness and Its Dimensions in the Situation Awareness Rating Technique (SART)

Situation awareness (SA), a measure of how well a person understands the situation, is frequently used to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of critical systems that depend on human behavior. While there are objective ways of measuring SA, subjective assessments, such as the SA rating technique (SART), are still widely used. However, it is not clear what the level of measurement is for SART-measured SA or its constituent dimensions This is a significant gap because the level of measurement determines what mathematics and statistics can be meaningfully used to synthesize and evaluate measures. This research uses a previously developed method for determining the level of measurement of psychometric ratings to evaluate the level of measurement of SART and its elements. Results show that all of the dimensions of SA can be treated as interval in most situations, but that each is on a separate interval scale. This result casts doubt on the validity of the formula SART uses to compute SA from its subcomponents. We ultimately discuss our results and explore future research directions.
My Morning Routine: An Interactive UDL Compliant E-Book on Health and Hygiene for Learners with Visual Difficulties

Health instruction assembles students’ information, abilities, and positive perspectives about wellbeing. However, 40% of the children in Pakistan are visually impaired and 38% have some cognitive disability due to malnutrition and poor hygiene practices. Despite COVID-19 putting the focus on the significance of hand cleanliness to forestall the spread of illness, reports from different countries have shown that the hand hygiene compliance rate has been estimated at only 40%. Using a Universal Design of Learning (UDL) approach, this research developed and produced a UDL compliant interactive android e-book that teaches young minds about the importance of staying clean and sanitization, especially to those learners who respond better when materials are paired with lights, sounds and/or movement. The scripting, story layout, design, and development were implemented using the seven stages of action and Nielson’s design heuristics. Drawing upon the cyclic process of developing prototypes and then learners providing feedback upon each version, this e-book was designed to optimize learning by minimizing the cognitive load on the learners, providing ease for learners with visual or cognitive learning disabilities. Results showed that the visually challenged learners responded well to the minimal design interface and graphics. Major impact of the research was students developing the habits of handwashing and following healthy morning routines, as indicated in the interviews and surveys conducted from the learners.
The Science of Consequences: How They Affect Genes, Change the Brain, and Impact Our World

This title presents a unique and fascinating introduction to a new field of science that is truly epic in scope. Children quickly learn that actions have consequences. This elementary lesson is repeated again and again throughout life as we adjust our behaviour according to the reactions they produce in the social and natural order. "The Science of Consequences" tells the story of how something so deceptively simple can help make sense of so much. Despite their variety, consequences appear to follow a common set of scientific principles and share some similar effects in the brain. Based on these principles, scientists have been able to create mathematical models of certain behaviors. And they have demonstrated that learning form consequences predictably activates genes and restructures the neural configuration of the brain - in humans as well as animals - thus demonstrating consequences are an integral part of the nature-and-nurture system.
Cannibalization or Market Expansion? The Impact of E-Books on Print Book Sales

E-book sales have experienced rapid growth in the past few years, yet their impact on print book sales remains unclear. This paper empirically investigates the cannibalization and market expansion effects of e-books. Using individual-level transaction data from 2008 to 2012, we estimate a dynamic structural model of consumer e-reader adoption and subsequent book purchases, including quantity, reading format (e-book or print book), and retailer choices in a number of book categories. We emphasize in the model the role of consumers’ self-selection into buying e-readers based on heterogeneous book tastes. We find that on average, 42% of e-book sales come from cannibalizing print book sales and 58% come from market expansion. Among the cannibalization effect, offline bookstores bear 53% of the cannibalization loss, while Amazon bears 32% and other online retailers bear 15%. We discuss how the impact of e-books would change under counterfactual pricing scenarios using the estimated demand system.
Pitfalls and Practical Considerations in Product Life Analysis--Part II: Mixtures of Product Populations and More General Models

This is the second part of a two-part paper. The first part dealt with some basic concepts and pitfalls of the analysis of product life data and presented two examples that illustrated the problems of extrapolation. In this part, we discuss problems in ..
Sociomateriality of information standards in infrastructure: Structure, organization, and process constraints

Information infrastructure comprises multiple disparate “worlds,” each of which may incorporate a distinct “regime of information” (Ekbia & Evans 2009). Different information regimes may be founded upon different types of information standards that do not interoperate with each other. In this paper, we develop a “sociomaterial” (Orlikowski & Scott 2008) perspective on information standards that illuminates such disjunctures through identifying fundamental distinctions between types of information standards: characterizing them in terms of structure, organization, and process constraints. We start by surveying two groups of information standards: those designed for computational use, and those used in social ordering and organizational contexts. Because the separation between the two groups is unambiguous, we refer to these as “pure” versions of “machine oriented” and “human oriented” information standards respectively. We proceed to characterize fundamental differences between the logical structure(s) of these two groups in terms of differences between categorization and classification (Jacob 2004). Then we discuss key organizational processes integral to the management and use of each type of standard, and note fundamental constraints underlying differences between these organization processes. We then move on to discuss “sociomaterial” standards – i.e. information standards the use of which entails imbricated combinations of computation and social practice. In addition to detailing structure and organizational process for each of these types, we argue that although these sociomaterial information standards are designed to bridge between formal computation and social practice contexts of use, fundamental distinctions remain such that all sociomaterial standards are ultimately either machine oriented or human oriented in their performance. We briefly illustrate the power of our perspective with examples and provide a catalog of types of human oriented standards which we believe to be the first of its kind. We conclude by touching on implications for sociomaterial theory development and noting practical implications for developing information infrastructure.
Fade to Black: The Formalization of Jackson's Youngstown Taxonomy by Hamdan and Medellin

Introduction 666 I. Background of Jackson’s Concurrence in Youngstown and Its Effect on Separation of Powers Doctrine 671 A. The “Steel Seizure” Case 671 B. Justice Jackson’s Concurring Opinion 674 C. Dames & Moore and the Application of Jackson’s Tripartite Taxonomy 677 II. Hamdan and Medellin Create a New Formalistic Standard for Jackson’s Taxonomy That Eliminates the “Zone of Twilight” Category 679 A. Hamdan Implements a “Disabling” Congress Standard in the Third Category of Jackson’s Taxonomy 680 B. Medellin Eliminates the “Zone of Twilight” By Requiring Longstanding Congressional Support for Executive Action 685 1. Medellin’s application of Jackson’s Taxonomy to President Bush’s authority to issue the Memorandum from “relevant treaties” 686 2. Medellin’s application of Jackson’s Taxonomy to President Bush’s authority to issue the Memorandum from “inherent” dispute resolution powers 688 III. Ramifications of the New Standard on Separation-ofPowers Issues and Executive Action 691
Marriage as a State of Mind: Federalism, Contract and the Expressive Interest in Family Law

This article will consider the locus of family law by examining, first, the relationship between cultural division and determination of the appropriate unit, federal, state or local, to govern family law, second, the nature of the divisions over same-sex marriage and how they relate to jurisdictional divisions, third, the ability of municipalities to act independently of the state in recognizing same-sex relationships, and, fourth, the ability of individuals to choose marital regimes to govern their intimate relationships through contract rather than family law.This article will argue that underlying these issues is the expressive interest in family law and it will explore that interest in the context of state recognition of e-marriages between same-sex couples. The article maintains that apart from full legal recognition of out-of-state marriages lie two other expressive interests. The first is the interest of the municipality in promoting shared values that differ from those of the state. While municipalities cannot overrule state law, they should be able to recognize out-of-state marriages in a variety of ways (such as providing a basis for domestic partnership benefits) that do not provide full recognition as legal marriages within the state. The second involves individual ability to choose among competing legal regimes. The article will consider the ability of same-sex partners to couple a marriage that their home state refuses to recognize with a contract incorporating the terms of their out-of-state marriages. While such agreements by themselves could not resolve issues of parentage or custody, they could create a contractual regime to govern financial matters and could incorporate compulsory arbitration provisions that allow them to select gay-friendly decision-makers to resolve future disputes. The article recognizes that states could outlaw all or some of these proposals, but in doing so, states face an increasingly difficult choice between allowing some state sponsored recognition of same-sex relationships or spurring the creation of alternative private regimes that undermine any pretense of shared values.
Deductive Verification of Continuous Dynamical Systems

We define the notion of inductive invariants for continuous dynamical systems and use it to present inference rules for safety verification of polynomial continuous dynamical systems. We present two different sound and complete inference rules, but neither of these rules can be effectively applied. We then present several simpler and practical inference rules that are sound and relatively complete for different classes of inductive invariants. The simpler inference rules can be effectively checked when all involved sets are semi-algebraic.
Capillary blood flow: II. Deformable model cells in tube flow

Abstract Capillary blood flow is investigated using large-scale deformable models of the red blood cell. Cell velocity and the additional pressure drop caused by a single cell are measured over a wide range of volume flow and at undeformed cell-to-tube diameter ratios of 1.0, 1.3, and 2.0. The stability and orientation of individual cells and the effect of cell spacing on the additional pressure drop is also investigated. Apparent relative viscosities characterizing the flow of blood through capillaries of various diameters are calculated on the basis of the pressure-drop data. A relationship between average hematocrit in a capillary and the associated “cup-mixing” value of hematocrit is theorized.
Utilizing NFC to secure identification

He Near Field Communication(NFC) protocol was standardized by the International Organization for Standards in 2003. As a result the use of NFC as a communication conduit has grown, is popular with several applications and becoming the standard in many cases. However, the protocol for NFC does not include security measures and can result in data being compromised. Consequently, different methods of securing NFC data have been developed when applied to door security, and payment transaction systems. This paper focuses on assessment of NFC security methods of passive “smart” chip cards and will include pros/cons for each, as well as a best practices suggestion.
Visual Basic .NET: one teacher's experience

This paper describes my reactions to teaching Visual Basic .NET in an intermediate programming course and lists the new features I have found helpful or confusing.
Leveraging a discriminative dictionary learning algorithm for single-lead ECG classification

Detecting and classifying cardiovascular diseases and their underlying etiology is necessary in critical-care patient monitoring. This paper presents a novel sparse-based classification algorithm for electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. We demonstrate dictionary learning and classification processes simultaneously following the detection of supraventricular and ventricular heartbeats using a single-lead ECG. Such a discriminative label-consistent learning procedure for adapting both dictionaries and classifier to a specified ECG signal, rather than employing pre-defined dictionaries, is our work's novelty. Because our results demonstrate a classification accuracy of 94.61% for Supra Ventricular Ectopic Beats (SVEB) class and 97.18% for Ventricular Ectopic Beats (VEB) class at sampling rate of 114 Hz on MIT-BIH database, a lower sampling rate of 114 Hz provides sufficient discriminatory power for the classification task.
Neuronal populations stained with the monoclonal antibody Cat-301 in the mammalian cerebral cortex and thalamus

The monoclonal antibody Cat-301 was used to examine neurons in the cerebral cortex and dorsal thalamus of several mammalian species, including Old World monkeys, cats, bush babies, guinea pigs, and rats. In each species, subpopulations of cortical and thalamic neurons are stained along the surfaces of their somata and proximal dendrites. Cat- 301-positive cortical neurons include specific groups of pyramidal cells (e.g., corticospinal but not corticobulbar or callosal neurons in the monkey sensory-motor areas) and certain GABA-immunoreactive nonpyramidal cells. In the thalamus, the relay neurons projecting to the cortex and not the intrinsic neurons are stained. The Cat-301- positive neurons are nonhomogeneously distributed in the cat and monkey cortex and thalamus. In the cortex, they are densely packed in 2 bands that in most areas include layers III and V, but that in primary sensory areas include layers IV and VI. Because the density of stained neurons, their distribution, and the intensity of their staining vary among cortical areas, the borders between neighboring areas can often be detected by the differences in Cat-301 staining. Broader, regional differences are also readily apparent, for areas in the parietal and occipital lobes contain large numbers of intensely stained cells, but most areas in the frontal and temporal lobes contain fewer, more lightly stained neurons. The same broad differences are seen within the thalamus: only those nuclei reciprocally connected with intensely stained cortical areas contain large numbers of Cat-301-positive neurons. Differences among species include variations in cell density and distribution when a given cortical area or thalamic nucleus is compared between cats and monkeys. Greater differences are seen among the other species. Immunoreactive neurons in the cerebral cortex are sparse and lightly stained in guinea pigs, are restricted to the hippocampal formation in rats, and are very rare and isolated in bush babies. Similarly, Cat-301-positive thalamic neurons are restricted to only one or 2 nuclei in the guinea pig and rat and are extremely rare in the bush baby. Cat-301 stains organized groups of neurons in the cat and monkey cortex and thalamus. In addition to the laminar organization of stained cells in all cortical areas (see above), the Cat-301- positive neurons of monkey areas 17 and 18 are grouped into radial arrays. In area 17, clusters of stained cells are present in layers above and below layer IVC. These clusters lie at the centers of ocular dominance columns, within patches stained for cytochrome oxidase (CO). Most of these cells are also GABA-immunoreactive.
Risky Business: New York City’s Experience With Fear-Based Public Health Campaigns

Fear-based public health campaigns have been the subject of an intense moral and empirical debate. We examined how New York City, under Mayor Michael Bloomberg, used fear-based appeals to confront three challenges to public health: high rates of tobacco use, obesity, and HIV infection. New York City’s use of this type of messaging may have set a precedent. Other state and local health departments will have to navigate how and whether to use fear in a context where it is possible to assert that it can serve the interests of public health. But this will not reduce the need to carefully balance efficacy, uncertainty, stigma, marginalization, emotional burdens, justice, community participation, and scientific credibility.
Identifying structural self-similarity in mountainous landscapes

Digital elevation model data were used to partition a mountainous landscape (northwestern Montana, USA) into watershed/hillslope terrain units at several different spatial scales. Fractal analysis of the perimeter to area relationships of the resulting partition polygons identified statistical self-similarity across a range of spatial scales (approximately four orders of magnitude in partition area). The fractal dimension was higher for a relatively complex fluvially-dominated terrain than for a structurally simpler glacially-dominated terrain (1.23 vs. 1.02, respectively). The structural self-similarity exhibited by this landscape has direct implications in scaling up ecosystem process models for landscape to regional simulations.
Abridgment of calculation of induced voltages in metallic conductors

A review is given of the rules and procedure used in electrical engineering for the calculation of induced voltages in metallic conductors, not including radiation effects. For the e. m. f. in a closed circuit e = — d ϕ/dt, the restriction is slated that the circuit is a closed loop of infinitesimal cross-section and without parallel branches. More complicated circuits are to be calculated by replacing them by a number of elementary circuits. Where there are moving contacts and conductors of finite cross-section, the rule e = B l v should be used. A discussion is given of calculations by considering magnetic fields to have velocities and the restriction is slated that in general, the resultant magnetic field should not be used with the B l v rule, when it is made up of component fields having velocities which differ in magnitude or direction.
Membrane microparticles in VTE and cancer

Microparticles (MPs) are cellular vesicles produced by all cells in response to apoptosis or cellular activation. In this brief review, the evidence that MPs mediate the thrombotic propensity that characterizes patients with cancer is evaluated. It is concluded that while considerable data exist to support a critical pathophysiologic role of host or tumor cell-derived MPs in cancer-associated thrombosis, causality is not yet firmly established. The results of prospective clinical studies that are currently underway should clarify any causative relationship.
Sensory Mechanisms in Mammalian Touch Receptor Cells

The sense of touch is critical for hand dexterity that allows mammals to recognize and grasp objects. Different qualities of touch are encoded by sensory neurons with distinct properties. Shapes and curvature are encoded by Merkel cell-neurite complexes, which mediate slowly adapting type I (SAI) responses. Merkel cells, which cluster in fingertips and other highly touch-sensitive skin areas, are enigmatic epidermal cells first described in 1875. The role that these cells play in SAI responses has been debated for 40 years.Based on morphology, Merkel cells are proposed to be mechanosensory cells. If so, Merkel cells should 1) transduce force into membrane-potential changes that gate voltage-activated ion channels and 2) signal afferent neurons through synaptic transmission. Functional studies testing these predictions in intact skin have produced conflicting results. To tackle these questions, my laboratory uses a combination of mouse genetics, in vitro systems and intact electrophysiological recordings. Our in vitro studies have demonstrated that Merkel cells are intrinsically force-sensitive and that voltage-activated channels open downstream of mechanical stimuli. Moreover, Merkel cells express numerous ion channels and presynaptic proteins. Collectively, these results suggest that Merkel cells are capable of serving as touch receptor cells and pave the way to discover transduction mechanisms.To determine whether Merkel cells are necessary for touch responses, we used Cre-loxP technology to generate mice that completely lack Merkel cells in the body skin. We then used an ex vivo skin-nerve preparation to survey the classes of touch-sensitive afferents in the saphenous nerve. Although we found no significant differences in nociceptive sensory fibers, we observed a complete loss of SAI responses among light-touch receptors in mice lacking Merkel cells compared with wild-type mice. These results demonstrate that Merkel cells are required for appropriate sensory coding of light touch.
How distorted is Cuba's trade? Evidence and predictions from a gravity model

Cuban trade has been historically distorted for two reasons: its membership in the socialist trade pact (CMEA) and the US embargo. Using a gravity model, this article explores the degree of distortion of the current Cuban trade structure and predicts its evolution, in the event the economy is liberalized. The econometric approach uses information on trade flows between 101 developing and developed countries in the 1980–91 period. The main results predict that 80 per cent of Cuban exports and imports will switch away from current partners (in particular, Canada and Japan) towards the USA, to reduce transportation and transaction costs. The results appear robust to specification, time period and trade determinants. The degree of distortion of Cuban trade has declined in the 1990–91 period but, unless the US embargo is lifted, it will not converge to what world trade patterns predict.
Transacylase and phospholipases in the synthesis of bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate.

Bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate (monoacyl-sn-glycero-1-phospho-1‘-monoacyl-sn-glycerol) is a unique lipid that represents greater than 15% of the total phospholipid of the resident alveolar macrophag...
Report on recent developments in the philosophy of quantum mechanics

In the simpler kinds of human experience an observation func tions as an objective test put to nature. The test may be direct, as when we watch a moving object, a star, or the countenance of a person; it may be highly indirect and instrumental, as in tracking an invisible plane by means of radar or in watching ?an actor via television. Between these extremes lies an infinite variety of inter mediate situations, rendering the meaning of the work direct very imprecise. Thus it is not clear at all, and also unimportant, whether the act of viewing an object through spectacles should be termed a direct or an indirect observation. Yet all the examples thus far cited' have one feature in common: they assume, and through their validity as sources of useful information affirm, the indifference of nature with respect to the act of observation. Nature is somehow, there, placid and undisturbed by, but accessible to, human know ledge. Preformed reality is open to observation but not affected by it to a significant degree. What we have just described is called by physicists the classical view, or the classical meaning of observation. It is plausible and appealing, lending weight to the philosophical doctrine of realism, to realism, to Descartes* res cogitans and res extensa, and to the Lock ian distinction between material nature and beholding mind. The classical view, however, is no longer universally accepted. Its decline in usefulness did not have its origin in the philosophic sphere, where simplicity rendered the view well-nigh impregnable; it was forced by factual failures of its implied affirmation that nature is indifferent to being observed.
“This nation will remain neutral”: Franklin D. Roosevelt uses inclusive and exclusive terms to justify a policy

This essay centers on Franklin D. Roosevelt's use of pronouns and verbs to make the policy of neutrality salient. His choices and arrangements direct attention to domestic concerns and away from the outbreak of hostilities in Europe.
AN ANALYSIS OF SOCIAL ORIENTATION AND THE USE OF SPACE IN A FLOCK OF DOMESTIC FOWL

Abstract This study presents a detailed analysis of individual position and orientation in a flock of five female domestic fowl. Overhead time-lapse cine film was analyzed with the Galatea/ST computerized film digitizaiton system. These data were integrated with direct observation of aggressive social rank. The animal positions extracted from the film were used to construct a variety of distance, location and angular measurements. These measurements were subjected to graphical, statistical and time series analyses in order to establish the relationship between social rank and spatial organization. The results are discussed with an emphasis on potential application of these methods to current ethological theory.
Internal-stress plasticity in titanium by cyclic alloying/dealloying with hydrogen

Abstract Internal-stress plasticity is a deformation mechanism where an externally applied stress biases internal mismatch stresses. We report here a novel method to induce internal-stress plasticity in titanium: a reversible change of chemical composition (at constant temperature) is produced by cyclic alloying/dealloying with hydrogen, rather than by thermal cycling (at constant composition) which induces the well-known phenomenon of transformation-mismatch plasticity in titanium. We demonstrate that chemical cycling with hydrogen, which induces internal stresses by both swelling mismatch and transformation mismatch, results in large, reproducible strain increments in the direction of the applied stress. We systematically explore different processing variables (applied stress, temperature, as well as hydrogen concentration, cycling rate and flow rate) and discuss our results in the light of previous studies on internal-stress plasticity induced by thermal cycling.
Sexual orientation and shifts in preferences for a partner's body attributes in short-term versus long-term mating contexts

This study assessed the effects of short- and long-term mating contexts on preferences for body characteristics of potential relationship partners in lesbians and heterosexual women. Lesbians (n = 41) rated figure drawings and computer-generated images of women that varied in body fat, waist-to-hip ratio, and breast size; heterosexual women (n = 95) rated computer-generated images of men that varied in muscularity and body fat. Both lesbians and heterosexual women showed a shift in preferences toward more physically attractive partners for shortterm relationships. All body aspects were affected, except that heterosexual women did not show a preference shift for male body fat. The results were interpreted in terms of a mating trade-off strategy in which mate preferences are the consequence of cost/benefit analyses and suggest that preferences for physical attributes of sexual partners may be shared by members of the same sex regardless of sexual orientation.
An Updated Bibliography of Works on the Philosophy of Thomas Reid

Although Thomas Reid has had a strong influence on contemporary thought, his philosophical writings have been to a large extent ignored. Recently, however, there has been a birth of interest in Reid's philosophy. In order to facilitate Reid scholarship, a bibliography of works by and on Reid, compiled by Nina Mikhalevsky, was published in the third issue of Philosophical Monographs. The title of this issue is Thomas Reid: Critical Interpretations. The following bibliography has been compiled to complete and update the aforementioned bibliography.
Causalgia of the heart: Phantom limb syndrome, disability and queer feeling

“Causalgia of the Heart” examines how new neurological research on phantom limb syndrome illuminates the tropological domain between psychoanalysis and recent affect theory. Through a queer feminist lens, the essay argues that centralizing disabilities studies might dissolve lingering impasses regarding bodies and signification in performance and cultural studies.
A new method for analyzing data from continuous depth-sensing microindentation tests

A new parameter, hardness/modulus2 (H/E2), has been derived from the equations used to calculate the hardness and elastic modulus from data taken during continuous depth-sensing microindentation tests. This paper discusses the use of this parameter to treat the data obtained from a sample whose surface roughness was of the same scale as the size of the indents. The resulting data were widely scattered. This scatter was reduced when the data were plotted in terms of H/E2 versus stiffness. The effect of surface roughness on the hardness and elastic modulus results is removed via stiffness measurements, provided single contacts are made between the indenter and the specimen. The function relating the cross-sectional area of the indenter versus the distance from its point is not required for calculation of H/E2, but the hardness and modulus cannot be determined separately. The parameter H/E2 indicates resistance to plastic penetration in this case.
A cautionary note on using N-acetylcysteine as an antagonist to assess isothiocyanate-induced reactive oxygen species-mediated apoptosis

N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) has been widely used in cell culture-based studies for the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in apoptosis induction by isothiocyanates (ITCs). Here we have demonstrated, using [(14)C]phenethyl ITC and [(14)C]sulforaphane, that NAC pretreatment significantly reduces ITC cellular uptake by conjugating with ITCs in the medium, suggesting that reduced uptake of ITCs, rather than the antioxidant activity of NAC itself, is responsible for the diminished downstream apoptotic effects. The study provides a cautionary note on the assay in studying mechanisms of apoptosis by ITCs and other electrophilic and thiol-reactive compounds.