cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Learning database security with hands-on mobile labs

As mobile computing is becoming more and more popular, the security threats to mobile applications are simultaneously increasing explosively. Most malicious activities hack the user's private information, such as contact and location information, hijack the user's transactions and communications, and exploit the confidential enterprise data stored in mobile databases or in cache on mobile devices. Database security is one of the most important security areas to be addressed. Many schools are integrating database security topics into database and cybersecurity education. This paper addresses the needs for pedagogical learning materials for database security education and the challenges of building database security capacity through effective, engaging, and investigative learning approaches, through transferrable and integratable mobile-based learning modules with hands-on companion labs based on the OWASP recommendations, such as input validation, data encryption, data sharing, auditing, and others. The primary goal of this learning approach is to create a motivating learning environment that encourages and engages all students in database security concepts and practices learning. The preliminary feedback from students was positive. Students gained hands-on real world learning experiences on Mobile Database Security (MDS) with Android mobile devices, which also greatly promoted students' self-efficacy and confidence in their mobile security learning.
Polyladderane Constructed from a Gemini Monomer through Photoreaction

Polyladderane, the first polymer to contain the ladderane functional group, was synthesized from a gemini monomer through photoreaction in the solid state. The modular design of the gemini monomers used to create polyladderane allowed specific structural modification, resulting in the formation of two distinct polymer products. Monomers were synthesized by connecting two photoreactive units, either sorbic acids (monomer I) or 2-furanacrylic acids (monomer II), with a 1,4-butanediol linker. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of the monomers confirmed that they packed in the desired head-to-tail orientation and within a viable distance for photoreaction by electronically complementary interaction. Pre-organized gemini monomers were irradiated with UV light and monitored by FT-IR. Two polyladderanes with cis,anti,cis-[3]-ladderane as a characteristic functional group were constructed stereospecifically in 24-36 hours.
CLINICAL FINDINGS IN TRIAMCINOLONE-ASSOCIATED MACULOPATHY.

Purpose To describe a crystalline retinopathy observed in patients greater than 1 year after intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA). Methods A retrospective, interventional, noncomparative, single-center case series of patients who received IVTA and developed subsequent crystalline retinopathy lasting greater than 1 year after injection. Results Eighteen eyes of 16 patients in which preretinal crystals were observed >1 year after IVTA were included in the study, with a mean follow-up (range) of 5.8 years (1.1-9.2) after IVTA. The crystals were refractile, not visible on fluorescein nor indocyanine green angiography, exhibited slow dissolution and movement, and were occasionally distributed in a circular fashion. Optical coherence tomography confirmed the preretinal and/or subhyaloid location of crystals. Conclusion Macular crystals can persist for years after IVTA. The crystals localize to the preretinal or subhyaloid space, are angiographically silent, can exhibit slow dissolution and movement, may be distributed in a circular fashion reflecting the bursa premacularis, and appear nonpathologic.
Nitrosative stress uncovers potent β2-adrenergic receptor-linked vasodilation further enhanced by blockade of clathrin endosome formation

Preexposure to an oxidative/nitrosative proinflammatory insult provides a “protective preconditioning” against future oxidative damage. We examined immediate vasoactive and molecular consequences o...
Considerations for Measuring Exposure to Chemical Mixtures

Exposure to chemical mixtures contributes to human disease risk. While analytical capability is continuing to increase, many chemicals remain understudied with regard to environmental occurrence and to toxicity. If a commercial chemical standard does not exist for a given chemical, then little to no quantitative data likely exists for that chemical. This chapter discusses exposures to organic chemical mixtures, lists necessary considerations for studying those exposures, and highlights research needs to continue to advance mixtures exposure science. When planning or reviewing studies that focus on exposure to chemical mixtures, important considerations include: spatial orientation of sampling, temporality of sampling, bioavailability of measured chemicals, measuring enough of the appropriate chemicals, potential for chemical transformations, and mixture effects. Importantly, relatively little is known about how exposure to mixtures of chemicals differs from exposure to individual chemicals. The majority of toxicity studies are performed using individual chemicals, so characterizing the toxicity of chemical mixtures should be a priority for the scientific community.
Estimating on-farm food loss at the field level: A methodology and applied case study on a North Carolina farm

Abstract Current estimates of food loss at the farm level are either carried forward from decades-old estimates that rely on data from small farms using alternative agricultural practices, or they are based on grower estimates reported during interviews. A straightforward protocol adaptable to many crops is necessary to provide comparable data that can begin to fill gaps in knowledge on food loss in the US. Accurate estimation of on-farm losses for fruits and vegetables can inform ongoing national food loss and waste discussions and farm-level business decisions that hold potentially positive impacts for farm viability and resource-use efficiency. This paper describes a straightforward methodology for field-level measurement and demonstrates its utility on six vegetable crops harvested in 13 fields of a 121-hectare North Carolina vegetable farm. In this case, results showed that on average, approximately 65% of the unharvested crop that remained in the field was of wholesome, edible quality, although the appearance may not meet buyers’ specifications for certain markets. The overall estimated average of vegetable crops that remained unharvested, yet were wholesome and available for recovery, was 8840 kg per hectare on the case study farm. The portion of the grower’s reported total marketed yield that remained unutilized in the field averaged 57%, a figure greatly exceeding current estimates of farm level loss. Developing strategies to utilize these losses could enable growers to increase the amount of fresh produce moving into the supply chain, and represent a path towards sustainable intensification of vegetable crop production.
Active illumination return from space objects in non-Kolmogorov atmospheres

We investigate the effect of non-Kolmogorov turbulence on the coherent return of a Gaussian beam illuminating a space object. This scenario is relevant to a number of sensing and imaging modalities including both Free Space Optical Communications Spotlight Mode Inverse Synthetic Apeture LIDAR. In this work, we evaluate a collimated Gaussian beam laser as it propagates up through an atmosphere that is either entirely, or partially comprised of non-Kolmogorov turbulence. We assume that that illumination spot size is much larger than the object being illuminated and that the scattering from the surface of the object is Lambertian. Two scenarios are examined: a nadir-pointing geosynchronous orbit illumination and illumination of a low Earth orbit object near the horizon. In each of these scenarios we will focus on the effect of a change in the power law on overall operational capability of coherent imaging and object characterization systems.
Ribonuclease F, a putative processing endoribonuclease from Escherichia coli

Abstract A new endoribonuclease activity, RNase F, was partially purified from Escherichia coli cells. This activity can cleave a precursor RNA molecule (of Species 1), isolated from T4 infected cells, in a specific site. This activity is different from the other three know processing endoribonucleases of E. coli RNase III, RNase E and RNase P.
Behavioral Domains: Three Perspectives

Overview: This chapter links three key constructs discussed in Chapter 1, namely broad goals of the organism, the main types of environments within which these goals operate, and the behavioral domains that they define. We suggest that these goals and types of environments can be categorized and then cross-tabulated to form a heuristic device that helps demonstrate the underlying similarity of different disciplinary approaches to behavioral domains. We illustrate this type of analysis with perspectives on behavioral domains from three different scientific disciplines.
Image Pixelization with Differential Privacy

Ubiquitous surveillance cameras and personal devices have given rise to the vast generation of image data. While sharing the image data can benefit various applications, including intelligent transportation systems and social science research, those images may capture sensitive individual information, such as license plates, identities, etc. Existing image privacy preservation techniques adopt deterministic obfuscation, e.g., pixelization, which can lead to re-identification with well-trained neural networks. In this study, we propose sharing pixelized images with rigorous privacy guarantees. We extend the standard differential privacy notion to image data, which protects individuals, objects, or their features. Empirical evaluation with real-world datasets demonstrates the utility and efficiency of our method; despite its simplicity, our method is shown to effectively reduce the success rate of re-identification attacks.
No personality differences between oral contraceptive users and naturally cycling women: Implications for research on sex hormones.

Abstract Oral contraceptives (OCs) are the most widely used contraception method, and there is increasing interest in their effects on cognition, affect, and brain structure and function. Since women are not randomly assigned to OC use or non-use, it is unclear if previously-reported differences between OC users and naturally cycling (NC) women are due to sex hormones or to personal characteristics associated with pill use. The aim of this study was to fill this knowledge gap by comparing OC users and NC women on the Big Five personality factors. Participants came from two independent, large samples. The first contained 148 OC users and 93 NC women, and the second contained 247 OC users and 148 NC women. Consistent across both samples, multivariate analyses of covariance (with the five personality factors as dependent variables and age as a covariate) revealed no significant differences between OC users and NC women in personality, with absolute values of univariate effect sizes averaging d = .09. The pattern of results did not change when reason for OC use was considered, and users of different types of OCs did not differ from each other in personality. This well-powered study did not find personality differences between OC users and NC women in two independent samples, suggesting that previously-reported differences in cognition, affect, and the brain may be linked to neuroendocrinology.
Ratings Models Using Super Decisions v3

In this chapter, we will learn how to build ratings models using Super Decisions v3. This software version is particularly useful for ratings models. It may be useful to review the theoretical discussion of ratings models in a previous chapter titled “Understanding ratings models.” Here we will focus on the how-to aspects of using Super Decisions for ratings models. Readers are encouraged to review the Super Decisions documentation provided by the software developer (http://www.creativedecisions.net).
Determination of allowable bearing capacity of shallow foundation using modified hyperbolic stress-strain model

Abstract Nondestructive test methods like Spectral Analysis of Surface Wave (SASW) are widely used in geophysics and geotechnical area to find a shear wave velocity model of the subsoil for various applications. This study employed the SASW method to determine shear wave velocity and damping parameters at various locations at a construction site. The predicted shear wave velocity along the depth was predicted in this study and then was used to determine the soil profile in the ground. Shear wave velocity variation in depth, along with the damping ration predicted through the Half Power Bandwidth method from the SASW measurements were employed to predict the allowable bearing capacity of a pad footing. The hyperbolic stress-strain model of Hardin and Drnevich (1972) and the empirical equation proposed by Tezcan et al. (2006) were utilized to predict the allowable bearing capacity. Results showed that, the average differences between the allowable bearing capacity of shallow foundation calculated from theoretical and Vs based empirical equations with Macintosh Probe test were consistent.
How Do Students Talk About Intelligence?: An Investigation of Motivation, Self-efficacy, and Mindsets in Computer Science

Undergraduate programs in computer science (CS) face high dropout rates, and many students struggle while learning to program. Studies show that perceived programming ability is a significant factor in students' decision to major in CS. Fortunately, psychology research shows that promoting the growth mindset, or the belief that intelligence grows with effort, can improve student persistence and performance. However, mindset interventions have been less successful in CS than in other domains. We conducted a small-scale interview study to explore how CS students talk about their intelligence, mindsets, and programming behaviors. We found that students' mindsets rarely aligned with definitions in the literature; some present mindsets that combine fixed and growth attributes, while others behave in ways that do not align with their mindsets. We also found that students frequently evaluate their self-efficacy by appraising their programming intelligence, using surprising criteria like typing speed and ease of debugging to measure ability. We conducted a survey study with 103 students to explore these self-assessment criteria further, and found that students use varying and conflicting criteria to evaluate intelligence in CS. We believe the criteria that students choose may interact with mindsets and impact their motivation and approach to programming, which could help explain the limited success of mindset interventions in CS.
Assessing the Trustworthiness of Electronic Systems

Decision makers need credible assessments of the trustworthiness of electronic systems. Reverse engineering can provide the way forward, and the trust-assessment community should support the advancement of reversing as an engineering discipline.
The Sustainability Challenges Facing Research and Teaching Laboratories When Going Green

While 8.2 billion tons of plastic has been produced worldwide to date, only 9% of it has been recycled.1 Approximately 400 million tons of plastics are manufactured every year, of which about 146 m...
Public and Private Revisited: Storied Reflections from a Food Allergy Parent

The trauma, the confusion, the anxiety … it comes back to me in flashes, in bits and pieces. Sometimes I can tell a coherent story, but when I recall particular events, certain turning points, I re...
Stem Cells and Progenitor Cells in Interstitial Lung Disease

Abstract Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) represent a major challenge to public health and the medical research community. The pathogenic mechanisms underlying many of the ILDs have been challenging to unravel, thus halting the development of therapies. Recent research in both basic science and clinical settings suggests that regional stem cells in the lung participate in tissue repair and disease pathogenesis. Understanding the roles that stem cells play in basic lung biology and in the pathogenesis of interstitial lung diseases could identify novel targets and facilitate the development of effective therapeutics for these diseases.
Motivators of and Barriers to Drinking Healthy Beverages among a Sample of Diverse Adults in Bronx, NY

Background: Consuming sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with several chronic health conditions. In the United States, government regulations and behavioral health interventions to reduce the ...
False allegations and caseworker conflict: Stressors among long-term foster parents

Abstract This qualitative study explored the wisdom and expertise of 19 foster parents who averaged 20 years of fostering experience to learn their most formidable challenges while interacting with the child welfare system as well as sources of support. Phenomenological methods revealed patterns in foster parents’ shared experiences. Findings revealed two significant stressors linked to decision-making: 1) feeling disempowered and undervalued by child protection workers, and 2) coping with false allegations and the investigation process. System-level configuration of roles and power placed stakeholders in an adversarial rather than collaborative position. Their licensing social workers and other long-term foster parents were the strongest sources of support. Findings suggest that stressors may be alleviated with an inclusive and collaborative approach toward decision-making about child placement decisions, recurring trainings on the allegation process, assigning a support social worker during investigations, and cultivating an ongoing supportive community among foster parents.
Microscopic Colitis Is Not an Independent Risk Factor for Low Bone Density

Microscopic colitis (MC) is a subtype of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with overlapping risk factors for low bone density (LBD). While LBD is a known complication of IBD, its association with MC is not well-established. Assess the prevalence of LBD in MC compared to control populations, and evaluate if MC predicts LBD when controlling for confounders. Retrospective, observational case control study of adult patients with pathologically confirmed MC from 2005 to 2015. Bone density measurements were abstracted from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) reports, and bone density was classified using T-score: normal (T ≥ − 1.0), osteopenia (− 1.0 > T > -2.5) or osteoporosis (T ≤ − 2.5). Demographics, disease, medication history and LBD risk factors were obtained from chart review. Prevalence of LBD was compared to national and local controls. A matched control cohort to MC patients without prior diagnosis of LBD was analyzed with logistic regression to assess the relationship of MC to LBD. One hundred and eighteen patients with MC were identified. Osteopenia in women with MC was more prevalent compared to national controls (67% vs. 49%, p = 0.0004), and LBD was more prevalent in MC patients compared to local controls (82% vs. 55%, p < 0.0001). In MC patients without prior diagnosis of LBD matched to controls, there was a higher prevalence of osteopenia (53.2% vs. 36.7%, p = 0.04). However, after controlling for confounders, MC was not associated with LBD (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.22, 3.16, p = 0.8). While LBD was more prevalent in MC patients compared to control populations, with adjustment for key confounders (including BMI, steroids, smoking, vitamin D and calcium use), MC was not an independent predictor of LBD.
Space-based measurements of neutron lifetime: Approaches to resolving the neutron lifetime anomaly

Abstract Free neutrons have a measured lifetime of 880 s, but disagreement between existing laboratory measurements of ∼ 10 s have persisted over many years. This uncertainty has implications for multiple physics disciplines, including standard-model particle physics and Big-Bang nucleosynthesis. Space-based neutron lifetime measurements have been shown to be feasible using existing data taken at Venus and the Moon, although the uncertainties for these measurements of tens of seconds prevent addressing the current lifetime discrepancy. We investigate the implementation of a dedicated space-based experiment that could provide a competitive and independent lifetime measurement. We considered a variety of scenarios, including measurements made from orbit about the Earth, Moon, and Venus, as well as on the surface of the Moon. For a standard-sized neutron detector, a measurement with three-second statistical precision can be obtained from Venus orbit in less than a day; a one-second statistical precision can be obtained from Venus orbit in less than a week. Similarly precise measurements in Earth orbit and on the lunar surface can be acquired in less than 40 days (three-second precision) and ∼ 300 days (one-second precision). Systematic uncertainties that affect a space-based neutron lifetime measurement are investigated, and the feasibility of developing such an experiment is discussed.
Invasion entire solutions for two-species diffusive monostable competitive systems

Abstract We study the existence of entire solutions of two-species diffusive monostable Lotka–Volterra competitive systems. Our results cover both cases of monostable with stable coexistence equilibrium and monostable with competition–extinction equilibria. We prove the existence of entire solutions describing different types of invasion scenarios of an empty territory by two competitors as the time variable t → − ∞ . Depending on the mobile species, these invasion phenomena can occur either from one side or both sides of the x -axis, leading to the existence of different types of entire solutions. In particular, the existence of entire solution characterizing the invasion of an empty habitat from one side by a weaker competitor and from both sides of the same territory by a stronger competitor as the time variable t → − ∞ are established. We construct delicate super–sub solutions and employ the comparison principle to prove our main results.
THz Nonlinear Dielectrics

We experimentally investigate the dielectric response of two different liquid samples through nonlinear terahertz spectroscopy. Our results indicate that the nonlinear indexes of refraction of these liquids in the terahertz frequency range are up to six orders higher than those in the optical regime with an averaged value of 7.8±3×10-10cm2/W for water and 1.30 ± 0.01×10-10cm2/W for α-pinene.
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Pregnancy

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for rescue therapy, in pulmonary and cardiopulmonary failure, has been well described in the literature. Improvements in technology and critical care have allowed for increased utilization secondary to improvement in clinical outcomes (Mosier et al. Crit Care 19:431, 2015). To date, application for special populations, such as in obstetric patients, is not clearly defined (Pacheco et al. Semin Perinatol 42(1):21–5, 2018). Multiple case reports have been published supporting ECMO use in pregnancy and the peripartum period. In this chapter, the basics of ECMO will be discussed along with its potential utilization in the obstetric patients.
Do Impulsivity and Education Moderate the Effectiveness of Police Sexual Assault Investigations Training? Findings From a Solomon Four-Group Quasi-Experiment:

Few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of sexual assault investigations training using experimental designs. Existing studies have not examined the impact of officers’ levels of impulsivity a...
Paraneuronal grafts in unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats: morphological aspects of adrenal chromaffin and carotid body glomus cell implants.

Publisher Summary Implants of both chromaffin and glomus cells reverse amphetamine-induced rotational behavior and appear viable in the unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) rodent model. This chapter describes the potential of several alternative sources of donor tissue for neural transplantation, and emphasizes upon two members of the sympathoadrenal cell lineage, the adrenal chromaffin and carotid body glomus cells, as implants in the unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) rodent model. The particular focus of the present study is on the fine structure of these paraneuronal grafts 30 days post-implantation into the denervated striatum. Once implanted, the chromaffin cells demonstrate a plasticity of their dense-core vesicles, with the average diameter decreasing in size when compared to normal adrenal medullary cells. However, the study raises some important questions that need to be addressed, such as (1) will these paraneuronal cells survive and continue to exert positive behavioral effects in long-term experiments, and (2) what is the critical mass of implanted tissue needed to achieve functional recovery, and where in the brain are the optimal sites for ransplantation of these cells. The chapter indicates that answers to these questions are essential for designing rationale clinical approaches for the treatment of parkinsonism, and to encourage the acceleration of transplantation research in appropriate animal models.
Electrical equipment for NEC Class I locations

Safety can be obtained in a hazardous area when enclosures of electrical equipments are purged, pressurized, or are explosion proof. The chapter focuses on electrical equipments required for a division 1 and division 2 locations. For several electrical equipments, individual components should be explosion-proof rather than the enclosures being purged or pressurized. However, in the case of Divison. 2, the electrical equipment for the location does not have to be approved for NEC Class I. To safeguard electrical equipments: intrinsically safe electrical equipment has are suggested, the making of an electrical is also outlined. however, the construction of explosion-proof enclosures will prevent the flame of an explosion within the enclosure from propagating to the outside of the enclosure. This unique feature makes the hazardous location equipped with explosion-proof electrical equipment completely safe. Most manufacturers follow the UL Standards for explosion-proof electrical equipment which have been developed on the basis of extensive laboratory tests. The UL is a non-profit organization sponsored by the American Insurance Association, it determines the safety of equipments and materials for use in hazardous locations and establishes standards for the industry. The UL subjects the explosion-proof electrical equipment and its materials to a series of tests with specific gas or vapor mixtures over a range of flammable or explosive concentrations from which the maximum explosion pressure that may occur in the enclosure is determined.
All Is Not Always Lost When the Center Does Not Hold

After Collapse . The Regeneration of Complex Societies. Glenn M. Schwartz and John J. Nichols, Eds. . University of Arizona Press, Tucson, AZ, 2006. 295 pp. $50. ISBN 97808165096. The contributors discuss a series of case studies from around the world to explore how some early complex societies reappeared after periods of decentralization and disruption.
Pseudo-dynamic travel model application to assess traveler information

This paper reports an effort to estimate potential benefits of Advanced Traveler Information Systems (ATIS) by combing regional travel demand and microscopic simulation models. The approach incorporates dynamic features not yet available in the commercial software market. The suggested technique employs data that are readily available to most urban planning organizations, and is straightforward in its application. The key reported measure of effectiveness is corridor and local system delay, and is sensitive to both the level of penetration of traveler information and the pre-trip and en-route choices drivers make based on this information. The technique is demonstrated on an urban freeway corridor in a medium sized mid-west city.
An OLG Model of Tax Evasion with Public Capital

The paper presents a dynamic overlapping generations model of tax evasion where government revenue is used to provide public capital. It establishes existence and uniqueness of the competitive equilibrium and presents a detailed characterization of its dynamics. An increase in the probability of being caught, and the penal tax rate reduces tax evasion along the entire equilibrium path - a result that holds in the existing models in the literature across steady states. In the extended small open economy model with tariff on imported capital, distortions due to tax evasion wipe out the gains from the tariff reform.
Language Learning Impairment

Early reports of children who failed to learn language at or near the expected age, but with no history or evidence of acquired brain lesions, began to emerge only in the mid 1960s. Such children were first diagnosed as ‘developmentally aphasic.’ The diagnosis of ‘developmental aphasia’ emphasized the congenital or developmental, rather than the acquired, nature of the language learning impairment. Similarly, it was emphasized that the specificity of the deficit must lie in the linguistic domain. Language learning problems secondary to other developmental disabilities such as hearing loss or deafness, mental retardation, evidence of frank neurological problems (such as seizure disorder or hemiplegia), or structural or motor deficits effecting the oral musculature (such as cleft palate or cerebral palsy), were traditionally excluded from the classification of developmental aphasia. One exception to this diagnosis by exclusion was notable deficits, not only in speech and language, but also in higher order central auditory processing. Over the years the term ‘developmental aphasia’ has been replaced by other terms such as ‘congenital aphasia,’ ‘specific language impairment,’ and, most recently, ‘language learning impairment.’ The most recent classification, ‘language learning impairment,’ acknowledges the frequent continuum between oral and written language learning impairments in children. More recently, research has moved away from a focus on exclusionary definitions of specific language impairments to a broader perspective that focuses on better elucidating the linguistic, cognitive, and neurobiological concomitants of developmental language learning impairments.
Fabrication Processes for Polymer-Based Microfluidic Analytical Devices

Fabrication methods for polymer-based microanalytical devices are described. Production of microchannels is based on laser micromachining methods, and are produced either by directly milling channels into substrate faces, or by sandwiching thin pieces of machined polyimide between solid surfaces. Use of a multilayer laminated process for some of the devices improves device compactness and efficiency of fluid flow.
Auditory brainstem response (ABR) abnormalities across the life span of rats prenatally exposed to alcohol.

Background: Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a leading cause of neurodevelopmental impairments (NDIs) in developed countries. Sensory deficits can play a major role in NDI, yet few studies have investigated the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on sensory function. In addition, there is a paucity of information on the lifelong effects of prenatal alcohol exposure. Thus, we sought to investigate the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on auditory function across the life span in an animal model. Based on prior findings with prenatal alcohol exposure and other forms of adverse prenatal environments, we hypothesized that animals prenatally exposed to alcohol would show an age-dependent pattern of (i) hearing and neurological abnormalities as postweanling pups, (ii) a substantial dissipation of such abnormalities in young adulthood, and (iii) a resurgence of such abnormalities in middle-aged adulthood. Methods: Pregnant rats were randomly assigned to an untreated control (CON), a pair-fed control (PFC), or an alcohol-treated (ALC) group. The ALC dams were gavaged with 6 mg/kg alcohol daily from gestation day (GD) 6 to 21. The PFC dams were gavaged daily from GD6 to GD21 with an isocaloric and isovolumetric water-based solution of maltose-dextrins and pair-fed to the ALC dams. The CON dams were the untreated group to which the ALC and CON groups were compared. Hearing and neurological functions in the offspring were assessed with the auditory brainstem response (ABR) at the postnatal ages of 22, 220, and 520 days. Results: In accord with our hypothesis, ABR abnormalities were first observed in the postweanling pups, largely dissipated in young adulthood, and then resurged in middle-aged adulthood. This age-related pattern suggests that the ALC pups had a developmental delay that dissipated in young adulthood and an enhanced age-related deterioration that occurred in middle-aged adulthood. Such a pattern is consistent with the fetal programming hypothesis of adult-onset diseases (the Barker hypothesis). Conclusions: Our findings have important clinical implications for the assessment and management of (i) childhood hearing disorders and their comorbidities (i.e., speech-and-language, learning, and attention deficit disorders) and (ii) enhanced age-related hearing and neurological degeneration in middle-aged adulthood that can result from prenatal alcohol exposure. We recommend hearing evaluation be a part of any long-term follow-up for FAS patients and patients exposed to any adverse prenatal environment.
Regimens of less than six months for treating tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND WHO recommends 6 months of treatment in TB programmes. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this review is to assess the effects of regimens lasting less than 6 months compared with longer regimens in the treatment of active TB. SEARCH STRATEGY Search strategy: MEDLINE 1955-, Cochrane Infectious Diseases Trials Register, existing reviews, and researchers in the field. Date of the most recent search: January 1999. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomized trials comparing two or more TB drug regimens, in which at least one regimen was <6 months and it was compared with at least one regimen that lasted longer, in any patients with active TB. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS One reviewer extracted data and assessed trial quality. MAIN RESULTS Seven trials with a total of 9 comparisons of <6 months (range: 2-5 months) versus longer treatment were included. About 2200 patients were in the shorter regimens and about 1900 in the longer regimens (the same comparison groups were used for more than one shorter regimen, in two studies). Relapse rates were consistently higher after shorter duration treatment regimens, regardless of the comparison made, though they were all relatively low. Results were significantly better in the longer groups in the meta-analyses of 2, 3, and 4 months of treatment vs longer treatment (Peto OR = 6.1 [95%CI 2.19,17.01], 3.67 [2.42,5.58], 3.64 [1.71,7. 75] but not in the single trial of 5 vs. 7 months (Peto OR = 2.24 [0. 90,5.59]. Relapse rates after longer (comparison) regimens ranged from 0-7% at one year (or more), and in the shorter treatment arms, they ranged from 1-9% in 8 trials, and18% relapsed in the one remaining. There was little or no difference in the rates of adverse reactions or toxicity requiring a change of regimen or discontinuation of treatment. The "sterilizing efficacy" at the end of treatment varied little among treatments, providing no predictive value for relapse rates. Few or no deaths were reported in the individual trials, and in no case did enough deaths occur for a comparison of short vs. long regimens. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS Longer periods of treatment (at least up to 6 months) result in higher success rates in patients with active TB, but the differences are small. Under field conditions, where adherence to treatment is a big problem, and shorter regimens might improve adherence, these differences may not be evident. A comparison of <6 months vs. 6 months of treatment under programme conditions would be needed to determine this.
Dresden: Paradoxes of Memory and History

Dresden: Paradoxes of Memory and History. Elizabeth A.Ten Dyke. New York: Routledge, 2001. 316 pp.
On efficiently tolerating general failures in autonomous decentralized multiserver systems

We consider a multiserver system consisting of a set of servers that provide some service to a set of clients by accessing some shared objects. The goal is to provide reliable service in spite of client or server failures such that the overhead during normal operating periods is low. We consider a relatively general fault model where a faulty processor can write spurious data for a period of time before it is detected and removed from the system. We first develop a solution in an autonomous physical world of clients and servers. The basic approach is to divide the servers into groups such that each server has some limitations which prevent it from arbitrarily damaging the system. This solution is then mapped to a distributed system of processor and memory units followed by an assessment of its performance. >
TCT-333 New Simulation System for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Training (Rhythmically beating vascular model)

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a well established therapy for coronary artery disease. However, training methods of PCI has yet to be established. We reconstructed the whole body type PCI simulating vascular model from the imaging data of 64 raw MDCT, including coronary arteries with a
Modern dialectics in social psychology: A reappraisal

The current status of dialectic theory in social psychology is critically examined. Its basic and interdependent assumptions are discussed and recent misconceptions analyzed. An attempt is made to clarify major confusions and misinterpretations of dialectics regarding such issues as dialectics as a conceptual versus a methodological tool, dialectics as a form of cognitive process, dialectics as a firm of interactionism, and dialectical contradictions as semantic opposites. To illustrate the relevance of dialectic theory to current issues a major dualism in social psychology is examined, namely that of individual versus social theorizing. Drawing liberally from Marxist social theory it is shown how the traditional dualism is resolved through dialectics. Finally, a response is firmed to criticisms addressed to the current status of social psychology. It is shown that dialectics not only incorporates most of the demands raised by these criticisms, but also enhances the field by pointing toward new perspectives and directions.
Study of EHS type IV collagen lacking Goodpasture's epitope in glomerulonephritis in rats.

Study of EHS type IV collagen lacking Goodpasture's epitope in glomerulonephritis in rats. The Goodpasture's epitope has been mapped to the α 3 non-collagenous chain (NC1) of type (IV) collagen [α 3 col(IV)]. We have developed a model of experimental autoimmune glomerulonephritis (EAG) in rats immunized once with collagenase solubilized GBM (csGBM). Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm (EHS) tumor contains abundant col(IV) with little or no α 3 col(IV). To test the hypothesis that antigens related to Goodpasture epitope are required to produce EAG in our model, we immunized rats once with 40 µg csEHS. Positive controls immunized with csGBM developed typical EAG with GBM bound antibody, proteinuria, and glomerulonephritis. EHS rats developed circulating and bound antibody to mesangium and tubular basement membrane with minimal GBM deposits, but did not develop proteinuria or glomerulonephritis. Although circulating antibody in EHS rats bound to csGBM by ELISA, there was no binding in ELISA to M2 antigen containing the Goodpasture epitope while EAG rat's serum did bind. By Western blot with antisera to Goodpasture epitope, EHS antigen was less complex than GBM in the monomer/dimer regions and appeared to lack NC1 corresponding to α 3 col(IV). Blotting with sera from EHS rats demonstrated reactivity to various components of GBM but not to α 3 col(IV). EAG sera and renal eluates bound to α 3 col(IV). EAG rats evidenced cell mediated immunity while EHS rats did not (stimulation index EHS 1.1, EAG rats 8.0). These studies show that the development of antibody to col(IV) in a setting conducive to EAG does not cause EAG in the absence of α 3 col(IV) NC1, that the antibody response in EHS rats was not associated with a cellular response to the antigen and that an epitope on the same NC1 α 3 col(IV) which contains the Goodpasture epitope appears necessary to induce EAG in this model. These studies further implicate the α 3 col(IV) as a pathogenetic factor in the development of Goodpasture syndrome in humans as well as a marker of disease.
Monte Carlo modeling of femtosecond relaxation processes in AlGaAs/GaAs quantum wells

Results are presented from Monte Carlo simulations of the femtosecond relaxation of photoexcited electrons in AlGaAs/GaAs quantum wells. Two experiments are simulated: in one electrons are initially excited at high energies far from equilibrium, and in other electrons are excited at low energies close to the bottom of the band. The effects of electron-electron, polar optical phonon, and intervalley deformation potential scattering are studied. For comparison, subpicosecond relaxation in bulk GaAs is also discussed. >
THE PROBLEM OF MASS TORTS

Jody Kraus complains that I was wrong to maintain that there is an apparent problem reconciling mass tort law and standard moral and legal principles.1 Against Kraus, I believe that there is a fascinating problem here, a problem which has not yet been solved, despite my efforts. I will briefly explain why I am puzzled that Kraus sees no "troublesome feature" of mass tort law, and then answer his other criticisms of my paper. What is the problem? I devote much space in "Mass Torts and Moral Principles" to laying it out.2 Let me summarize. In mass tort cases, courts seem to make firms pay for injuries even when they believe (1) it is probable that the firm did not cause the injury, (2) the firm had no promissory obligation to pay for the injury, and (3) the firm was in no variety of conspiracy with whomever caused the injury. It seems on the surface unfair for a court to compel a firm to pay for an injury even though the firm bears no significant causal or other connection to that injury. The moral problem of mass torts lies in assessing this issue of fairness. Resolving the problem, I have argued, requires honing our understanding of the moral significance of the traditional causation requirement for imposing liability in tort law.
Biophysical constraints for protein structure prediction.

Though highly desirable, neither a single experimental technique nor a computational approach can be sufficient enough to rationalize a protein structure. The incorporation of biophysical constraints, which can be rationalized based on conventional biophysical measurements, might lead to considerable improvement of the simulation procedures. In this regard, our analysis of 180 proteins in different conformational states allows prediction of the overall protein dimension based on the chain length, i.e., the protein molecular weight, with an accuracy of 10%.
Initial crop growth in soil collected from a closed animal waste lagoon.

In the 21st century, remediation of the soil beneath animal waste lagoons will become an important issue, as they are closed due to environmental regulations or to abandonment. The possibility of growing crops in the soil, which has high concentrations of ammonium-N, has not been studied. The objective of this experiment was to determine if crop species would germinate and grow in lagoon soil. Soil was gathered from a lagoon that had received wastes from swine (Sus scrofa) and beef (Bos taurus) since 1968. Eight crops were grown in greenhouse pots containing the lagoon soil: winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L. `Weskan'); field corn (Zea mays L., Cargill's hybrid 7997); `Plainsman' winter rapeseed [Brassica napus L. spp. oleifera (Metzg.) Sinsk. f. biennis]; soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. `KS 4694'); forage sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench `Norkan']; sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. `Hysun 354'); and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)––two cultivars: `2137' and `Turkey.' Plants were grown for 35 days in lagoon soil or an agricultural soil (Haynie very fine sandy loam; coarse-silty, mixed, superactive, calcareous, mesic Mollic Udifluvent) obtained from a field near the closed lagoon. Ammonium-N (average value of 692 mg/kg) was about 70–85 times greater than the average value of 8–10 mg/kg NH4–N in Kansan soils. The lagoon soil was nonsodic and had a salinity ranking of “medium” with an electrical conductivity averaging 2.29 dS/m. The high ammonium-N concentration in the lagoon soil was not inhibitory to emergence and growth. The eight crops grew taller in the lagoon soil than in the agricultural soil. Except for `2137' wheat, dry weight was higher in the lagoon soil than in the agricultural soil. The results showed that the lagoon soil is not detrimental to early growth of eight crops.
Citizen uncertainty and turnout in the 1980 presidential campaign

In this paper the concept of uncertainty regarding for whom a citizen should vote is developed and is shown to be an important component of rational choice models of decision making. Uncertainty is measured using the 7-point issue scales from the 1980 Center for Political Studies survey. A nonrecursive, simultaneous-equation model of the determinants of uncertainty and turnout is developed and is estimated using a “modified” two-stage least squares technique. Among other results, we find that uncertainty is the most important determinant of whether or not citizens vote—stronger than civic duty, education, or strength of partisanship.
Simultaneously transmitter chirp and chromatic dispersion monitoring of OOK data using first and second optical harmonics of the data clock tones

We experimentally demonstrate a technique to simultaneously monitor transmitter chirp and chromatic dispersion utilizing the first and second optical harmonics of a RZ-OOK data. Monitored results of modulator typical chirp and dispersion of 0∼400-ps/nm are obtained.
Orthopaedic surgical training: the role of continuous surveillance and x-ray analysis in a district general hospital

Introduction Assessing orthopaedic trainees when they are operating unsupervised is difficult. Using post-operative x-rays is one possibility that has yet to be explored fully. Awareness that minimising tip–apex distance (TAD) when inserting a sliding hip screw reduces the risk of screw cut out is important for orthopaedic trainees. The advent of the Picture Archive and Communication System has made the accurate measurement of TAD from x-rays and image intensifier films much easier. This study was to determine whether TAD would be reduced if a surgeon knew that his performance was being continually monitored.
Shared decision-making about colorectal cancer screening: A conceptual framework to guide research

Objective To develop a conceptual framework to guide research on shared decision-making about colorectal cancer (CRC) screening among persons at average risk and their providers.
Traumatic shock, X-irradiation and avoidance behavior

Abstract Sprague-Dawley rats received training in a modified version of the Noble-Collip tumbling apparatus under a regime designed to produce resistance to this form of trauma. These animals were then subjected to a procedure in which X-irradiation was paired with saccharin solution. This procedure typically results in a subsequent conditioned avoidance response of saccharin solution. Trauma resistant rats showed a significantly lessened avoidance response when compared to the appropriate controls. It is suggested that resistance to tumbling trauma served to mitigate the effects of X-irradiation, thus accounting for the lessened saccharin avoidance responses.