cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Does public ownership of utilities matter for local government water policies

What differentiates local governments that implement water policies on equity and the environment? Analyzing a 2015 national survey of 1,897 U.S. municipalities, we find municipalities that own their water utilities are more likely to report policies to protect low-income residents from disconnection and implement water resource management. Respondents from 8% of municipalities report protecting residents from disconnection. State economic regulation of municipally owned utilities and Democrat-majority municipal governments are positively associated with local policies to protect low-income households from shutoffs but bear no association with resource management. Both municipal ownership of utilities and state economic regulation may play a role in meeting certain local water policy goals.
Simulating the human colorectal cancer microenvironment in 3D tumor-stroma co-cultures in vitro and in vivo

The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a significant role in cancer progression and thus modeling it will advance our understanding of cancer growth dynamics and response to therapies. Most in vitro models are not exposed to intact body physiology, and at the same time, fail to recapitulate the extensive features of the tumor stroma. Conversely, animal models do not accurately capture the human tumor architecture. We address these deficiencies with biofabricated colorectal cancer (CRC) tissue equivalents, which are built to replicate architectural features of biopsied CRC tissue. Our data shows that tumor-stroma co-cultures consisting of aligned extracellular matrix (ECM) fibers and ordered micro-architecture induced an epithelial phenotype in CRC cells while disordered ECM drove a mesenchymal phenotype, similar to well and poorly differentiated tumors, respectively. Importantly, co-cultures studied in vitro, and upon implantation in mice, revealed similar tumor growth dynamics and retention of architectural features for 28 days. Altogether, these results are the first demonstration of replicating human tumor ECM architecture in ex vivo and in vivo cultures.
Sub-nanosecond Reverse Recovery Measurement for ESD Devices

A method to measure sub-nanosecond reverse recovery in wafer-level test structures is presented. The setup uses a transmission line pulse generator with a time-domain through connection to measure the device-under-test current. The setup is used to measure reverse recovery in a 65-nm CMOS ESD diode, and it is found that a quasi-static compact model does not accurately describe the observed transient. A non-quasi-static charge control model is used to accurately simulate both the reverse recovery and the forward bias behavior.
Talent migration in NCAA division I tennis: an exploratory study

The recruitment of international-student athletes (ISAs) to NCAA schools in the United States has been a feature of intercollegiate athletics since the late 1940’s and an influx of foreign-born ath...
AHPCap: A Framework for Automated Hardware Proﬁling and Capture of Mobile Application States

The prevalence of push notifications for communication between devices is increasing and is vital to Internet of Things (IoT) components. It has been observed that delays of notification receipt vary even for devices that are on the same network and using the same hardware. A closer analysis is needed to understand what is occurring in the hardware when a notification occurs from a cloud service or other application.In this paper, we describe and develop a framework, AHPCap, to better understand application behavior at the hardware level at the time of a notification. We explain the framework and its deployment and capabilities. We then show an example of a hardware profile that can be generated on mobile devices and analyze the time required to capture and record the profile data. Lastly, we discuss some of AHPCap’s potential applications.
A heuristic scheduling approach for fog-cloud computing environment with stationary IoT devices

Abstract The emergence of the Internet of Things (IoT) paradigm has led to the rise of a variety of applications with different characteristics and Quality of Service (QoS) requirements. Those applications require computational power and have time sensitive requirements. Cloud computing paradigm provides an illusion to consumers with unlimited computation resource power. However, cloud computing fails to deliver on the time-sensitive requirements of applications. The main challenge in the cloud computing paradigm is the associated delays from the edge IoT device to the cloud data center and from the cloud data center back to the edge device. Fog computing extends limited computational services closer to the edge device to achieve the time sensitive requirement of applications. This work proposes a scheduling solution which adopts the three-tier fog computing architecture in order to satisfy the maximum number of requests given their deadline requirements. In this work, an optimization model using mixed integer programming is introduced to minimize deadline misses. The model is validated with an exact solution technique. The scheduling problem is known to be an NP-hard, and hence, exact optimization solutions are inadequate for a typical size problem in fog computing. Given the complex nature of the problem, a heuristic approach using the genetic algorithm (GA) is presented. The performance of the proposed GA was evaluated and compared against round robin and priority scheduling. The results show that the deadline misses of the proposed approach is 20%–55% better than the other techniques.
Speech and voice disorders in patients with psychogenic movement disorders

Psychogenic speech and voice disorders (PSVDs) may occur in isolation but more typically are encountered in the setting of other psychogenic disorders. We aimed to characterize the phenomenology, frequency, and correlates of PSVDs in a cohort of patients with psychogenic movement disorders (PMDs). We studied 182 consecutive patients with PMDs, 30 of whom (16.5 %) also exhibited PSVD. Stuttering was the most common speech abnormality (n = 16, 53.3 %), followed by speech arrests (n = 4, 13.3 %), foreign accent syndrome (n = 2, 6.6 %), hypophonia (n = 2, 6.6 %), and dysphonia (n = 2, 6.6 %). Four patients (13.2 %) had more complex presentations with different combinations of these patterns. No differences in gender, age at onset, and distribution of PMDs were observed between patients with and without PSVD. PSVDs are relatively frequent in patients with PMDs and are manifested by a wide variety of abnormal speech and voice phenomena, with stuttering being the most common presentation. Speech therapy and insight-oriented counseling may be helpful to some patients.
Periodic Orbits in the Elliptical Relative Motion Problem with Space Surveillance Applications

Periodic orbits with respect to an object in an eccentric Keplerian reference orbit can be found in a variety of ways, including the use of Tschauner–Hempel equations and orbital element differences, which both admit linearized solutions, as well as through direct analyses of two orbits. An alternative parameterization of the last approach is proposed in the current study, using an inertial frame and simple geometrical constructs inherent to the relative motion problem. In this manner, an intuitive and straightforward characterization of periodic orbits is established that retains the nonlinear dynamics. The resulting multidimensional space that defines the periodic orbits is surveyed, archiving 336 orbits and their characteristics, and direct comparisons are made with the Tschauner–Hempel equations to assess the linear region of validity. Applications focus on resident space object (RSO) surveillance and circumnavigation orbits. An orbit’s effectiveness is analyzed in terms of object coverage using cover...
Good Film, Bad Jury

12 Angry Men1 is a terrific film. Henry Fonda portrays Juror #8, the lone holdout. He manages to turn around eleven other jurors who have already made up their minds to convict the defendant in a capital murder case. Fonda gives a powerful performance. The American Film Institute rates Fonda’s Juror #8 as fifteenth on its list of the greatest fifty movie heroes of all time.2 During his fabled career, Fonda played other legends, including the young Abraham Lincoln, Tom Joad, the President of the United States (twice), Admiral Chester Nimitz (twice), “Mr. Roberts,” and two celebrated Clarences of the law—Clarence Darrow and Clarence Earl Gideon.3 Who can resist Fonda as still another heroic figure, doggedly pursuing the truth? The late actor radiated honesty and integrity. His face was an affidavit. I’m pleased to participate in this commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of 12 Angry Men. It is a wonderful movie with a remarkable ensemble cast, featuring a riveting actor with an unassuming sense of justice. Director Sidney Lumet and writer Reginald Rose produced and shot a tightly-written, suspenseful drama. Let us cheer their accomplishments. But we should celebrate 12 Angry Men for what it is—great and engaging theatre. Let us not claim that the movie stands for something more. It should not be our ideal of an American jury.
How the Implementation of Securitization in China Can Avoid the Problems that Caused the Financial Crisis that Arose in the United States

In 2008, the subprime mortgage crisis in the United States brought about a global financial crisis. Although there are many complex reasons for the subprime mortgage crisis, the securitization of credit has been determined to be one of the most important reasons for the coming about of the crisis. The implementation of securitization in China, in accordance with the Administrative Rules for Pilot Securitization of Credit Assets issued by the People’s Bank of China and the China Banking Regulatory Commission, as well as current laws and policies, could also bring about the problems that arose in the United States. China’s banks extend loans to state-owned enterprise in accordance with the requirements of the central government, and are not concerned with the ability of these enterprises to make good on their loans, bringing about a moral dilemma. Also, although securitization in China is regulated by certain government agencies, these agencies cannot individually apprise the asset pool of each securitization project and must rely on credit-rating agencies. This can likewise lead to the problems that arose in the subprime mortgage crisis.
Outcome and Efficacy–Analysis of Healthcare Models

The sections in this article are 1 Introduction 2 Levels At Which Efficacy and Effectiveness Can Be Addressed 3 Levels At Which Costs Can Be Addressed 4 Outcomes and Efficacy Research in Radiology 5 Overview 6 Biographical Sketches Related Articles
New Gas Chromatographic Characterization Procedure: Preliminary Studies on Some Pseudomonas Species

Strains of saccharolytic and nonsaccharolytic Pseudomonas species were examined by a new single-step gas chromatographic characterization procedure. Cells were digested in a methanolic solution of tetramethylammonium hydroxide pentahydrate, and the digestates were subjected to gas-liquid chromatographic analysis. The chromatograms were examined for similarities and differences in their overall patterns. A single component was defined for use as an internal qualitative and quantitative standardizing component in order to develop relative retention time-relative peak height profiles of each organism. Comparison of these profiles enabled the characterization of strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P. putida, P. cepacia, P. pseudomallei, P. stutzeri, P. pseudoalcaligenes, P. alcaligenes, P. diminuta, P. denitrificans, and P. acidovorans. The P. maltophilia and P. putrefaciens digestates showed chromatograms which were superficially similar yet easily distinguished as belonging to different species. The chromatograms of these two organisms were very different from those of other pseudomonads.
Cellobiose chemotaxis by the cellulolytic bacterium Cellulomonas gelida.

In the course of a study on the bacterial degradation of plant cell wall polysaccharides, we observed that growing cells of motile cellulolytic bacteria accumulated, without attachment, near cellulose fibers present in the cultures. Because it seemed likely that the accumulation was due to chemotactic behavior, we investigated the chemotactic responses of one of the above-mentioned bacteria (Cellulomonas gelida ATCC 488). We studied primarily the responses toward cellobiose, which is the major product of cellulose hydrolysis by microorganisms, and toward hemicellulose hydrolysis products. We found that cellobiose, cellotriose, D-glucose, xylobiose, and D-xylose, as well as other sugars that are hemicellulose components, served as chemoattractants for C. gelida, as determined by a modification of Adler's capillary assay. Competition and inducibility experiments indicated that C. gelida possesses at least two types of separately regulated cellobiose chemoreceptors (Cb1 and cellobiose, cellotriose, xylobiose, and D-glucose, and it is constitutively synthesized. The presence in C. gelida of a constitutive response toward cellobiose and of at least two distinct cellobiose chemoreceptors has implications for the survival of this cellulolytic bacterium in nature. A possible mechanism for cellobiose-mediated bacterial chemotaxis toward cellulose is proposed. We suggest that, in natural environments, motile cellulolytic bacteria migrate toward plant materials that contain cellulose and hemicellulose by swimming up cellobiose concentration gradients and/or concentration gradients of other sugars (e.g., xylobiose, D-xylose, and D-glucose) formed by enzymatic hydrolysis of plant cell wall polysaccharides.
Fecundity of Winged Euonymus Cultivars and Their Ability to Invade Various Natural Environments

Wingedeuonymus(Euonymusalatus(Thunb.))isanimportantlandscapeshrub that has demonstrated its potential to be invasive in numerous states across the central and northern United States. Nine cultivars were evaluated for their potential to produce fruits and seeds in a randomized, replicated field planting. Seeds from all cultivars were evaluated for germination rate and initial survival in a deciduous woodland. Seeds collected from 'Compactus'werealsosowninfivenatural environments(full sun meadow, edge of woods, moist woods, dry woods, pine woods) to determine which habitat types support its germination and establishment. Seed production for cultivars varied from 981 to 6090 seeds per plant. The dry deciduous woods and pine woods were the only en- vironments that supported significant germination rates that could be as high as 37.8%. Seedling survival was at least 77% in the deciduous dry woods and at least 55% in the pine woods.In thefirst replication, establishment rates for cultivars in the dry deciduous woods ranged from a low of 6.5% for 'Odom' Little Moses to a high of 42.5% for 'Monstrosus'. Inthesecondreplication,allcultivarsachievedover30%establishmentandmostexceeded 40% establishment. An estimate of the annual seedling contribution per plant per cultivar was calculated by combining seed production data with establishment data for each cultivar. This estimate was predicted to range from 588 to 3763 and therefore none of the nine cultivars evaluated should be considered non-invasive based on our findings. Our findings show that germination and seedling survival rates are high for E. alatus and becausethespeciesislong-lived,cultivarswilllikelyhavetobecompletelyseed-steriletobe considered non-invasive according to demographic models.
Using Performative, Distributive, Integrative, and Transformative Principles in Negotiation

Disputes between parties can involve four different kinds of possible interactions or combinations of interactions: disputed high-conflict communication; distribution of something of value; a mutually acceptable solution to a shared problem; or repair of a damaged relationship. The first interaction is identified with performative negotiation, the second with distributive negotiation, the third with integrative negotiation, and the fourth with transformative negotiation. Different styles of communication are associated with each type of negotiation. In a performative negotiation, the parties narrate incompatible conflict stories and engage in little or no listening or problem solving. In a distributive negotiation, communications are often about who should pay how much, to whom, and why. In an integrative negotiation, communications tend to focus on the parties' needs and the ways in which they can work together. In a transformative negotiation, communications center on the parties' relationship and how the parties can interact more effectively with each other.
Safety analysis of sofosbuvir and ledipasvir for treating hepatitis C

Introduction: The approval of sofosbuvir (SOF), a nucleotide analogue NS5B polymerase inhibitor, and ledipasvir (LDV), a NS5A inhibitor, marked a new chapter in IFN and ribavirin-free treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV). This drug reduces adverse events associated with IFN therapy.Areas Covered: The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of LDV/SOF. Clinical trials illustrating safety and efficacy of LDV/SOF are reviewed and compared to other IFN and ribavirin-free treatment options available.Expert Opinion: In trials enrolling more than 3000 patients, LDV/SOF is well tolerated with a good safety and side-effect profile in diverse cohorts, including previous direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment failures, liver transplant recipients, decompensated cirrhosis and HIV/HCV co-infection. As with all DAAs, the potential for drug–drug interactions must be carefully evaluated, as demonstrated by recent post-marketing reports of symptomatic bradycardia when LDV/SOF is co-administered with ...
Anti-adipocyte antibody response in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Background and Aim A significant number of autoantibodies have been reported in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients. In the present study, our aim was to assess the role of disease and cell-specific antibodies, namely anti-adipocyte antibodies (anti-AdAb) in patients with NAFLD and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Methods Flow cytometry was used to detect the presence of anti-AdAb (immunoglobulin M [IgM] and immunoglobulin G [IgG]) in sera from patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD (n = 98) and in controls (n = 49) without liver disease. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to draw associations between anti-AdAb IgM and IgG levels and the different clinical variables. Results Patients with NAFLD had significantly higher levels of anti-AdAb IgM and significantly lower levels of AdAb IgG when compared with controls (P = 0.002 and P < 0.001, respectively). Patients with NASH had significantly higher levels of anti-AdAb IgM when compared with non-NASH NAFLD patients, P = 0.04. In multivariate analysis, anti-AdAb IgM was independently associated with a higher risk for NASH (odds ratio[OR]: 2.90 [confidence interval (CI) 1.18–7.16], P = 0.02). Anti-AdAb IgM was also found to be independently associated with portal inflammation in patients with NAFLD (OR: 3.01 [CI 1.15–7.90 P = 0.02]). Conclusions Anti-AdAb IgM was independently associated with NAFLD and NASH while anti-AdAb IgG was found to be protective against NAFLD. Anti-AdAb IgM was found specifically to be associated with the inflammatory processes in NAFLD. These findings indicate that the anti-AdAb IgM and IgG may play an immunomodulatory role in the pathogenesis of NAFLD and NASH.
Immunogenicity of DNA Vaccines Expressing Tuberculosis Proteins Fused to Tissue Plasminogen Activator Signal Sequences

Novel tuberculosis DNA vaccines encoding native ESAT-6, MPT-64, KatG, or HBHA mycobacterial proteins or the same proteins fused to tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) signal sequences were evaluated for their capacity to elicit humoral, cell-mediated, and protective immune responses in vaccinated mice. While all eight plasmids induced specific humoral responses, the constructs expressing the TPA fusions generally evoked higher antibody responses in vaccinated hosts. Although most of the DNA vaccines tested induced a substantial gamma interferon response in the spleen, the antigen-specific lung responses were 2- to 10-fold lower than the splenic responses at the time of challenge. DNA vaccines encoding the ESAT-6, MPT-64, and KatG antigens fused to TPA signal sequences evoked significant protective responses in mice aerogenically challenged with low doses of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Erdman 17 to 21 days after the final immunization. However, the protective response induced by live Mycobacterium bovis BCG vaccine was greater than the response induced by any of the DNA vaccines tested. These results suggest that the tuberculosis DNA vaccines were able to elicit substantial immune responses in suitably vaccinated mice, but further refinements to the constructs or the use of alternative immunization strategies will be needed to improve the efficacy of these vaccine candidates.
Training in Professional Psychology in the US: An Increased Focus on Competency Attainment

Professional psychology training in the US is moving toward a competency based model rather than the traditional exposure to training opportunities model. The competencies perspective in education of professional psychologists has strengths in refocusing the evaluation of training on outcomes rather than on arbitrary, traditional processes. A challenge is the development of assessment tools for the evaluation of competencies in professional psychology. Using the competencies approach can help to guide training in professional psychology and help assure public safety by focusing educators and clinical supervisors on our gatekeeping functions as well as on our aspirational desire to turn out the best possible professional psychologists.
Data fusion through simulated annealing of registered range and reflectance images

In this paper we present results of a study of registered range and reflectance images acquired using a prototype amplitude-modulated cw laser radar. Ranging devices such as laser radars represent new technologies which are being applied in aerospace, nuclear and other hazardous environments where remote inspections, 3D identifications, and measurements are required. However, data acquired using devices of this type may contain non-stationary, signal- dependent noise, range-reflectance crosstalk, and low-reflectance range artifacts. Low level fusion algorithms play an essential role in achieving reliable performance by handling the complex noise, systematic errors, and artifacts. The objective of our study is the development of a stochastic fusion algorithm which takes as its input the registered image pair and produces as its output a reliable description of the underlying physical scene in terms of locally smooth surfaces separated by well-defined depth discontinuities. To construct the algorithm we model each image as a set of coupled Markov random fields representing pixel and several orders of line processes. Within this framework we (i) impose local smoothness constraints, introducing a simple linearity property in place of the usual sums over clique potentials; (ii) fuse the range and reflectance images through line process couplings; and (iii) use nonstationary, signal- dependent variances, adaptive thresholding, and a form of Markov natural selection. We show that the resulting algorithm yields reliable results even in worst-case scenarios.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Unipolar charging of small aerosol particles

Abstract Calculations are presented of the unipolar charging rate of small aerosol particles in the transition and free molecule regimes of Knudsen number. Numerical results for the charging rate in the transition regime are obtained from a constant collision frequency model of the Boltzmann equation. These results confirm experimental observations that the unipolar charging rates for larger particle charges are only weakly pressure dependent even when the Knudsen number is relatively small. Also, the modification of the near free molecular unipolar charging rate by ion-neutral molecule collisions, is found to depend importantly and in a complex manner on particle size and total particle charge when the image force is included in the ion-particle interaction.
Transmission of a genetically engineered rhizobacterium by grasshoppers in the laboratory and field

Root-colonizing bacteria have little inherent dispersal ability. However, we have shown previously that they routinely move into plant stems, sometimes at high densities, and might therefore be acquired and transmitted by foliage-feeding insects. Here we describe laboratory and field experiments on the transmission of a genetically engineered strain of the root-colonizing bacterium Pseudomonas chlororaphis (formerly aureofaciens) by a common herbivorous insect, the red-legged grasshopper Melanoplus femurrubrum. In laboratory and field microcosms, the engineered P. chlororaphis were applied to corn seeds at planting and allowed to colonize the developing roots and to invade the aerial tissues naturally. Adult M. femurrubrum that later fed on the foliage of these plants became infested with the bacteria. The bacteria were harbored throughout the digestive tracts and elsewhere in the exposed grasshoppers and could be recovered from their frass. Grasshoppers carried the bacteria for ≥1 wk after removal from the source of inoculum and could transmit the bacteria to new plants. In the laboratory, the likelihood of transmission declined as the proportion of grasshoppers remaining infested decreased through time. Transmission was less predictable in the field. Transport by insects may make naturally occurring soil bacteria more mobile than previously thought and could make the containment of engineered strains unlikely. However, at least in this system, microbial movement through plants and insects in the field was accurately predicted by laboratory studies, which therefore remain useful in basic research in microbial ecology, and in risk assessment.
Treatment with AC pulsed electromagnetic fields induces vivid colored dreams in multiple sclerosis

Cessation of dream recall has been reported in numerous neurological disorders including multiple sclerosis (MS). Two women MS patients are presented in whom transcranial treatment with AC pulsed electromagnetic fields (EMFs) of 7.5 picotesla flux density restored dream recall and 4 to 5 months later induced vivid colored dreams. The experience of colored dreams coincided with a period of distinctive improvement in visual acuity, color vision, and depth perception and in one patient with normalization of the visual evoked potential latencies. Dreams associated with REM sleep are reported to be vivid, colorful and lengthy and administration of melatonin facilitates REM sleep and increases its duration in humans. Additionally, melatonin administered at night induces vivid colored dreams in normal subjects and narcoleptic patients. Therefore, since melatonin secretion is sensitive to the effects of pulsed EMFs these findings suggest that the experience of colored dreams in these patients was probably related...
Isovolumic relaxation as a critical determinant of postischemic ventricular function.

Abstract The importance of ventricular relaxation was studied in a canine right-heart bypass model employing three different modes of cardioplegia. Although both contractility and relaxation indices were depressed in all animals after 60 min of normothermic global ischemia, changes in overall left ventricular function correlated only with max neg dP/dt/P and with T , the exponential of the isovolumic phase of ventricular relaxation ( r = 0.78). There was no significant correlation between postischemic left ventricular function and max dP/dt/P . We conclude that relaxation indices are a sensitive index of deterioration of left ventricular function after ischemia, and impaired relaxation may be the rate-limiting step in recovery of left ventricular performance after ischemia.
Rafting of reef corals and other organisms at Kwajalein atoll

Studies conducted at Kwajalein Atoll (9°N; 168°E) in early 1988 reveal that marine organisms are commonly rafted into the area on drift pumice, drift wood and other flotsam. Coralskeletons on pumice provide the most useful quantitative data because they persist after rafted motile organisms have departed and rafted sessile forms have decomposed or been scavenged. The estimated minimum number of pumice fragments carrying corals into Kwajalein Atoll during its geological history is on the order of 109, with a more realistic estimate in excess of 1011. The estimated number of coral colonies rafted into the atoll would probably have to be increased several-fold if rafting on floating organic materials such as wood, charcoal, nuts and seeds could be determined. In the present study, a typical sample of beached pumice from Kwajalein Atoll contained 103 coral colonies per m3 of bulk pumice fragments. Major pumice rafting episodes frequently result from volcanic eruptions. Estimates based on the observed K wajalein coral fouling rate and literature values for drift pumice production suggest that 105 colonies could be rafted through the tropics by the smallest reported pumice-producing events and up to 1012 colonies for large events. In the present study, most of the rafted corals that were recovered belong to species of the genus Pocillopora, but speccics of Porites and Millepora were also collected. Analysis of surface-current data and reported drift patterns for pumice, logs, drift bottles and wrecks suggests that movement of rafted corals and drifting larvae is predominantly from peripheral areas of low coral-species diversity into centers of high coral diversity. Coral diversity centers might be viewed as areas of coral species accumulation rather than centers of coral species origin.
Aging of cerebral white matter: a review of MRI findings.

Cerebral aging is a complex and heterogeneous process that is associated with a high degree of inter-individual variability and characterized by a pattern of selective loss and preservation. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) makes in vivo characterization of brain alterations occurring with advancing age possible. The use of MRI allows thorough characterization of non-disease-related brain aging and facilitates the study of anatomical alterations that contribute to the cognitive and affective symptoms of late-life psychiatric illnesses. This review will focus on the results of MRI studies of white matter changes that occur with normal aging and the relationship of age-associated changes in white matter to age-related declines in cognitive abilities.
Chips, tags and scanners: Ethical challenges for radio frequency identification

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems identify and track objects, animals and, in principle, people. The ability to gather information obtained by tracking consumer goods, government documents, monetary transactions and human beings raises a number of interesting and important privacy issues. Moreover, RFID systems pose an ensemble of other ethical challenges related to appropriate uses and users of such systems. This paper reviews a number of RFID applications with the intention of identifying the technology's benefits and possible misuses. We offer an overview and discussion of the most important ethical issues concerning RFID, and describes and examine some methods of protecting privacy.
PROTHROMBIN ACTIVATION FRAGMENT (F1.2) IS INCREASED IN PREGNANT PATIENTS WITH ANTIPHOSPHOLIPID ANTIBODIES.

Recurrent fetal wastage has been attributed to thrombosis in the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APAS); however, this has not been proven. Assays of coagulation activation fragments which may provide evidence for a role for thrombosis, have not been previously reported in this setting. We therefore investigated whether F1.2 levels are altered in APAS pregnancies. F1.2 levels were performed on plasmas obtained from fifty-four APA patients with a history of persistent elevation of antiphospholipid antibodies and recurrent abortion who were studied during eighty-three consecutive visits. Results from these patients were compared to a control group of thirty-two healthy pregnant females. F1.2 levels were significantly higher in APAS patients than controls in the second trimester (6.5 nM +/- 4.3 nM vs. 1.2 nM +/- 0.9 nM, p < 0.0001), and in the third trimester of pregnancy (8.6 nM +/- 2.5 nM vs. 3.7 nM +/- 2.0 nM, p < 0.0001). The F1.2 levels in the APA group returned to baseline soon after delivery. No correlation was observed between F1.2 and APA values. This study shows that pregnant patients with a history of recurrent abortions and APA have significantly increased activation of prothrombin compared to healthy pregnant females. These data indicate that the potential value of activations peptide assays such as F1.2 in this setting should be tested in prospective clinical trials.
FLOW TRANSITION IN BENDS AND APPLICATIONS TO AIRWAYS

The transitional character of fluid flow in a bend has been studied using a computational fluid dynamics software package, FIDAP. In particular, we have addressed factors affecting the developing lengths of velocity patterns. Axial velocities, secondary currents, and isovelocity contours were selected to characterize developing flows. The findings established that developing lengths are functions of Dean numbers. The results of this work can be used to model transport processes for developing flows in curved tubes such as are components of, for example, aerosol instrumentation, industrial processes or respiratory systems. For demonstration purposes simulations were performed for curved airways within human lungs. The Horsfield et al. (1971, J. Appl. Physiol.31, 207–217) and Horsfield (1991, In The Lung: Scientific Foundations, Vol. 1, (Edited by Crystal, R. G., West, J. B., Barnes, P. J., Cherniack, N. S. and Weibel, E. R.), pp. 721–727. Raven Press, New York) lung morphologies were used to describe airway shapes and dimensions. For sedentary breathing conditions, airways are regions of developing flow which indicates that models in the literature assuming developed flow conditions are not appropriate. The findings have important implications to inhalation toxicology and aerosol therapy.
Kinetics of the periodate oxidation of glycol esters of ortho-telluric acid

Abstract The kinetics of the oxidation of glycol-telluric acid esters by periodate has been investigated and found to obey a rate law which is first order in ester. The esterification causes a marked decrease in the rate at which a glycol is oxidized by periodate. The postulated mechanism involves a slow hydrolysis of one of the ester linkages between glycol and tellurate, followed by the rapid transfer of the glycol to periodate with the formation of a cyclic species and the subsequent rapid breakdown of this periodate complex to give products.
Emergence of Blood Urea Nitrogen as a Biomarker of Neurohormonal Activation in Heart Failure

The nonosmotic release of arginine vasopressin, concurrent with the activation of the sympathetic nervous system and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, is thought to represent the maladaptive response that is central to the pathophysiology of heart failure (HF). The degree of neurohormonal activation correlates with the severity of the disease and can predict the outcomes. However, quantification of components of neurohormonal axis (e.g., serum arginine vasopressin level) is mainly reserved for research purposes rather than routine practice. The results of several recent HF trials have shed light on the differential role of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine in predicting the outcomes in this setting. These studies suggest that BUN could indeed represent a surrogate marker for "renal response" to neurohormonal activation in this setting, above and beyond its role in the estimation of renal function. In this report, the relevant physiologic mechanisms underlying urea and water transport in the kidney are first reviewed. Then, the activation of the neurohormonal axis and the impact of its components on renal urea transport, independent of changes in renal function, are explained. Finally, the unique role of BUN as a biomarker of neurohormonal activation in the setting of HF is discussed, and the potential clinical implication of this novel concept is emphasized. In conclusion, this review explains the pathophysiologic basis for the emerging role of BUN as a biomarker in HF.
An improved neural-network model for the neural integrator of the oculomotor system: More realistic neuron behavior

The discharge rates of premotor, brain-stem neurons that create eye movements modulate in relation to eye velocity yet firing rates of extraocular motoneurons contain both eye-position and eyevelocity signals. The eye-position signal is derived from the eye-velocity command by means of a neural network which functioins as a temporal integrator. We have previously proposed a network of lateral-inhibitory neurons that is capable of performing the required integration. That analysis centered on the temporal aspects of the signal processing for a limited class of idealized inputs. All of its cells were identical and carried only the integrated signal. Recordings in the brain stem, however, show that neurons in the region of the neural integrator have a variety of background firing rates, all carry some eye-velocity signal as well as the eye-position signal, and carry the former with different strengths depending on the type of eye movement being made. It was necessary to see if the proposed model could be modified to make its neurons more realistic. By modifying the spatial distribution of afferents to the network, we demonstrate that the same basic model functions properly in spite of afferents with nonuniform background firing rates. To introduce the eye-velocity signal a double-layer network, consisting of inhibitory and excitatory cells, was necessary. By presenting the velocity input to only local regions of this network it was shown that all cells in the network still carried the integrated signal and that its cells could carry different eye-velocity signals for different types of eye movements. Thus, this model stimulates quantitatively and qualitatively, the behavior of neurons seen in the region of the neural integrator.
Model for Radiation Equilibrium Between F and M Centers in KCl

A kinetic model is introduced to account for the F- and M-center equilibrium in KCl. The model includes electron capture by F centers producing mobile F' centers, which migrate to neighboring F centers and anion vacancies to form M centers. Hole capture by M centers then releases enough energy to cause dissociation in anion centers that upon electron capture become F centers. Approximate differential equations are given. (R. E.U.)
Incorporating new imaging models in breast cancer management

Mammography is the only screening test proven to decrease breast cancer morbidity and mortality. Although mammography is an effective screening tool, it does have limitations, particularly in women with dense breasts. New imaging techniques are emerging to overcome these limitations and enhance cancer detection, improving patient outcome. Digital mammography, computer aided detection, breast ultrasound and breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are frequently used adjuncts to mammography in today’s clinical practice. Recent studies have shown that these techniques can enhance the radiologist’s ability to detect cancer and assess disease extent, which is crucial in treatment planning and staging. Positron emission tomography (PET) also plays an important role in staging breast cancer and monitoring treatment response. Other modalities such as tomosynthesis and MR lymphangiography show promise in overcoming the problems related to dense breast tissue and the lack of noninvasive methods to assess lymph node status. Imaging-guided, minimally invasive therapies are also emerging as alternatives to surgical biopsy for breast lesions. As imaging techniques improve, the role of imaging will continue to evolve with the goal remaining a decrease in breast cancer morbidity and mortality.
DC and temperature dependent characteristics of InP double heterostructure bipolar transistors with quaternary collector

The Letter reports the first study of the temperature dependence of the DC characteristics of InP-based double heterostructure bipolar transistors which have a quaternary collector. The quaternary layer was spaced away from the base-collector junction to improve the HBT characteristics. The devices exhibited useful gain over seven orders of magnitude of current and had breakdown voltages of 8 V. The DC gain decreased with decreasing temperature whereas the ideality factors increased.
Engaging Ethnicity and Gender in Bolivia

As anthropologists living and working in Bolivia, we came to understand ethnicity and gender as interlocking cultural systems that organize and give meaning to countless aspects of our worlds: not only individual identities, but also political, legal and economic interactions and environments. Throughout the 1990s, gender and ethnicity were hot topics in Bolivia, and we both encountered a great deal of tension surrounding the application of these concepts in the arenas in which we worked, including graduate education and projects for social change. Questions about how and why these concepts are applied in different contexts led us toward an ethnographic study of our own colleagues: scholars and practitioners who engage ethnicity and gender in their work in Bolivia.
Theft and staffing at a university library book sale

AbstractThe number of items placed into a university library book sale was compared with the sale receipts to ascertain the amount of theft. Seventeen per cent of the sales materials’ value was stolen, but analysis of staffing costs indicates the acceptance of this loss rate was more cost-effective than paying staff to monitor the sale full-time.
Quantifying water savings with greenhouse farming

Greenhouses can help farmers reduce spoilage and increase yields, and therefore improve their livelihoods. As compared to open air farming, greenhouse farming requires less water due to reduced evapotranspiration. Current estimates on water savings vary from 10 to 100% and fail to clearly specify relevant test parameters such as the irrigation method, size of the greenhouse, or climatic conditions at the time of the study. This article focuses on a study conducted to accurately quantify the water savings in small-scale greenhouses. The test methodology involves a simplified pan evaporation measurement used with the Penman-Monteith and Hargreaves equations. Data, including air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and water loss inside and outside the greenhouse, were collected from similar greenhouses in Kenya and Cameroon. Results indicate that the water savings within greenhouses are around 50-90%. This significant reduction in water consumption allows for agricultural intensification as well as horticultural production in arid and semi-arid regions that make up over 80% of the land in several African countries.
Pair-feeding study of PCB (Aroclor 1254) toxicity in rats

PCBs have been shown to adversely affect relative organ weights such as the liver, kidneys, spleen, and heart. Since the consumption of dietary PCB's has been associated with decreased body weights and food intakes, it is possible that altered relative organ weights are due to those decreases rather than to the direct toxic effects of PCBs. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the toxic effects of dietary PCBs and depressed food consumption on body weights and relative organ weights in male weanling rats.
Delayed “Good” and “Mmm-Hmm” Reinforcers in Verbal Conditioning and Awareness

Sitmnzary.-The present experiment investigated the effects of immediate and delayed reinforcement using "Good" and "Mmm-hmm" as reinforcers. Six groups of 10 Ss received different combinations of kind and delay of reinforcemenc. The apparatus used was a metronome and the Taffel procedure was followed. Ss who were reicforced by "Good" imrnediacely after the pronoun's use were the only group who showed conditioning. Thus, both delay and kind of reinforcement produced differential effects on conditioning. Awareness, as measured by an open-ended question, produced a significant difference in the groups reinforced by "Mrnm-hmm." These groups, which showed no condicioning, were not aware. There is evidence that the two reinforcers, "Good" and "Mmm-hrnm," produce verbal conditioning in some cases but not in others. Krasner's review of the area (1958) has shown that "Good" has been more consistently effective in producing learning than has "Mrnm-hmm." There has been little experimentation using delayed reinforcement in human verbal learning. Sax (1960) found that, as latency of the presentation of reinforcement increased, there was a s~gn~ficant increase in the number of trials to criterion in a concept formation experiment. Mahrer (1956), using a delay in reinforcement of an isolated verbal response with children, reported that they responded more often when the reinforcement was given immediately afrer the response rather than after a delay. Awareness as a factor in verbal learning has been investigated in many studies. Verplanck (1955) and many others have found learning without evidence for awareness. Miller's results (1966) indicate that with both classical and operant conditioning, change in meaning occurred without awareness by S. A written q~~estionnaire was used to ask S the purpose of the experiment. Conversely, Spielberger (Spielberger & Levin, 1962; Spielberger, 1965) and others found that awareness facilitated learning. De Nike (1964) found no learning without awareness in a study of the temporal relationship of aarrreness and performance in verbal condicioning. Apparently, the crux of the awareness problem is the fact that nearly all Es use different measures of awareness (Hare, 1964). Dixon ( 1966) has suggested that Ss may be problem solving in verbal conditioning and the correct identification of the response-reinforcement contingency has been judged equivalent to "awareness." Simple reinforcement contingencies produce "awareness" as do lengthy questionnaires.
Simultaneous Measurement of Liposome Extravasation and Content Release in Tumors

Objective: The success of liposome-based drug delivery systems for tumor targeting relies on maximum extravasation of liposomes into tumor intersritium, as well as optimal release of contents from the liposomes once within the tumor. Liposome extravasation and content release are two separate processes that can be individually or jointly manipulated, so a method is needed to monitor these two processes independendy and simultaneously. In this report, we describe a method to measure liposome extravasation and content release in tumor tissues growing in a rat skinfold window chamber preparation.Methods: Mixtures of liposomes containing either doxorubicin or calcein, both of which are fluorescent, and liposomes surface-labeled with rhodamine were injected intravenously. Fluorescent light intensities in a tumor region in two fluorescent channels were measured using an image-processing system. Light intensities of plasma from blood samples were also measured using this system. These measurements were used to c...