Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Alternative Measures of Delinquent Peers on Self-Reported Delinquency

This article examines two alternative measures of delinquent peers based on reports from adolescents and reports from parents. The authors focus on three issues: (1) Do parental and adolescent reports of delinquent peers reflect the same underlying construct? (2) If not, how does the effect on delinquency of a measure of delinquent peers based on parental reports compare with that of a measure based on adolescents' reports when the two measures are included in the same equation? (3) Given possible contamination in measurement, can respondents' reports of peer delinquency be regarded simply as additional indicators of self-reported delinquency? Structural equation modeling is used to address these issues with data from the National Youth Survey. The results indicate that parental and adolescent reports of delinquent peers do not reflect a single latent construct. Furthermore, the measure of delinquent peers based on parental reports yields a significant effect on subsequent self-reported delinquency (controlling for self-reports of prior delinquency) whereas the measure based on adolescent reports has no significant effect. Further analyses of measurement and substantive models indicate that there is appreciable (but not complete) overlap between adolescent-reported peer delinquency and self-reported delinquency.
A comparison of two methods for advancing time in parallel discrete event simulation

We compare the design and implementation of a parallel simulation of a traffic flow network using two different approaches: event-driven and time-driven. Our experiments with the sequential implementation of the two approaches correlates with previous research (Nance, 1971). We design a conservative parallel implementation of the traffic flow problem where we obtain a maximum speedup of 9.27 using 16 Sun workstations running under parallel virtual machine or PVM (Geist et al., 1993). We use wall-clock time as a measure of execution speed. We show that appreciable speedup can be achieved in parallelizing either the event-driven or time-driven approach. We also show that speedup is a misleading metric when used to compare the parallelizability of the two approaches. Parallel performance, as measured by speedup, may be better when the sequential performance is poor. For example, the time-driven implementation achieved better speedup than the event-driven implementation for few cars in the system; however the sequential time-driven implementation required longer to execute than the event-driven implementation for few cars in the system. Similarly for many cars in the system, the event-driven implementation achieved better speedup than the time-driven implementation.
Low-resistance multi-walled carbon nanotube vias with parallel channel conduction of inner shells [IC interconnect applications]

We have succeeded in lowering the resistance of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) vias, using parallel channel conduction of each tube's inner shells. By optimizing the structure of the interface between MWNTs and Ti bottom contact layers, we could obtain a via resistance of 0.7 /spl Omega/ for a 2-/spl mu/m-diameter via consisting of about 1000 MWNTs. The corresponding resistance of about 0.7 k/spl Omega/ per MWNT indicates that most of the inner shells contribute to carrier conduction as an additional channel. The total resistance of the CNT vias that we fabricated is in the same order of magnitude as the theoretical value of W plugs and one order of magnitude higher than the theoretical value of Cu vias.
Logics and analyses for concurrent heap-manipulating programs

Reasoning about concurrent programs is difficult because of the need to consider all possible interactions between concurrently executing threads. The problem is especially acute for programs that manipulate shared heap-allocated data structures, since heapmanipulation provides more ways for threads to interact. Modular reasoning techniques sidestep this difficulty by considering every thread in isolation under some assumptions on its environment. In this dissertation we develop modular program logics and program analyses for the verification of concurrent heap-manipulating programs. Our approach is to exploit reasoning principles provided by program logics to construct modular program analyses and to use this process to obtain further insights into the logics. In particular, we build on concurrent separation logic—a Hoare-style logic that allows modular manual reasoning about concurrent programs written in a simple heap-manipulating programming language. Our first contribution is to show the soundness of concurrent separation logic without the conjunction rule and the restriction that resource invariants be precise, and to construct an analysis for concurrent heap-manipulating programs that exploits this modified reasoning principle to achieve modularity. The analysis can be used to automatically verify a number of safety properties, including memory safety, data-structure integrity, data-race freedom, the absence of memory leaks, and the absence of assertion violations. We show that we can view the analysis as generating proofs in our variant of the logic, which enables the use of its results in proof-carrying code or theorem proving systems. Reasoning principles expressed by program logics are most often formulated for only idealised programming constructs. Our second contribution is to develop logics and analyses for modular reasoning about features present in modern languages and libraries for concurrent programming: storable locks (i.e., locks dynamically created and destroyed in the heap), first-order procedures, and dynamically-created threads.
Progressive velocity throwing training increases velocity without detriment to accuracy in sub-elite cricket players: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract Throwing performance is vital within the sport of cricket. However, little published evidence exists regarding methods to improve throwing velocity and/or accuracy in any cricket-playing population. This study, therefore, assessed the efficacy of progressive velocity throwing training on throwing velocity and accuracy in a cricket-specific test. Eighteen sub-elite male cricket players were assessed for maximal throwing velocity and throwing accuracy at four different throwing velocities relative to maximal throwing velocity. The participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention (n=9) or control (n=9) group. Both groups performed usual pre-season activities for 8 weeks, during which the intervention group performed two additional specific throwing training sessions per week. Maximal throwing velocity was re-assessed at 4 weeks and the progressive velocity throwing programme was adjusted accordingly. The 8-week progressive velocity throwing training significantly increased peak and mean maximal throwing velocity (P = 0.01). Absolute changes in peak and mean maximal throwing velocity were negatively and significantly correlated with initial maximal throwing velocity at 4 weeks (r=−0.805, P = 0.01 and r=−0.806, P = 0.01 respectively) but not at 8 weeks. No significant difference was observed in accuracy for either group at any time. This is the first published study to describe the effectiveness of a progressive velocity throwing training programme on throwing performance in a group of sub-elite cricket players. The addition of two specific throwing training sessions per week can increase maximal throwing velocity without detriment to throwing accuracy.
Enhancing Environmental Experiences through Effective Partnerships among Teacher Educators, Field Study Centers, and Schools

Few teacher educators would dispute that preservice teachers benefit from active participation in planning, implementing, and evaluating experiential learning activities in natural environments. Such experiences help them to understand how environmental education can be successfully woven into a teaching program rather than just an added “frill” presented in isolation. However, it is difficult to find efficient ways of organising these experiences in tertiary institutions. This paper discusses a partnership formed among teacher educators, schools, and field study centers in New South Wales, Australia. It was devised to enhance the experiences in environmental education for all participants, and at the same time make efficient use of human resources.
Innate Immunity in HIV Infection: Enhanced Susceptibility to CD95-Mediated Natural Killer Cell Death and Turnover Induced by HIV Viremia

In the present study, we performed DNA microarray analyses and phenotypic and functional analyses in an effort to elucidate the mechanisms by which ongoing HIV replication affects the physiologic function of natural killer (NK) cells. Functional assays confirmed an increased propensity of NK cells from HIV-infected viremic individuals to undergo Fas-mediated apoptosis but not CD16- or NKG2D-mediated apoptosis. Serum levels of sFasL and expression of Ki67 on NK cells were markedly elevated in HIV-infected viremic individuals when compared with those of HIV-infected aviremic and HIV-seronegative individuals. Our data demonstrate that ongoing HIV replication results in profound NK-cell abnormalities that are likely to be attributable to the effects of virus-induced immune activation. Of note is an increased susceptibility to cell death mediated by CD95-sFasL interactions. In addition, these NK cells, particularly the CD56dim CD16bright subset, undergo enhanced cell turnover in vivo, as demonstrated by intracellular Ki67 expression.
When Religion Trumps Ethnicity: A Regional Election Case Study from Indonesia

The authors analyse the 2010 mayoral election in the city of Medan, North Sumatra. Medan is an ethnically and religiously diverse city and the authors treat the elections here as a case study of inter-communal dynamics in local elections in plural regions of Indonesia. The first round of the vote was contested by 10 pairs of candidates and occurred in a climate of cross-ethnic alliance building and appeals that, the authors argue, are typical of broader Indonesian patterns. The second round confronted voters with a choice between a Muslim candidate and an ethnic Chinese candidate who was also a Buddhist. There was a sudden switch in the tone and themes of the contest. A concerted campaign was launched to convince Muslim voters to support the Muslim candidate, with politicians and religious leaders alike suggesting that it was a religious obligation to do so. The campaign proved effective and the Muslim candidate, a member of the province's established political elite, won by a large margin. The article focuses on the campaign teams' strategies, analysing their electoral calculations and the techniques used to appeal to a multi-ethnic constituency. It also considers the role played in the poll by Medan's rich array of ethnic associations. The authors conclude by pointing to lessons of the Medan case for wider patterns of ethnic coalition building in Indonesia. They also describe this election as an example of the ‘identity switching’ that can take place when political actors choose from multiple and overlapping identity categories in changing political contexts.
On learning optimized reaction diffusion processes for effective image restoration

For several decades, image restoration remains an active research topic in low-level computer vision and hence new approaches are constantly emerging. However, many recently proposed algorithms achieve state-of-the-art performance only at the expense of very high computation time, which clearly limits their practical relevance. In this work, we propose a simple but effective approach with both high computational efficiency and high restoration quality. We extend conventional nonlinear reaction diffusion models by several parametrized linear filters as well as several parametrized influence functions. We propose to train the parameters of the filters and the influence functions through a loss based approach. Experiments show that our trained nonlinear reaction diffusion models largely benefit from the training of the parameters and finally lead to the best reported performance on common test datasets for image restoration. Due to their structural simplicity, our trained models are highly efficient and are also well-suited for parallel computation on GPUs.
Differential Regulation of the Endocannabinoids Anandamide and 2-Arachidonylglycerol within the Limbic Forebrain by Dopamine Receptor Activity

Glutamatergic synaptic transmission within the striatum and prefrontal cortex regulates the neuronal synthesis of endocannabinoids. Because a primary role of dopamine is to modulate this excitatory transmission, we tested the hypothesis that dopaminergic transmission modulates endocannabinoid content in the limbic forebrain. Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry was used to determine endogenous anandamide and 2-arachidonylglycerol (2-AG) contents within the limbic forebrain of mice after pharmacological manipulation of dopaminergic transmission. Increasing synaptic dopamine concentrations with methylphenidate significantly and dose dependently decreased both anandamide and 2-AG content. The selective dopamine reuptake inhibitor 1-[2-[bis(4-fluorophenyl)methoxy]ethyl]-4-(3-phenylpropyl)piperazine (GBR 12909) also significantly decreased anandamide and tended to decrease 2-AG content. The D1 receptor antagonist R-(+)-7-chloro-8-hydroxy-3-methyl-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine (SCH 23390) increased and the D1 receptor agonist 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-1H-3-benzazepine (SKF 33939) decreased anandamide content. 2-AG content was unaffected by SCH 23390 but was significantly increased by the D2 receptor antagonist eticlopride, which had no effect on anandamide content. The D2 agonist quinpirole had a biphasic effect on anandamide content with low, autoreceptor-preferring doses increasing anandamide and higher doses decreasing it back toward control. Quinpirole did not significantly affect 2-AG content. Together, these data indicate that endogenous dopamine exerts a differential, net suppressive effect upon anandamide and 2-AG content via activation of D1 and D2 receptors, respectively. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that modulation of endocannabinoid content by dopamine is secondary to changes in glutamatergic transmission, and they provide a pharmacological framework for the rational development of endocannabinoid-based therapeutic interventions for dopamine-related neuropsychiatric disorders.
Infliximab in the treatment of hepatic vein thrombosis (Budd-Chiari syndrome) in three patients with Behcet's syndrome.

Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed bilateral hyperintensity of the nucleus dentatus on T2-weighted sequences (Fig. 2). A concurrent brain SPECT demonstrated generalized cortical hypoperfusion. Treatment with chenodeoxycholic acid 750 mg/day was started. One of the most characteristic signs of cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis is the remarkable tendon enlargement due to fat deposition (xanthomas); the Achilles tendon is frequently affected (Fig. 1). A history of chronic diarrhoea and cataracts has been reported in previous published cases; hence, cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis should be ruled out in young patients presenting with these two clinical manifestations [1]. Frontal dementia has also been described in cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis [2], usually together with other neurological findings (pyramidal signs, seizures, mental retardation, and cerebellar ataxia). Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis is a rare recessive autosomal disease caused by mutations of the sterol 27-hydroxylase gene (CYP27 ) that lead to reduced synthesis of bile acids, particularly chenodeoxycholic acid [3]. Absence of the negative feedback mechanism of cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid on 7a-hydroxylase, which is a rate-limiting enzyme in bile acid synthesis, increases the activity of this enzyme and results in an accumulation of cholesterol and cholestanol in various tissues, which is the cause of the clinical manifestations. Long-term treatment with chenodeoxycholic acid, which influences the negative feedback of cholesterol and acid bile synthesis and decreases serum cholestanol levels, can arrest or even reverse progression of the disease. We stress the value of early diagnosis to halt the progressive neurological deterioration associated with this condition. Rheumatologists should be conscious of the existence of cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis. Clinical recognition is not difficult if one is aware of this rare disease.
Facial growth in Cercocebus torquatus: an application of three‐dimensional geometric morphometric techniques to the study of morphological variation

This paper presents a study of 3‐dimensional growth in the facial skeleton of the mangabey, Cercocebus torquatus. The pattern of facial cortical remodelling in this species is already well mapped from an earlier study. In this paper we consider the extent to which these remodelling maps relate to ontogenetic changes in size and shape of the face. This study is based on 31 facial landmarks taken from 49 adult and subadult faces. Our analysis draws on some of the tools of geometric morphometrics and we take this opportunity to describe our implementation of these tools for 3D data. The geometric analysis permits the known remodelling maps to be interpreted in the context of the general pattern of facial growth in this species. We are also able to examine sexual dimorphism in the face of this species and consider the extent to which males and females share similar ontogenetic allometries. Our findings indicate that the general pattern of size‐related shape variation during facial growth is more or less identical for males and females up to eruption of the third permanent maxillary molar (M3). After this, ontogenetic allometries appear to diverge. The finding of a common growth allometry that is well approximated for younger specimens by a simple linear model is consistent with the earlier findings of a consistent pattern of facial remodelling up to M3 eruption. We consider the implications of these findings in terms of the potential for these approaches in the study of comparative growth in related species.
The Effects of Mass Media Use and Social Capital on Civic and Political Participation

More recently, many scholars have lamented the decline of social capital, civic and political participation in American society. This study attempts to clarify the concept of social capital and its major components. We differentiate two dimensions of social capital: trust and social connectedness. In addition, we investigate the differential effects of a full range of media use on civic and political participation. Analysis of data from a telephone survey in Clarksville, Tennessee in 2002 showed that people's social connectedness enhances both civic and political participation. Time spent in reading newspaper and watching public affairs on television was positively correlated with political participation whereas frequency of Internet use and entertainment TV viewing was not. The results also showed no correlation between media use and civic participation. Implications of the findings for future research on democratic citizenship were discussed.
Isolation and characterization of the Streptococcus mutans gtfD gene, coding for primer-dependent soluble glucan synthesis

Two glucosyltransferase genes from Streptococcus mutans GS-5, gtfB and gtfC, have been previously isolated and sequenced in this laboratory. In the present communication a third gtf gene, gtfD, was isolated and characterized. Isolation of the gene involved a novel procedure utilizing the integration plasmid pVA891. A peptide expressed by the 1.7-kilobase DNA fragment from strain NHS1 (containing deletions in both the gtfB and gtfC genes) was initially identified in a pUC18 clone bank with antiglucosyltransferase antibodies. This fragment was integrated into the GS-5 chromosome following ligation into pVA891 and transformation, yielding strain DP2. The vector together with one complete and one incomplete copy of the gtfD gene was removed from the chromosome of strain DP2 following EcoRI digestion, religation, and transformation of E. coli HB101. The resultant plasmid, pNH4, expressed glucosyltransferase S (GTF-S) activity. The enzyme was purified to near homogeneity and was shown to synthesize water-soluble glucan exclusively in a primer-dependent manner. The molecular mass (155 kilodaltons) and the kinetic parameters of the purified enzyme were similar to those observed for the GTF-S enzyme previously purified from culture fluids of strain GS-5. Insertional inactivation of the gtfD gene indicated that this gene is not required for in vitro sucrose-dependent adherence to smooth surfaces. Furthermore, inactivation of the gtfD gene in a gtfC gtfB mutant indicated that three distinct gtf genes involved in glucan formation are present on the S. mutans GS-5 chromosome. Southern blot analysis further suggested that the gtfD gene does not share demonstrable homology with the gtf genes from Streptococcus sanguis or Streptococcus sobrinus.
De novo Transcriptome Assemblies of Rana (Lithobates) catesbeiana and Xenopus laevis Tadpole Livers for Comparative Genomics without Reference Genomes

In this work we studied the liver transcriptomes of two frog species, the American bullfrog (Rana (Lithobates) catesbeiana) and the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis). We used high throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data to assemble and annotate these transcriptomes, and compared how their baseline expression profiles change when tadpoles of the two species are exposed to thyroid hormone. We generated more than 1.5 billion RNA-seq reads in total for the two species under two conditions as treatment/control pairs. We de novo assembled these reads using Trans-ABySS to reconstruct reference transcriptomes, obtaining over 350,000 and 130,000 putative transcripts for R. catesbeiana and X. laevis, respectively. Using available genomics resources for X. laevis, we annotated over 97% of our X. laevis transcriptome contigs, demonstrating the utility and efficacy of our methodology. Leveraging this validated analysis pipeline, we also annotated the assembled R. catesbeiana transcriptome. We used the expression profiles of the annotated genes of the two species to examine the similarities and differences between the tadpole liver transcriptomes. We also compared the gene ontology terms of expressed genes to measure how the animals react to a challenge by thyroid hormone. Our study reports three main conclusions. First, de novo assembly of RNA-seq data is a powerful method for annotating and establishing transcriptomes of non-model organisms. Second, the liver transcriptomes of the two frog species, R. catesbeiana and X. laevis, show many common features, and the distribution of their gene ontology profiles are statistically indistinguishable. Third, although they broadly respond the same way to the presence of thyroid hormone in their environment, their receptor/signal transduction pathways display marked differences.
A Comparison of Underlying Cause and Multiple Causes of Death: US Vital Statistics, 2000–2001

Background: Mortality statistics can be compiled using underlying cause-of-death data or multiple cause-of-death data, which include other contributing causes of death. Methods: For the leading causes of death in the United States during 2000–2001, we compared underlying and multiple cause-of-death statistics. Results: For some conditions, little difference was observed between the 2 estimates. For other conditions, up to 10 times more deaths were identified from multiple-cause data than from underlying-cause data. The 10 leading causes of death differed when using the 2 types of data. Conclusions: Whenever possible, underlying and multiple cause-of-death statistics should both be presented. Analyses that use only the underlying cause of death ignore additional information that is readily available from multiple-cause data, and the more limited data may underestimate the importance of several leading causes of death.