Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Desegregation and the Achievement Gap: Do Diverse Peers Help?

Understanding peer effects is critical to evaluating the impact of de facto public school segregation on the achievement of white and nonwhite students. Using a unique panel data set of North Carolina public elementary school students, I estimate a model of achievement production that incorporates heterogeneous responses by students at different points of the achievement distribution, while also allowing for peer spillovers to vary across races and for the formation of different race-based reference groups within the classroom. I find evidence of stronger peer influences within reference groups than across reference groups, the magnitude of which varies substantially across the percentiles of the achievement distribution. I apply my results to evaluate the efficiency and distributional effects of alternative classroom assignment policies. Diversifying peer groups leads to small but fairly uniform improvements in the achievement gap across the achievement distribution. ∗I would like to thank Pat Bajari, Han Hong, Tom Nechyba, Peter Arcidiacono, Arie Beresteanu, Charlie Clotfelter, Stephen Ryan, Chris Timmins, Jake Vigdor and participants at Duke’s Applied Microeconomics, Applied Microeconometrics lunch groups and Public Economics Workshop for their helpful comments. I am also grateful to the Spencer Foundation for financial support in the form of a dissertation fellowship. All remaining errors are my own. †Department of Economics, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708; jcooley@econ.duke. edu.
Adaptive Bayesian inference

Motivated by stochastic systems in which observed evidence and conditional dependencies between states of the network change over time, and certain quantities of interest (marginal distributions, likelihood estimates etc.) must be updated, we study the problem of adaptive inference in tree-structured Bayesian networks. We describe an algorithm for adaptive inference that handles a broad range of changes to the network and is able to maintain marginal distributions, MAP estimates, and data likelihoods in all expected logarithmic time. We give an implementation of our algorithm and provide experiments that show that the algorithm can yield up to two orders of magnitude speedups on answering queries and responding to dynamic changes over the sum-product algorithm.
A new polymorph of catena-poly[[triaquacadmium(II)]-μ2-pyrazine-2,3-dicarboxylato]

The title complex, [Cd(C6H2N2O4)(H2O)3]n, is a new monoclinic polymorph. The orthorhombic form has previously been reported [Ma et al. (2006 ▶). Acta Cryst. E62, m2528–m2529]. The Cd—N and Cd—O bond lengths range from 2.265 (3) to 2.333 (3) Å; a weak Cd—O interaction is also present, the interatomic distance being 2.658 (4) Å. The CdII ions, which have a distorted pentagonal-bipyramidal geometry, are bridged by pyrazine-2,3-dicarboxylato ligands, forming a zigzag chain structure. The chains are connected by O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds into a three-dimensional framework.
Attention dynamics in multiple object tracking

We present a computational model of multiple object tracking that makes trial-level predictions about the allocation of visual attention and the resulting performance. This model follows the intuition of allocated resources modulating spatial resolution, but it implements it in a specific way that leads to accurate predictions in multiple task manipulations. Experiments on human subjects, guided by the model’s predictions, demonstrate that observers tracking multiple objects use lowlevel computations of target confusability to adjust the spatial resolution at which the target needs to be tracked, and that the resulting allocation closely approximates the rational solution. Whereas earlier models of multiple object tracking have predicted the big picture relationship between stimulus complexity and response accuracy, our approach makes accurate predictions of both the aggregate effect of target number and velocity and of the variations in difficulty across individual trials and targets arising from the idiosyncratic within-trial interactions of targets and distractors.
Electrotherapy Reoxygenates Inframalleolar Ischemic Wounds on Diabetic Patients: A Case Series

OBJECTIVE To retrospectively evaluate the ability of high voltage pulsed current (HVPC) to increase microcirculation in critically ischemic wounds (transcutaneous oxygen [TcPO2] less than 10 mm Hg) and, as a result, to improve wound healing. DESIGN AND METHODS Clinical case series with successive adult diabetic subjects (3 men and 3 women) with nonsurgical ischemic malleolar or inframalleolar skin lesions, each subject serving as his or her own control. Wound area and TcPO2 were measured periodically. Presence of distal arteriosclerosis was assessed on 5 patients by 2-dimensional, time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography. End point was either complete wound closure or leg amputation. RESULTS Maximum mean TcPO2 was 2 ± 2 mm Hg at the wound edge before the start of electrotherapy. After electrotherapy began, maximum TcPO2 was 33 ± 18 mm Hg (N=6;P <.05, Wilcoxon signed rank test). After treatment with HVPC, 4 patients’ wounds healed and 2 patients underwent amputation. As expected, healed patients initially deteriorated after the start of treatment, but their wounds began healing when the perilesion TcPO2 measurement exceeded 20 mm Hg. Thereafter, the wounds closed at a predictable rate. Complete closure occurred for patients who had a relatively low atherosclerotic burden. CONCLUSION The results of this clinical case series suggest that electrotherapy can improve periwound microcirculation of ischemic inframalleolar skin lesions.
The SINFONI Mg II Program for Line Emitters (SIMPLE): Discovering Starbursts near QSO Sight Lines

Low-ionization transitions such as the Mg II λ2796/2803 doublet trace cold gas in the vicinity of galaxies. It is not clear whether this gas is part of the interstellar medium of large protodisks, part of dwarfs, or part of entrained material in supernova-driven outflows. Studies based on Mg II statistics, e.g., stacked images and clustering analysis, have invoked starburst-driven outflows where Mg II absorbers are tracing the denser and colder gas of the outflow. A consequence of the outflow scenario is that the strongest absorbers ought to be associated with starbursts. We use the near-IR integral field spectrograph SINFONI to test whether starbursts are found around z ~ 1 Mg II absorbers. For 67% (14 out of 21) of the absorbers with rest-frame equivalent width W > 2 Å, we do detect Hα in emission within ±200 km s-1 of the predicted wavelength based on the Mg II redshift, and with impact parameter ranging from 0.2'' to 6.7'' from the QSO. The star formation rate (SFR) inferred from Hα is 1-20 M☉ yr-1, i.e., showing a level of star formation larger than in M82 by a factor of >4 on average. Our flux limit (3 σ) is fHα < 1.2 × 10-17 erg s-1 cm-2, corresponding to a SFR of ~0.5 M☉ yr-1, much below past ground-based Hα surveys of absorption-selected galaxies. We find evidence (at >95%) for a correlation between SFR and equivalent width, indicating a physical connection between starburst phenomena and gas seen in absorption. In the cases where we can extract the velocity field, the host galaxies of Mg II absorbers with W > 2 Å reside in halos with mean mass ⟨log Mh(M☉)⟩ ~ 11.2, in good agreement with clustering measurements.
Control of tongue movements in speech: the Equilibrium Point Hypothesis perspective

In this paper , the application of the Equilibrium Point Hypothesis— originally proposed by Feldman for the control of limb movements— to speech control is analysed . In the first part , physiological data published in the literature which argue in favour of such control for the tongue are presented and the possible role of this motor process in a global control model of the tongue is explicated . In the second part , using the example of the acoustic variability associated with vowel reduction , we focus on how the Equilibrium Point Hypothesis could help to search for physical regularities associated with a phonological sequence produced under variable speech conditions : the equilibrium point sequence could be invariant while the level of cocontraction and the timing of the commands could vary with the speech condition .
Inhibition of endotrophin, a cleavage product of collagen VI, confers cisplatin sensitivity to tumours

Endotrophin is a cleavage product of collagenVIα3 (COL6A3). Here, we explore the relationship between thiazolidinediones (TZDs), endotrophin and cisplatin resistance in the context of a mammary tumour model. COL6A3 levels are increased in response to cisplatin exposure in tumours. Endotrophin, in turn, causes cisplatin resistance. The effects of endotrophin can be bypassed, either through use of COL6 null (COL6−/−) mice or by administering TZDs in wild‐type mice (leading to a downregulation of endotrophin). Both approaches sensitize tumours to cisplatin through the suppression of endotrophin‐induced epithelial–mesenchymal transition. The beneficial effects of TZDs on cisplatin sensitivity are diminished in COL6−/− mice, whereas endotrophin+ tumours are sensitive to the TZD/cisplatin combination. Therefore, the chemosensitization obtained with TZDs is achieved through a downregulation of endotrophin. Treatment with an endotrophin neutralizing antibody in combination with cisplatin completely inhibits tumour growth of tumour allografts. Combined, our data suggest that endotrophin levels are a strong prognostic marker for the effectiveness of the combination therapy of TZDs with cisplatin, and neutralization of endotrophin activity dramatically improves the therapeutic response to combination therapy.
Interaction of the Tumor Suppressor PTEN/MMAC with a PDZ Domain of MAGI3, a Novel Membrane-associated Guanylate Kinase*

PTEN/MMAC is a phosphatase that is mutated in multiple human tumors. PTEN/MMAC dephosphorylates 3-phosphorylated phosphatidylinositol phosphates that activate AKT/protein kinase B (PKB) kinase activity. AKT/PKB is implicated in the inhibition of apoptosis, and cell lines and tumors with mutated PTEN/MMAC show increased AKT/PKB kinase activity and resistance to apoptosis. PTEN/MMAC contains a PDZ domain-binding site, and we show here that the phosphatase binds to a PDZ domain ofmembrane-associated guanylate kinase with inverted orientation (MAGI) 3, a novel inverted membrane-associated guanylate kinase that localizes to epithelial cell tight junctions. Importantly, MAGI3 and PTEN/MMAC cooperate to modulate the kinase activity of AKT/PKB. These data suggest that MAGI3 allows for the juxtaposition of PTEN/MMAC to phospholipid signaling pathways involved with cell survival.
Genetic Diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Isolates from Assam, India: Dominance of Beijing Family and Discovery of Two New Clades Related to CAS1_Delhi and EAI Family Based on Spoligotyping and MIRU-VNTR Typing

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the major public health concerns in Assam, a remote state located in the northeastern (NE) region of India. The present study was undertaken to explore the circulating genotypes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) in this region. A total of 189 MTBC strains were collected from smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis cases from different designated microscopy centres (DMC) from various localities of Assam. All MTBC isolates were cultured on Lowenstein-Jensen (LJ) media and subsequently genotyped using spoligotyping and 24-loci mycobacterial interspersed repetitive units-variable number of tandem repeats (MIRU-VNTR) typing. Spoligotyping of MTBC isolates revealed 89 distinct spoligo patterns. The most dominant MTBC strain belonged to Beijing lineage and was represented by 35.45% (n = 67) of total isolates, followed by MTBC strains belonging to Central Asian-Delhi (CAS/Delhi) lineage and East African Indian (EAI5) lineage. In addition, in the present study 43 unknown spoligo patterns were detected. The discriminatory power of spoligotyping was found to be 0.8637 based on Hunter Gaston Discriminatory Index (HGDI). On the other hand, 24-loci MIRU-VNTR typing revealed that out of total 189 MTBC isolates from Assam 185 (97.9%) isolates had unique MIRU-VNTR profiles and 4 isolates grouped into 2 clusters. Phylogenetic analysis of 67 Beijing isolates based on 24-loci MIRU-VNTR typing revealed that Beijing isolates from Assam represent two major groups, each comprising of several subgroups. Neighbour-Joining (NJ) phylogenetic tree analysis based on combined spoligotyping and 24-loci MIRU-VNTR data of 78 Non-Beijing isolates was carried out for strain lineage identification as implemented by MIRU-VNTRplus database. The important lineages of MTBC identified were CAS/CAS1_Delhi (41.02%, n = 78) and East-African-Indian (EAI, 33.33%). Interestingly, phylogenetic analysis of orphan (23.28%) MTBC spoligotypes revealed that majority of these orphan isolates from Assam represent two new sub-clades Assam/EAI and Assam/CAS. The prevalence of multidrug resistance (MDR) in Beijing and Non-Beijing strains was found to be 10.44% and 9.01% respectively. In conclusion, the present study has shown the predominance of Beijing isolates in Assam which is a matter of great concern because Beijing strains are considered to be ecologically more fit enabling wider dissemination of M. tuberculosis. Other interesting finding of the present study is the discovery of two new clades of MTBC isolates circulating in Assam. More elaborate longitudinal studies are required to be undertaken in this region to understand the transmission dynamics of MTBC.
Combined influence of expertise and fatigue on riding strategy and horse–rider coupling during the time course of endurance races.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY The relationship between the biomechanical horse–rider interaction and endurance race performance requires further investigation. OBJECTIVES To characterise, both quantitatively and qualitatively, elite and advanced horse–rider dyads on the basis of the biomechanical horse–rider interaction during endurance races. STUDY DESIGN Five elite and 5 advanced horse–rider dyads were recorded during CEI*/CEI** endurance races using 2 synchronised triaxial accelerometers each placed close to horse and rider centres of mass. METHODS For each horse–rider dyad, analyses focused on the vertical displacements of horse and rider per stride. This allowed quantification of the proportional use of each gait and riding technique per loop. The quality of the biomechanical horse–rider interaction was examined through the relative phases (RP) of their respective vertical displacement minima. Instantaneous speed and rider heart rates were recorded using a global positioning system device/heart rate monitor. RESULTS All dyads predominantly used 2 riding techniques per gait. The 2-point trot proportion was limited in both groups (11%). Throughout the race, the advanced horse–rider dyads showed a global stability in speed, in the proportion of 4 combinations of gait and riding techniques and in mean RP. However, the elite horse–rider dyads initially had higher mean RP values (P<0.01), and from mid-race to the end an increasing proportion of sitting canter, with associated increases in racing speed (P<0.001) and in mean heart rate (P<0.01). Intradyad RP variability in 2-point canter increased in both groups (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS Accelerometers are a valuable tool to follow the quantitative and qualitative trends of the biomechanical horse–rider interaction during international endurance races. The overall results emphasise the influence of the level of expertise on the adopted gait and riding techniques, thus influencing the racing speed. It remains to be established whether fatigue and/or strategy underlie our observations.
Persistent High Levels of Plasma Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein After Acute Myocardial Infarction Predict Stent Restenosis

Objective—Recently, elevated levels of plasma oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) have been shown to relate to plaque instability in human atherosclerotic lesions. We investigated prospectively patients admitted with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) who underwent primary coronary stenting to evaluate whether the 6-month outcome could be predicted by measuring plasma oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) levels at the time of hospital discharge. Methods and Results—Plasma ox-LDL levels were measured in 102 patients with AMI undergoing primary coronary stenting using a highly sensitive ELISA method. Measurements were taken on admission and at discharge, and the findings related to the clinical outcome. At 6-month follow-up, angiographic stent restenosis occurred in 25 (25%) of the 102 AMI patients. Plasma ox-LDL levels at discharge were significantly (P=0.0074) higher in the restenosis group than those in the no-restenosis group (1.03±0.65 versus 0.61±0.34 ng/5 &mgr;g LDL protein). Multiple regression analysis showed that only plasma ox-LDL levels at discharge were a statistically significant independent predictor for late lumen loss after stenting (&bgr;=0.645; P<0.0001). Conclusions—This prospective study demonstrates that persistence of an increased level of plasma ox-LDL at discharge is a strong independent predictor of stent restenosis at 6-month follow-up in AMI patients.
Regulation of neural responses in the canine pyloric sphincter by opioids

1 Regulation of excitatory and inhibitory junction potentials (e.j.ps and i.j.ps) by opioid peptides was studied in isolated muscle strips from the pyloric sphincter of the dog. 2 Methionine enkephalin (MetEnk; 10−10 to 10−6 m) and [d‐Ala2, d‐Leu5] enkephalin (DADLE; 10−11 to 10−7 m), a δ‐specific opioid agonist, inhibited i.j.ps and e.j.ps recorded from cells in the myenteric and submucosal regions of the circular muscle layer. These compounds had no effect on resting potential or slow wave activity suggesting that the effects on junction potentials were not due to direct effects on smooth muscle cells. 3 MetEnk and DADLE caused similar effects on junction potentials in preparations in which the myenteric plexus was removed, suggesting that opioids inhibit pre‐junctional effects on nerve fibres within the muscularis externa. 4 Inhibition of junction potentials by MetEnk and DADLE was blocked by approximately the same extent by naloxone (10−6 m) and ICI 174,864 (10−6 m), a δ‐specific antagonist. 5 MetEnk and DADLE blocked a portion of the i.j.p. that was sensitive to arginine analogues; after treatment with Nω‐nitro‐l‐arginine methyl ester (l‐NAME, 10−4 m), MetEnk and DADLE had no further effect on i.j.ps. These data suggest that opioids regulate nitric oxide‐dependent neurotransmission. 6 Naloxone (10−6 m) alone had no effect on i.j.ps elicited by short trains of electrical field stimuli. 7 I.j.p. amplitude was reduced after a period of conditioning stimulation (2 min, 30 Hz, 30 V). Naloxone blocked the post‐stimulation inhibition. Repetitive stimulation at high frequencies (30 Hz) resulted in sustained hyperpolarization. Naloxone increased the amplitude of the hyperpolarization responses elicited by high frequency stimulation. 8 These results show that e.j.ps and i.j.ps in the canine pylorus are inhibited by opioids. A portion of the inhibitory effects appears to be mediated via δ receptors. 9 Although pyloric muscles are richly innervated by nerves containing opioid peptides, brief trains of stimuli do not appear to release concentrations of opioids that are effective in regulating junction potentials. Higher frequency stimulation (or longer durations of stimulation) appear to be necessary to release concentrations of opioids that are effective in modulating the amplitude of junction potentials.
Uropathogenic E. coli Exploit CEA to Promote Colonization of the Urogenital Tract Mucosa

Attachment to the host mucosa is a key step in bacterial pathogenesis. On the apical surface of epithelial cells, members of the human carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) family are abundant glycoproteins involved in cell-cell adhesion and modulation of cell signaling. Interestingly, several gram-negative bacterial pathogens target these receptors by specialized adhesins. The prototype of a CEACAM-binding pathogen, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, utilizes colony opacity associated (Opa) proteins to engage CEA, as well as the CEA-related cell adhesion molecules CEACAM1 and CEACAM6 on human epithelial cells. By heterologous expression of neisserial Opa proteins in non-pathogenic E. coli we find that the Opa protein-CEA interaction is sufficient to alter gene expression, to increase integrin activity and to promote matrix adhesion of infected cervical carcinoma cells and immortalized vaginal epithelial cells in vitro. These CEA-triggered events translate in suppression of exfoliation and improved colonization of the urogenital tract by Opa protein-expressing E. coli in CEA-transgenic compared to wildtype mice. Interestingly, uropathogenic E. coli expressing an unrelated CEACAM-binding protein of the Afa/Dr adhesin family recapitulate the in vitro and in vivo phenotype. In contrast, an isogenic strain lacking the CEACAM-binding adhesin shows reduced colonization and does not suppress epithelial exfoliation. These results demonstrate that engagement of human CEACAMs by distinct bacterial adhesins is sufficient to blunt exfoliation and to promote host infection. Our findings provide novel insight into mucosal colonization by a common UPEC pathotype and help to explain why human CEACAMs are a preferred epithelial target structure for diverse gram-negative bacteria to establish a foothold on the human mucosa.
Economic evaluation of folic acid food fortification in The Netherlands.

BACKGROUND Folic acid intake before and during pregnancy reduces neural tube defects (NTD). Therefore, several countries have enriched bulk food with folic acid resulting in a 26-48% decrease in the prevalence of NTDs. In 2000, the Dutch Health Council advised against folic acid enrichment based on literature research; yet formal cost-effectiveness information was absent. We designed our study to estimate cost-effectiveness of folic acid food fortification in the Netherlands. METHOD Prevalence of NTD at birth, life-time costs of care, and folic acid fortification costs were estimated using Dutch registrations, Dutch guidelines for costing, (inter)national literature and expert opinions. Both net cost per discounted life year gained and net cost per discounted quality adjusted life year (QALY) gained were estimated for the base case and sensitivity analyses. RESULTS In the base case and most sensitivity analyses, folic acid enrichment was estimated to be cost-saving. Bulk food fortification with folic acid remains cost-effective as long as enrichment costs do not exceed euro5.5 million (threshold at euro20 000 per QALY). CONCLUSION Our model suggests that folic acid fortification of bulk food to prevent cases of NTD in newborns might be a cost-saving intervention in the Netherlands. Additionally, besides the evidence that folic acid reduces the number of NTDs, there are indications that folic acid is associated with the prevention of other birth defects, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Our model did not yet include these possibly beneficial effects.