cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sex and classic risk factors after myocardial infarction: a community study.

Background Sex-specific data on classic risk factors and their impact after myocardial infarction (MI) in the community are lacking. We evaluated the prevalence and association of classic risk factors with recurrent ischemic events in patients with MI and tested the hypothesis that they differed by sex. Methods All patients (1104, 45% women) from Olmsted County, Minnesota, hospitalized with an incident MI between 1990 and 1998 were identified using standardized criteria and followed-up (mean 3.7 years) for recurrent ischemic events, defined as recurrent MI, ischemic stroke, or coronary death. Data on hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, smoking, and obesity at index hospitalization were analyzed individually and in clusters. Results Women were older than men (73 vs 64 years, P < .001) and had more risk factors. During follow-up, 423 events occurred. For women, the adjusted risk of recurrent events increased with hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia. For men, no increase in risk was detected with any risk factor. The population attributable risk of all risk factors combined was 46% (95% CI 29%-62%) in women and 19% (95% CI 6%-35%) in men. As the number of risk factors increased from 1 to ≥4, compared with no risk factors, the adjusted hazard ratio in women increased progressively (1.12, 1.82, 2.34, and 2.68, respectively), whereas no trend was detected in men (1.40, 1.27, 1.24, and 1.37, respectively) (P = .01 for effect modification by sex). Conclusions Classic risk factors are highly prevalent and often clustered in MI, especially among women. Although their predictive value for recurrent ischemic events is marginal in men, strong associations exist in women, which define secondary prevention opportunities.
Defeating "Death with Dignity": Morality and Message in a Massachusetts Referendum

In November 2012, a ballot measure entitled “Death with Dignity” that would legalize physician-assisted suicide was placed before the voters of Massachusetts. The Catholic Church, which had exerted substantial policy influence in the commonwealth but had recently seen its authority falter, faced a popular proposal that the bishops considered morally objectionable. No longer able to intercede effectively with elected officials, mobilize the laity in large numbers, or win solely by stressing church teachings, the church pursued coalition politics and funded a television and Internet campaign that emphasized secular and cultural arguments grounded in the church’s moral understanding of life rather than religious legitimizations. The initiative, which held a commanding lead in mid-September, was narrowly defeated. The case shows how the Catholic Church in Massachusetts, even in a weakened state, has learned to adapt politically and gain support for its position on an important moral policy concern.
WRF summer extreme daily precipitation over the CORDEX Arctic

We analyze daily precipitation extremes produced by a six-member ensemble of the Pan-Arctic Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) that simulated 19 years on the Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX) Arctic domain for the Arctic summer. Attention focuses on four North American analysis regions defined using climatological records, regional weather patterns, and geographical/topographical features. We compare simulated extremes with those occurring at corresponding observing stations in the U.S. National Climate Data Center's Global Summary of the Day. Our analysis focuses on variations in features of the extremes such as magnitudes, spatial scales, and temporal regimes between regions. Using composites of extreme events, we also analyze the processes producing these extremes, comparing circulation, pressure, temperature, and humidity fields from the ERA-Interim reanalysis and the model output. Although the model's extreme precipitation is low compared to the observed one, the physical behavior in the reanalysis leading to observed extremes is simulated in the model. In particular, the reanalysis and the model both show the importance of moisture advection against topography for producing most of the extreme daily precipitation events in summer. In contrast, parts of Arctic western Canada also have a substantial contribution from convective precipitation, which is not seen in the other regions analyzed. The analysis establishes the physical credibility of the simulations for extreme behavior. It also highlights the utility of the model for extracting behaviors that are not easily discernible from the observations such as convective precipitation.
Fatigue crack advance presumably detected by acoustic emission signals

Abstract An acoustic emission (AE) technique was used to check the predictions of our fatigue crack growth theory. So far our study shows that the predicitions of the theory seem to be in agreement with the experimental results. In fourth power type law material the fatigue crack extension AE signal appears when the stress reaches its maximum value in a load cycle. On the other hand in a second power type law material (maraging 300 steel) the crack extension AE signal occurs when the stress is still well below its maximum value. In order to confirm the above results, other experimental methods to detect crack advance are needed. An SEM study using replication of the fatigue crack tip is in progress.
CTOA and crack-tunneling measurements in thin sheet 2024-T3 aluminum alloy

The stable tearing behavior of 2.3-mm thick sheets of 2024-T3 aluminum alloy was experimentally investigated for middle crack tension specimens having initial flaws that were: (a) flat fatigue cracks (low fatigue stress) and (b) 45-deg through-thickness slant cracks (high fatigue stress). The critical CTOA values during stable tearing were measured by two independent methods, optical microscopy and digital-image correlation. Results from the two methods agree well. The CTOA measurements and observations of the fracture surfaces have shown that the initial stable tearing behavior of low and high fatigue stress tests is significantly different. The cracks in the low fatigue stress tests underwent a transition from flat-to-slant crack growth, during which the CTOA values were high and significant crack tunneling occurred. After crack growth equal to about the thickness (Δa>B), CTOA reached a constant value of 6 deg and after crack growth equal to about twice the thickness (Δa>2B), crack tunneling stabilized. The cracks in the high fatigue stress tests reach the same constant CTOA value after crack growth equal to about the thickness, but produced only slightly higher CTOA values during initial crack growth. The amount of tunneling in the high fatigue stress tests was about the same as that in the low fatigue stress tests after the flat-to-slant transition. This study indicates that stress history has an influence on the initial portion of the stable tearing behavior. The initial high CTOA values, in the low fatigue crack tests, coincided with large three-dimensional crack front shape changes due to a variation in the through-thickness crack-tip constraint. The measured CTOA reached a constant value of 6 deg for crack growth of about the specimen thickness. This coincided with the onset of 45-deg slant crack growth and a stabilized, slightly tunneled (about 20 percent of the thickness) crack-front shape. For crack growth on the 45-deg slant, the crack front and local field variables are still highly three dimensional.
Dopamine- and cholecystokinin-containing neurons of the crossed mesostriatal projection.

Abstract The projection of the substantia nigra-ventral tegmental area (SN-VTA) to the ipsilateral and contralateral caudate-putamen was studied with double-labeling fluorescence techniques in the albino rat. By combining glyoxylic acid histofluorescence with retrograde fluorescence tracers, we were able to determine that 93% of the minor (1–2%) contralateral mesostriatal pathwayis catecholaminergic. In addition, combined immunofluorescence and retrograde fluorescence tracer studies showed that 50% of the crossed mesostriatal pathway also arises from cholecystokinin-containing neurons. These results provide evidence for crossed catecholamine- and peptide-containing pathways in the mesostriatal system which is part of the ‘prefrontal system’ that links the prefrontal cortex through the caudate-putamen, with the thalamus and tectum of each hemisphere.
Adding a path connectedness operator to FO + poly (linear)

In the constraint database community FO+poly and FO+linear have been proposed as foundations for spatial database query languages. One of the strengths of this approach is that these languages are a clean and natural generalization of Codd's relational model to a spatial setting. As a result rigorous mathematical study of their expressiveness and complexity can be carried out.
Temporal and spatial changes in social vulnerability to natural hazards

During the past four decades (1960–2000), the United States experienced major transformations in population size, development patterns, economic conditions, and social characteristics. These social, economic, and built-environment changes altered the American hazardscape in profound ways, with more people living in high-hazard areas than ever before. To improve emergency management, it is important to recognize the variability in the vulnerable populations exposed to hazards and to develop place-based emergency plans accordingly. The concept of social vulnerability identifies sensitive populations that may be less likely to respond to, cope with, and recover from a natural disaster. Social vulnerability is complex and dynamic, changing over space and through time. This paper presents empirical evidence on the spatial and temporal patterns in social vulnerability in the United States from 1960 to the present. Using counties as our study unit, we found that those components that consistently increased social vulnerability for all time periods were density (urban), race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. The spatial patterning of social vulnerability, although initially concentrated in certain geographic regions, has become more dispersed over time. The national trend shows a steady reduction in social vulnerability, but there is considerable regional variability, with many counties increasing in social vulnerability during the past five decades.
Fluorene-based metal-ion sensing probe with high sensitivity to Zn2+ and efficient two-photon absorption.

The photophysical, photochemical, two-photon absorption (2PA) and metal ion sensing properties of a new fluorene derivative (E)-1-(7-(4-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)styryl)-9,9-bis(2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)ethyl)-9H-fluoren-2-yl)-3-(2-(9,10,16,17,18,19,21,22,23,24-decahydro-6H dibenzo[h,s][1,4,7,11,14,17]trioxatriazacycloicosin-20(7H)-yl)ethyl)thiourea (1) were investigated in organic and aqueous media. High sensitivity and selectivity of 1 to Zn2+ in tetrahydrofuran and a water/acetonitrile mixture were shown by both absorption and fluorescence titration. The observed complexation processes corresponded to 1:1 stoichiometry with the range of binding constants ∼(2−3) × 105 M−1. The degenerate 2PA spectra of 1 and 1/Zn2+ complex were obtained in the 640−900 nm spectral range with the maximum values of two-photon action cross section for ligand/metal complex ∼(90−130) GM, using a standard two-photon induced fluorescence methodology under femtosecond excitation. The nature of the 2PA bands was analyzed by quantum chemical...
Optimizing antiplatelet therapy in acute coronary syndrome and percutaneous coronary intervention.

Dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel is the standard of care for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and those undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). It is well established that inhibition of platelet aggregation reduces the risk of recurrent thrombotic events and stent thrombosis. However, some patients show a reduced antiplatelet response to standard clopidogrel loading (300 mg) and maintenance (75 mg day−1) doses, which has been associated with poorer patient outcomes. Pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic studies show that higher-than-standard clopidogrel dosing strategies facilitate more rapid platelet inhibition of a greater intensity as a result of greater plasma concentrations of the clopidogrel active metabolite. Recently completed studies suggest that in patients with ACS undergoing PCI, higher-than-standard clopidogrel dosing regimens provide greater inhibition of platelet function and improved clinical outcomes with a small but significant increase in major bleeding. Newer, more potent antiplatelet agents such as prasugrel and ticagrelor are other alternative strategies that result in more rapid, greater inhibition of platelet function and better outcomes than standard-dose clopidogrel. Whether platelet reactivity-guided therapy or genotyping for cytochrome P450 polymorphisms is useful in managing patients needs to be further defined. Most importantly, early and effective antiplatelet therapy results in the best short- and long-term outcomes for patients with ACS or those undergoing PCI. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Introduction of a novel optical measurement system for dynamic spinal curvature analysis

Background Rasterstereography is a method for stereophotogrammetric surface measurements of the back based on moire topography[1]. In contrast to all other optical devices, rasterstereography allows an analysis not only of the back surface but also of the underlying spine. This is possible by the use of a spine model, which was created by Turner-Smith[2,3]. So far rasterstereography only allows static measurements. However, it would be of great value to be able to also evaluate the spine and its segments under dynamic conditions.
Feeding patterns of a specialist and a generalist grasshopper : electronic monitoring on their host plants

Hypochlora alba (Dodge) is a specialist grasshopper that lives and feeds almost exclusively on Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt., a sage plant mostly avoided as food by generalist or polyphagous grasshoppers, such as Melanoplus sanguinipes (Fabr.). Adaptations to feeding on the pubescent sage foliage containing high levels of allelochemics may involve behavioural as well as physiological specialization. Using an electronic device to monitor feeding activity, we compared feeding periodicity, bout length, bout frequency, and overall time spent feeding by H.alba on sage foliage and by M.sanguinipes on seedling ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), the plants on which they had been reared. Although both species fed for about the same amount of time per day (c. 4–5%), they achieved this by two different feeding patterns. H. alba had feeding bouts averaging c. 10 min each, compared to c. 4–5 min for M.sanguinipes. Bout frequency was reversed, with M.sanguinipes feeding about once every hour and H.alba about half as often. Bout length for both species was unaffected by phase of the photoperiod while bout frequency, and consequently the rate of feeding in min/h, was typically reduced by two-thirds or more during the dark phase. The relationship of grasshopper feeding behaviour to host plant specialization is discussed.
Photon counting with silicon avalanche photodiodes

Avalanche photodiodes (APDs) are studied for use as photon-counting detectors. The APD may be biased slightly above (Geiger mode) or slightly below its voltage breakdown point. In the latter case, if the photon absorption rate is low enough, each individual photoelectron current pulse may be resolved with the use of a discriminator. APDs used in this photon-counting mode are shown to give the best performance at low light levels. Experimentally, overall photon detection probabilities of 5.0 and 0.33% were obtained at lambda =820 nm and lambda =1.064 mu m, respectively, with a photon counter dead time as low as 15 ns and a dark current counting rate of 7000/s. The APD photon counter exhibited an exponential photon interarrival time probability density and a near-Poissonian photon-counting probability. >
Posterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy During General Surgery

We examined two patients who awoke with profound bilateral visual loss after operations under general anesthesia. Their fundi, initially normal, later showed bilateral optic atrophy. Neither patient showed other neurologic deficits, although one demonstrated radiologic evidence of a small cerebral infarction in the deep white matter. These patients probably suffered intraoperative infarction of the retrobulbar segments of both optic nerves, producing posterior ischemic optic neuropathy. Profound systemic hypotension may have been a contributing factor in one patient, the use of the pump-oxygenator in the other, and anemia in both.
Tracer design for magnetic particle imaging (invited).

Magnetic particle imaging (MPI) uses safe iron oxide nanoparticle tracers to offer fundamentally new capabilities for medical imaging, in applications as vascular imaging and ultra-sensitive cancer therapeutics. MPI is perhaps the first medical imaging platform to intrinsically exploit nanoscale material properties. MPI tracers contain magnetic nanoparticles whose tunable, size-dependent magnetic properties can be optimized by selecting a particular particle size and narrow size-distribution. In this paper we present experimental MPI measurements acquired using a homemade MPI magnetometer: a zero-dimensional MPI imaging system designed to characterize tracer performance by measuring the derivative of the time-varying tracer magnetization, M’(H(t)), at a driving frequency of 25 kHz. We show that MPI performance is optimized by selecting phase-pure magnetite tracers of a particular size and narrow size distribution; in this work, tracers with 20 nm median diameter, log-normal distribution shape parameter, σv, equal to 0.26, and hydrodynamic diameter equal to 30 nm showed the best performance. Furthermore, these optimized MPI tracers show 4 × greater signal intensity (measured at the third harmonic) and 20% better spatial resolution compared with commercial nanoparticles developed for MRI.
Oncolytic Viruses for Cancer Therapy

After being recognized for their antineoplastic properties at the beginning of the last century, viruses are again being considered for use as therapeutic agents against cancer. Certain species of virus have a propensity to replicate within transformed cells, commonly rendered vulnerable because of tumor-specific defects in their defense against viral infection. Other viruses have been modified to tumor-specific growth conditions. Oncolytic viruses carry the promise to efficiently target cancer cells for destruction and spread throughout tumor tissue to reach distant neoplastic loci without causing collateral damage to healthy tissues. In contrast to conventional cancer chemotherapy, viral antineoplastic agents require complex interactions with the host organism to reach their target and to develop oncolytic activity. Recent progress in the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of viral pathogenesis has opened up new opportunities to manipulate virus-host interactions, generating effective antitumor strategies. On the other hand, significant obstacles towards the application of safe and efficacious viral therapies have become apparent. These frequently relate to the lack of cell culture and animal tumor models that accurately reflect the characteristics of cancerous tissues in patients. Throughout the past century, viral therapeutics against cancer has evolved into a new class of treatment strategies characterized by unique opportunities and challenges. A growing number of oncolytic viruses have entered clinical investigation or are scheduled to do so in the near future. Great efforts are being undertaken to rekindle an old idea and, with the help of new technologies, to realize its promise of new treatment options for cancer.
Spatial and temporal variations of EUV coronal bright points

This paper reports results of an analysis of Skylab observations of coronal bright points made in EUV spectral lines formed in the chromosphere, chromospheric-coronal transition region and corona. The most important result is that the observed bright points exhibited large variations in EUV emission over time scales as short as 5.5 min, the temporal resolution of the data. In most cases strong enhancements in the coronal line were accompanied by strong enhancements in the chromospheric and transition region lines. The intensity variations appear to take place within substructures of the bright points, which most likely consist of miniature loops evolving on time scales of a few minutes. Coronal cooling times derived from the data are consistent with an intermittent, impulsive coronal heating mechanism for bright points.
Human Fast Skeletal Myosin Light Chain 2 cDNA: Isolation, Tissue Specific Expression of the Single Copy Gene, Comparative Sequence Analysis of Isoforms and Evolutionary Relationships

A cDNA clone encoding human fast skeletal myosin regulatory light chain (HSRLC) has been isolated and characterized from a fetal muscle cDNA library. The cDNA contains the coding sequence of 170 amino acids (aa) and 58 and 91 nucleotides in the 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions (UTRs), respectively. HSRLC is encoded by a single copy gene in the human genome and shows a tissue-specific pattern of expression in skeletal muscle. Comparison of derived amino acid sequence of HSRLC with database sequences reveals highly conserved 12 amino acid residues in a putative calcium-binding region. HSRLC is unique among all RLC sequences in having three consecutive potential phosphorylatable serine residues. The Cys-129 of HSRLC corresponds to the critical Gly-117 of scallop RLC that is essential for its regulatory function. The clusters of hydrophobic residues that are believed to stabilize the binding of NH2-terminal of RLC with myosin heavy chain show high sequence conservation in RLCs. Besides identifying specific targ...
Some History of the TIMS/INFORMS College on Marketing as Related to the Development of Marketing Science

Background At the International Meeting of The Institute of Management Sciences (TIMS) in Athens, Greece in the summer of 1977, it was announced that I had been elected president-elect of TIMS. It was a proud moment for me. I was to become the twenty-fifth president of an organization whose founding members included George Dantzig and Nobel laureates Kenneth Arrow, Tjalling Koopmans, Wassily Leontief, and Herbert Simon. The list of earlier presidents of TIMS was replete with the names of distinguished scholars such as William W Cooper, Abraham Charnes, C. West Churchman, Kenneth Arrow, George Dantzig, Ronald Howard, Leonard Arnoff, Robert Thrall, Richard Cyert, and Harvey Wagner. As the successor to such a distinguished list, I came to the visceral realization that there was great opportunity to advance ideas that I deeply believed in. Although marketing was only a minor area in TIMS, its influence and role were on the increase. The TIMS College on Marketing was 10 years old, and marketing sessions at TIMS meetings were growing, along with the appearance of marketing papers in Management Science. The fact that I was the first marketing professor elected president of TIMS was of some significance symbolically with respect to the future direction of management science and of marketing (science). As fate would have it, John D. C. Little became vice-president of publications of TIMS at the same time that I became president, and the two marketing professors quickly set about making plans for initiatives that would advance management science in
Cytochalasin J affects chromosome congression and spindle microtubule organization in PtK1 cells

PtK1 cells were treated with 10 micrograms/ml cytochalasin J (CJ) for 15 min at various stages of mitosis. When applied at nuclear envelope breakdown (NEB) chromosome congression was blocked or substantially slowed, and chromosomes failed to show organization patterns typical of prometaphase. Spindle microtubule (MT) numbers appeared unaffected as judged by the pattern of birefringent retardation. However, ultrastructural analysis showed MTs to be reorganized within the spindle domain with some exhibiting fragmentation and others failing to interact with poorly defined kinetochore laminae. The spindle domain took on a curved, almost banana-like shape, as related to the position of the centrosomes and lack of orientation of chromosomes. Serial section analysis of kinetochore regions showed reduced contour length and maturation of the kinetochore plate with few MTs associated with this structure. Cells similarly treated with 10 micrograms/ml CJ at NEB for 15 min and then released into conditioned medium for 15 min showed the most chromosomes resumed congression to the metaphase plate. Ultrastructural analysis revealed a more normal organization of spindle MTs, but kinetochore structure remained affected. CJ treatment of cells in prometaphase slightly affected chromosomes congression with most chromosomes aligning at the metaphase plate after 10-15 min of treatment. Ultrastructural analysis showed that astral MTs were disrupted and spindle MTs were fragmented; few MTs coursed from kinetochore to pole. Kinetochore structure was also affected with only small numbers of short MTs seen associated with kinetochores. Application of CJ at anaphase onset had little effect on anaphase A and B, but cytokinesis failed to occur. Anti-tubulin staining of a monolayer of cells treated with 10 micrograms/ml CJ for 15 min showed that over 60% of mitotic figures exhibited changes in MT organization. Cells showing the greatest effect of treatment had several foci of bundles of MTs, as if the spindle were multipolar. Chromosomes were arranged near the periphery of the spindle which could be a result of abnormalities of kinetochore structure. Improper association of spindle MTs with kinetochores and, thus, changes in kinetochore position could account for these changes in spindle architecture.
Corticosteroids can be used to treat alcoholic hepatitis after a recent upper gastrointestinal bleed.

See Article, pages 816–821 Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is a disease that is diagnosed clinically by a constellation of findings, including a long and recent history of heavy alcohol use, onset of jaundice within the prior 3 months, and AST>ALT (and AST usually <500 IU/ml). Patients with severe AH usually have ascites and are malnourished, and not uncommonly have hepatic encephalopathy. Other causes of liver disease need to be excluded based on blood tests (e.g., autoimmune hepatitis) or tested for (e.g., hepatitis C, hepatitis B). Imaging of the abdomen and liver is recommended to evaluate for ascites, masses in the liver, biliary duct obstruction, and vascular struc
Improvement on the Method of Service Quality Gap Measurement

SERVQUAL is a gap method in service quality measurement and is often recommended in classical textbooks, or cited by many literatures. But there have always been some papers persisting that SERVQUAL gap is not a good method to service quality measurement because of the problems of reliability, discriminant validity, spurious correlations, and variance restriction etc. Considering SERVQUAL is a good instrument for service quality diagnosis, and for the above issues, we attempt to improve the SERVQUAL gap method from three facets, that is, choosing operational definition of expectation; importing self-confidence to expectation in service quality measurement; and adopting the formative service quality measurement model. Finally we test the modified gap model empirically in 2006 Shenyang International Horticultural Exposition (EXPO).
Applying the Cultural Formulation Approach to Career Counseling With Latinas/os

In this article, the authors present two hypothetical cases, one of a Mexican American female college student and one of a Mexican immigrant adult male, and apply a culturally sensitive approach to career assessment and career counseling with each of these clients. Drawing from Leong, Hardin, and Gupta’s cultural formulation approach (CFA) to career counseling, the authors conceptualize the cases and provide a plan for working with these clients that takes into account the individual’s career development and identity formation within the context of the Latina/o culture. Cultural dynamics in the career counseling relationship are addressed, and career counseling interventions that highlight the client’s identity in the contexts of culture and extended family are provided for career counselors.
The relevance of biotechnology in the development of functional foods for improved nutritional and health quality in developing countries

The quality of food and food plants can be modified and optimized to meet the nutritional and health needs of at-risk and compromised populations prevalent in most of the developing countries. High rates of malnutrition, infectious disease as well as diet-related diseases such as diabetes and hypertension are prevalent in many developing countries. These are as a result of compromised immune function, inadequate sources of nutritious and quality foods and limited access to healthy and suitable foods. Biotechnology and genetic modification techniques have been proposed and applied for the improvement of the quality of various food crops. These have typically been geared towards increasing yields and pest resistance of cash crops. There is considerably less emphasis however, toward improving quality with regard to fortification or functionality of foods and food plants. Functional foods have nutritional and physiological benefits and are applicable in disease prevention and management. The application of biotechnology techniques for the development of functional food plants with higher levels of bioactive components or increased availability of nutrients would greatly benefit most populations in developing countries and improve the health and nutritional status overall. Key words : Biotechnology, functional foods, food quality, health, developing countries. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 2 (12), pp. 631-635, December 2003
Using the Error in Pre-election Polls to Test for the Presence of Pork

Polls are used by politicians, voters, and businesspeople alike to form expectations over political outcomes. In an electoral system with ‘pork’ at the national level, local economic prospects will be a direct function of political support. Because every poll comes with its margin of error, we can exploit the error in sub-national polls to test for whether forward-looking investment in the economy adjusts to shocks in local political behavior. The covariance between the strength of this adjustment and local-level characteristics allows us to identify the locations in which strong ‘pork’ contracts exist. To illustrate the technique, we provide a theoretical foundation and an empirical exercise using data on Ugandan micro-entrepreneurs during the 2001 presidential election. We find evidence of transfers which are explicitly conditional on electoral support, and that businesses are most sensitive to surprise voting patterns in ‘core’ districts.
Susceptibility of Field Populations of the Fall Armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) from Florida and Puerto Rico to Purified Cry1f Protein and Corn Leaf Tissue Containing Single and Pyramided Bt Genes

Larval survival of Cry1F-susceptible (FL), -resistant (PR and Cry1F-RR), and -heterozygous (FL x PR and Cry1F-RS) populations of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) to purified Cry1F protein and corn leaf tissue of 7 Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn hybrids and 5 non-Bt corn hybrids was evaluated in the laboratory. The 7 Bt corn hybrids represent 5 Bt corn traits: Herculex®I, which expresses a single Bt protein (Cry1F), and Genuity® VT Double Pro™, VT Triple Pro™, SmartStax™, and Agrisure® Viptera® 3111, which contain ≥ 2 pyramided Bt genes. The original FL and PR populations were collected from corn fields in 2011 in Florida and Puerto Rico, respectively. Diet-incorporation bioassays showed that FL was susceptible to Cry1F protein with a LC50 value of 0.13–0.23 µg/g, while PR was highly resistant to Cry1F protein (> 137-fold). FL was also susceptible to all 7 Bt corn hybrids with a 7-day mortality of > 95%, while PR and a backcrossed and reselected population, Cry1F-RR, were highly resistant to Cry1F corn leaf tissue. The resistance was recessive or incompletely recessive. None of the 5 populations of S. frugiperda could survive on Viptera™ 3111, suggesting this Bt corn trait can completely overcome the resistance and thus should provide a means of managing Cry1F resistance in S. frugiperda. However, Cry1F-RR exhibited a significant cross-resistance to the leaf tissue of the other 3 pyramided Bt corn traits. The possible cross-resistance between single-gene and pyramided Bt corn products suggest that careful selection of Bt genes is essential in use of gene pyramiding strategy for resistance management. View this article in BioOne
The Issue of System Use in Knowledge Management Systems

This paper discusses system use as a measure of system success. It is proposed that for knowledge management systems it is not the amount of use that is important, but rather, the quality of that use and the intention to use. Evidence is provided to support this proposition and a knowledge management system success model incorporating this proposition is discussed.
Mammographic density as a predictor of breast cancer outcome

This clinical investigation explored mammographic density, a strong etiologic risk factor for breast cancer, as a predictor of local breast cancer recurrence. The authors reported that women with intermediate and high breast density had a significantly elevated risk to develop a local breast cancer recurrence. However, this effect was only observed among patients who had not received radiotherapy. Only two previous reports have shown that mammographic density may be a prognostic factor, but the studies disagree on the role of radiotherapy as an effect modifier. Future studies that incorporate additional risk factors, e.g., obesity, need to examine the role of mammographic density in larger patient population before including breast density in treatment decision models.
Accuracy Study of the Ground Grid Analysis Algorithm

This paper presents the results of a study conducted to assess the accuracy of a widely used computer algorithm for the analysis of grounding grids. The paper concludes with recommended practices for both horizontal and vertical grid conductor segmentation for the calculation of resistance and earth surface voltages for simple structures.
Mixing Time for a Markov Chain on Cladograms

A cladogram is a tree with labelled leaves and unlabelled degree-3 branchpoints. A certain Markov chain on the set of n-leaf cladograms consists of removing a random leaf (and its incident edge) and re-attaching it to a random edge. We show that the mixing time (time to approach the uniform stationary distribution) for this chain is at least O(n2) and at most O(n3).
An Adaptive Prediction-Based Approach to Lossless Compression of Floating-Point Volume Data

In this work, we address the problem of lossless compression of scientific and medical floating-point volume data. We propose two prediction-based compression methods that share a common framework, which consists of a switched prediction scheme wherein the best predictor out of a preset group of linear predictors is selected. Such a scheme is able to adapt to different datasets as well as to varying statistics within the data. The first method, called APE (Adaptive Polynomial Encoder), uses a family of structured interpolating polynomials for prediction, while the second method, which we refer to as ACE (Adaptive Combined Encoder), combines predictors from previous work with the polynomial predictors to yield a more flexible, powerful encoder that is able to effectively decorrelate a wide range of data. In addition, in order to facilitate efficient visualization of compressed data, our scheme provides an option to partition floating-point values in such a way as to provide a progressive representation. We compare our two compressors to existing state-of-the-art lossless floating-point compressors for scientific data, with our data suite including both computer simulations and observational measurements. The results demonstrate that our polynomial predictor, APE, is comparable to previous approaches in terms of speed but achieves better compression rates on average. ACE, our combined predictor, while somewhat slower, is able to achieve the best compression rate on all datasets, with significantly better rates on most of the datasets.
The Hadoop distributed filesystem: Balancing portability and performance

Hadoop is a popular open-source implementation of MapReduce for the analysis of large datasets. To manage storage resources across the cluster, Hadoop uses a distributed user-level filesystem. This filesystem - HDFS - is written in Java and designed for portability across heterogeneous hardware and software platforms. This paper analyzes the performance of HDFS and uncovers several performance issues. First, architectural bottlenecks exist in the Hadoop implementation that result in inefficient HDFS usage due to delays in scheduling new MapReduce tasks. Second, portability limitations prevent the Java implementation from exploiting features of the native platform. Third, HDFS implicitly makes portability assumptions about how the native platform manages storage resources, even though native filesystems and I/O schedulers vary widely in design and behavior. This paper investigates the root causes of these performance bottlenecks in order to evaluate tradeoffs between portability and performance in the Hadoop distributed filesystem.
A Non-factualist defense of the Reflection principle

Are there plausible synchronic constraints on how a subject thinks of herself extended over time? At first glance, Bas van Fraassen’s principle of Reflection seems to prescribe the sort of epistemic authority one’s future self should be taken by one to have over one’s current epistemic states. (The gist of this principle is that I should now believe what I’m convinced I will believe tomorrow.) There has been a general consensus that, as a principle concerning epistemic authority, Reflection does not apply to epistemically non-ideal agents. I agree with this, but argue here that it misses the point of Reflection. Rather than an epistemic principle concerning reasons for belief, Reflection concerns the semantics of belief avowal. I present a non-factual interpretation of Reflection, argue that the principle provides a constraint on the ways in which one can reflectively endorse one’s future epistemic self, and say something about the logic governing such an interpretation.
Effects of linopirdine, HP 749, and glycyl‐prolyl‐glutamate on transmitter release and uptake

Linopirdine, HP 749, and glycyl-prolyl-glutamate (GPE) are compounds that have been reported to alter the release of neurotransmitters. This study compares the potassium-stimulated neurotransmitter release enhancing properties maximal release enhancement. HP 749 increased the extracellular concentrations of the catecholamines, [3H]NE and [3H]DA, but not [3H]ACh or [3H]d-Asp. HP 749 was a potent inhibitor of both [3H]NE and [3H]DA uptake, and this may, in part, be responsible for the apparent release enhancing activity of the drug. GPE was devoid of release enhancing activity under the conditions of these compounds in parallel. While not affecting the apparent release of [3H]norepinephrine ([3H]NE), linopirdine at a concentration of 10 μM enhanced the potassium evoked release of cerebral cortical and hippocampal [3H]acetylcholine ([3H]ACh) release by 143% and 200% over control, respectively, and striatal [3H]dopamine ([3H]DA) and hippocampal [3H]d-aspartate ([3H]d-Asp) release by 236% and 65% over control, respectively. The release enhancing effects of linopirdine were not due to inhibition of high-affinity uptake processes, since the drug did not inhibit neurotransmitter uptake at the concentration (10 μM) which caused used in the present study. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Analysis of Ubiquitin Degradation and Phosphorylation of Proteins

Both ubiquitination and phosphorylation are crucial mediators involved in controlling the functions of numerous proteins belonging to the Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathways. Altering the aforementioned post-translational events can be detrimental to the host survival. Therefore, the importance of these modifications cannot be overestimated. This chapter describes techniques used to examine if a protein is ubiquitinated and/or phosphorylated. In addition, a method is provided to identify the modified amino acids. We have previously shown using these techniques that the protein MyD88 adapter-like (Mal) is phosphorylated and ubiquitinated following activation of the TLR2 and TLR4 signaling pathways. Both post-translational modifications are essential for the activation and degradation of Mal, and thus are crucial steps, in regulating these TLR signaling cascades and consequently the innate immune response.
Lower-extremity complications with femoral extracorporeal life support.

Abstract Objective Patients undergoing emergency peripheral arteriovenous extracorporeal life support were evaluated for lower-extremity complications on the basis of the ipsilateral limb perfusion strategy. Methods In a retrospective review of patients receiving extracorporeal life support (2008-2013), 105 of 250 underwent femoral extracorporeal life support. For ipsilateral lower-extremity perfusion, patients underwent no superficial femoral artery cannulation (n = 35), percutaneous superficial femoral artery cannulation (n = 23), or open superficial femoral artery cannulation (n = 47). Results Patients' mean age was 50 ± 16 years, and 63% (n = 67) were male. A total of 92 patients (88%) had primary cardiac emergency, and 13 patients (12%) had cardiopulmonary emergency. The 30-day in-hospital mortality was 65% (n = 68), with an overall lower-extremity complication rate of 13% (n = 14). Lower-extremity complications were highest in the percutaneous superficial femoral artery (n = 6, 26%) and no superficial femoral artery (n = 7, 20%) groups (n = 1 [2%] in open superficial femoral artery group). In 2 group comparisons, the open superficial femoral artery group had significantly lower lower-extremity complications than the no superficial femoral artery ( P = .02) and percutaneous superficial femoral artery ( P = .004) groups. There was no difference between the no superficial femoral artery and percutaneous superficial femoral artery groups ( P = .7). In the no superficial femoral artery group, emergency thromboembolectomy (n = 2), fasciotomy (n = 3), and emergency superficial femoral artery cannula placement (n = 2) were required. In the percutaneous superficial femoral artery group, thromboembolectomy with superficial femoral artery repair (n = 2), fasciotomy (n = 1), below-knee amputation (n = 1), open superficial femoral artery cannula revision (n = 1), and loss of distal signals from multiorgan failure (n = 1) were noted. In the open superficial femoral artery group, 1 patient had loss of signals from multiorgan failure. Conclusions No superficial femoral artery perfusion strategy is associated with a high lower-extremity complication rate. If percutaneous cannulation is performed, then angiographic confirmation of superficial femoral artery run-off is highly recommended. The open superficial femoral artery approach remains a safe alternative to the other strategies.
Finding and tracking targets in the wild: Algorithms and field deployments

We describe our efforts on building a robotic system for detecting and tracking radio-tagged invasive fish using teams of autonomous ground and surface vehicles. In addition to system building and field experiments, our efforts clustered around three fundamental problems: (1) Search: how to find the target as quickly as possible, (2) Active localization: how to actively choose measurement locations to accurately estimate target locations, and (3) Long-term autonomy through energy-efficiency and harvesting. We present specific problem formulations and a summary of our results so far. We conclude the paper with a discussion on our progress and next steps.
Tree growth in an African woodland savanna affected by disturbance

Abstract Questions: How does tree growth in a tropical woodland savanna vary as a function of size, and how is it affected by competition from neighbours, site attributes, and damage caused by disturbance? Location: western Zimbabwe. Methods: Trees of common species were tagged, mapped, and measured annually between 2001 and 2003 in a Kalahari sand woodland savanna. Diameter increments were analysed with mixed model regressions for the largest ramet in each genet. Stem diameter and damage, soil texture, and indices of competition at multiple spatial scales were used as covariates. Results: Stem diameter increased initially and then declined as a function of size in undamaged trees, which grew faster than damaged trees. Growth in damaged trees declined with size. No site differences were detected, and there was evidence for between-tree competition on growth only in the fastest-growing species, Brachystegia spiciformis. In several species the growth rate of the largest ramet increased as a function of the ...
Evidence for two separate adenyl cyclase systems responding independently to parathyroid hormone and -adrenergic agents in the renal cortex of the rat.

SummaryParathyroid hormone (PTH), isoproterenol and norepinephrine stimulated adenyl cyclase activity of rat renal cortex. The effects of the latter two were abolished by propranolol but not by phentolamine. The effects of PTH were not influenced by these adrenergic blocking agents. Stimulation of the enzyme activity by a maximal dose of PTH was 3–4 times greater than that by a maximal dose of isoproterenol and the effects of both agonists were additive. These results indicate that in rat renal cortex there are two discrete adenyl cyclase systems responding independently to PTH and catecholamines, and the receptor for the latter agents being a beta adrenergic receptor.
Investigation on risk factors of cerebro-vascular diseases and hemodynamic examination of the cerebral vessels in certain rural area, Shanghai

[Objective]To investigate the risk factors of cerebro-vascular diseases in the rural area of Shanghai and conduct hemodynamic examination to provide basic data to improve intervention measures for high risk population based on cerebral vascular hemodynamic index(CVHI). [Methods]In the town Jinze, Qingpu district 1857 residents registered and whose age over 40 were used for investigation. The investigated items included the current general status, common risk factors of stroke, blood pressure and determination of CVHI. [Results]The investigation was conducted mainly on senior citizen, over half of investigated citizen had one of the risk factors of hypertension or heart disease history. 33.7% of them had family history of related diseases. The average score of CVHI hen less than 75 was abnormal. There was a tendency that the score of CVHI after 40-year of age decreased by age. The difference of CVHI between hypertension and non-hypertension population was significant, the mean CVHI score of the hypertension population was lower than that of non-hypertension one (P0.05). The CVHI score varied significantly from the different BMI group and decreased while BMI increased, (P0.05).[Conclusion]The risk factors of stroke such as hypertension, hyperlipemia, heart diseases, diabetes, family history of stroke and hypertension exist in the investigated population of over 40 years of age in the area of Jinze, Qingpu district Shanghai. CVHI are closely related to age, blood pressure and BMI.