cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A new signal processing method to observe weak 31P and 17O NMR peaks

Abstract In NMR spectroscopy, situations may arise where sample concentrations are below the threshold for FT NMR detection, or sample lability constrains allowable acquisition times. In 31 P NMR, for example, observation of 13 C satellites may not be practical under given conditions. For 17 O NMR, which is useful to characterize 17 O-labeled phosphate derivatives, similar considerations may apply, and added factors are the cost of isotopically enriched samples and the requirement to obtain spectra at relatively high temperatures if narrow spectral peak line widths are desired. We report here application of a new signal processing method [S.D. Kunikeev, H.S. Taylor, J. Phys. Chem. A 108, 2004 743] to observation of weak 31 P and 17 O NMR peaks.
Impact of and interaction between the availability of prior examinations and DBT on the interpretation of negative and benign mammograms.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES To assess the interaction between the availability of prior examinations and digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) in decisions to recall a woman during interpretation of mammograms. MATERIALS AND METHODS Eight radiologists independently interpreted twice 36 mammography examinations, each of which had current and prior full-field digital mammography images (FFDM) and DBT under a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant, institutional review board-approved protocol (written consent waived). During the first reading, three sequential ratings were provided using FFDM only, followed by FFDM + DBT, and then followed by FFDM + DBT + priors. The second reading included FFDM only, then FFDM + priors, and then FFDM + priors + DBT. Twenty-two benign cases clinically recalled, 12 negative/benign examinations (not recalled), and two verified cancer cases were included. Recall recommendations and interaction between the effect of priors and DBT on decisions were assessed (P = .05 significance level) using generalized linear model (PROC GLIMMIX, SAS, version 9.3; SAS Institute, Cary, NC) accounting for case and reader variability. RESULTS Average recall rates in noncancer cases were significantly reduced (51%; P < .001) with the addition of DBT and with addition of priors (23%; P = .01). In absolute terms, the addition of DBT to FFDM reduced the recall rates from 0.67 to 0.42 and from 0.54 to 0.27 when DBT was available before and after priors, respectively. Recall reductions were from 0.64 to 0.54 and from 0.42 to 0.33 when priors were available before and after DBT, respectively. Regardless of the sequence in presentation, there were no statistically significant interactions between the effect of availability of DBT and priors (P = .80). CONCLUSIONS Availability of both priors and DBT are independent primary factors in reducing recall recommendations during mammographic interpretations.
A Spectrum of Refractive Turbulence in the Turbulent Atmosphere

Abstract An analytic approximation to the optical refractive-index spectrum of atmosphere turbulence is presented.
Working Class Masculinity: Keeping Gay Men and Lesbians out of the Workplace

Recent survey research suggests that heterosexuals’ attitudes toward lesbian and gay rights have become more progressive. However, we find in our research that negative attitudes and barriers against gay men and lesbians in workplaces still remain. Our project represents one case study of hidden animosity toward homosexuals, which varies from “overt disgust” to “don’t ask, don’t tell” policies that reinforce negative attitudes toward gay men and lesbians. As such, we contend that attitudes toward lesbian and gay rights are not becoming more progressive; instead various methods of discrimination are increasingly being used to exclude gay men and lesbians from the workplace. We argue that White working class men have constructed and maintained a form of White male solidarity, a collective practice directed toward women, People of Color, and non-heterosexuals that maintains racism, sexism, and homophobia in the local, national, and global context.
South east Missouri lead belt — an update 1996

Abstract The lead producing area of south east Missouri continues to mine, beneficiate and process over 95% of the primary lead produced in the U.S. Two mining companies (Doe Run and Asarco) remain active in the area, with five mills producing lead concentrates for two Missouri smelters, zinc concentrates for an Illinois refinery, and copper concentrates for export. This update provides plant data for the comminution, classification, flotation and dewatering processes currently in operation on the lead belt.
Cu(A) centers and their biosynthetic models in azurin.

CuA is a binuclear copper center that functions as an electron transfer agent, cycling between a reduced Cu(I)Cu(I) state and an oxidized mixed-valence Cu(+1.5)···Cu(+1.5) state. The copper ions are bridged by two cysteine thiolate ligands and form a copper–copper bond, the first reported of its kind in Nature. Such a “diamond-core” Cu2S(Cys)2 structure allows an unpaired electron to be completely delocalized over the two copper ions and contributes to its highly efficient electron transfer properties. This review provides accounts of how the CuA center was structurally characterized and highlights its salient spectroscopic properties. In the process, it introduces the CuA center in four different systems—native protein systems, soluble protein truncates of native proteins, synthetic models using organic molecules, and biosynthetic models using proteins as ligands—with a greater emphasis on biosynthetic models of CuA, especially on new, deeper insights gained from their studies.
Thinking differently: Assessing nonlinearities in the relationship between work attitudes and job performance using a Bayesian neural network

The relationship between work attitudes and individual job performance was investigated using artificial neural networks (ANNs). ANNs use pattern recognition algorithms that are well suited to capturing nonlinear relationships among variables thereby providing a new perspective on research on this topic area. Results from the neural network analysis provided strong evidence of nonlinearity suggesting that nonlinear models are needed to understand the work attitude-job performance relationship. In so doing, the neural network model had greater predictive accuracy than did traditional OLS regression. Implications of this finding for theory development and future research were discussed.
Multiple episodes of induced secretion of human growth hormone from recombinant AtT-20 cells.

Recombinant AtT-20 cells expressing human growth hormone (hGH) secreted the hormone at a constant, basal rate of 0.3–0.5 ng/105 cells-hour when exposed to medium without secretagogues. When triggered with 8 bromo-cyclic AMP, cells secreted hGH at an initial rate of 1.7 ng/105 cells-hour while intracellular hGH declined sharply. Upon extended exposure to secretagogue, secretion decreased gradually to the basal rate and intracellular hGH stabilized at a value 40% the initial. In cells switched from secretion to growth medium, the total rate of hGH accumulation intracellularly and in medium was 2.2 times that observed with cells never exposed to secretagogue; however, only a fraction of the hormone was stored intracellularly and the rest was secreted. When cells were exposed alternately to growth and secretion medium, induced cells secreted at rates at least two times higher than uninduced controls during the first five cycles. The induced response deteriorated with time, however, in parallel with outgrowth of attached cells by foci of round cells, and by the eighth cycle induced secretion did not occur. Operational modifications that may improve the performance of cycling schemes are discussed.
Walt Whitman in Lancashire, 1886-2008

Offers a history of annual Whitman celebrations in Bolton, England, where early socialist disciples of Whitman began honoring the poet in the 1880s, a tradition that, on and off, has continued to the present day; describes in detail the 2008 celebration.
Finite difference iterative solvers for electroencephalography: serial and parallel performance analysis

Currently the resolution of the head models used in electroencephalography (EEG) studies is limited by the speed of the forward solver. Here, we present a parallel finite difference technique that can reduce the solution time of the governing Poisson equation for a head model. Multiple processors are used to work on the problem simultaneously in order to speed up the solution and provide the memory for solving large problems. The original computational domain is divided into multiple rectangular partitions. Each partition is then assigned to a processor, which is responsible for all the computations and inter-processor communication associated with the nodes in that particular partition. Since the forward solution time is mainly spent on solving the associated matrix equation, it is desirable to find the optimum matrix solver. A detailed comparison of various iterative solvers was performed for both isotropic and anisotropic realistic head models constructed from MRI images. The conjugate gradient (CG) method preconditioned with an advanced geometric multigrid technique was found to provide the best overall performance. For an anisotropic model with 256 × 128 × 256 cells, this technique provides a speedup of 508 on 32 processors over the serial CG solution, with a speedup of 20.1 and 25.3 through multigrid preconditioning and parallelization, respectively.
Treating an Auschwitz Prisoner-Physician: The Case of Dr. Maximilian Samuel

In his seminal work The Nazi Doctors , Robert Jay Lifton labeled Dr. Maximilian Samuel a “Jewish medical collaborator.” Although the Auschwitz prisoner-physician did participate in Block 10 medical experiments, a deeper investigation of available sources reveals that he cannot be characterized so simply. This article undertakes a critical analysis—informed by medical knowledge—of survivor accounts found in memoirs, legal documents, and video testimonies to arrive at a more comprehensive and nuanced depiction of Dr. Samuel. In doing so, it sheds light on the prisoner-physicians, a group whose members are relatively absent from historiography—and whose activities invite an investigation of resistance and coercion against the backdrop of the “gray zone.”
Social trust and human capital formation

Abstract Social trust positively contributes to secondary education enrollment rates in a cross-section of countries. Country-specific characteristics that are significant in explaining secondary school enrollment include the degree of income inequality and the percent of the population identified as Muslim.
Lamina Cribrosa in Glaucoma: Diagnosis and Monitoring

The lamina cribrosa is the putative site of retinal ganglion cell axonal injury in glaucoma. Although histological studies have provided evidence of structural changes to the lamina cribrosa, even in early stages of glaucoma, until recently, the ability to evaluate the lamina cribrosa in vivo has been limited. Recent advances in optical coherence tomography, including enhanced depth and swept-source imaging, have changed this, providing a means to image the lamina cribrosa. Imaging has identified general and localized configurational changes in the lamina of glaucomatous eyes, including posterior laminar displacement, altered laminar thickness, and focal laminar defects with spatial association with conventional structural and functional losses. In addition, although the temporal relationship between changes to the lamina cribrosa and glaucomatous retinal ganglion cell loss is yet to be elucidated, quantitative measurements of laminar microarchitecture have good reproducibility and offer the potential to serve as biomarkers for glaucoma diagnosis and progression.
An economic approach to networked computing with priority classes

The operation of a networked computing system (NCS), such as the Internet, can be viewed as a resource allocation problem and can be analyzed using the techniques of mathematical economics. We define a general NCS and translate that set‐up into a model of an economy. The preferences of users are taken as primitives, and servers (providing database services including entertainment and news or computational services) in the network are viewed as productive firms with priority input queues. Each server charges a rental price for its services by priority class. We characterize optimal system allocations and derive formulas for supporting rental prices and priority premiums, such that the aggregated individual user demands do not exceed optimal levels, and waiting‐time expectations are correct. We propose and implement a decentralized price adjustment process. Some results from a simulation study are presented and discussed. Profit measures for each server can be used to guide investment decisions.
A "robust" convergent visual servoing system

This paper describes a simple visual servoing control algorithm capable of robustly positioning a three degree of freedom end effector based only on information from a stereo vision system. The proposed control algorithm does not require estimates of the gripper's spatial position, a significant source of calibration sensitivity. The controller is completely immune to positional camera calibration errors, and we demonstrate robustness to orientation miscalibration through a series of simulations and experiments.
PowerAntz: distributed power sharing strategy for network on chip

Advent of Network-on-Chip (NoC) based complex system designs made on-chip power management a challenging issue. Power management schemes have been proposed to tackle the problem. But they fail to provide optimal sharing when the power budget distribution varies significantly among on-chip components that are placed further apart on a chip. This paper presents PowerAntz, a distributed power management strategy for NoC based systems. This adaptive and distributed approach to power sharing across various components of a large chip is shown to be a scalable solution. Our experiments have demonstrated PowerAntz to be up to 30% more effective in distributing power budget compared to existing strategies. Further, it also achieves up to 21.25% improvement in power utilization while keeping overhead as low as zero in best case.
On the Energy Transfer between Transverse Acoustic Modes in a Cylindrical Combustion Chamber

Most of the previous work on periodic limit cycles in linearly unstable combustors has been carried out for the case of purely longitudinal classical modes whose natural frequencies are integral multiples of the fundamental. The contrary situation of transverse modes in a cylindrical chamber has led to unexpectedly high amplitudes in the periodic limit cycles, the reasons for which have not been thoroughly understood. Some results reported here serve to clarify the two chief consequences of nonlinear coupling between modes: the first is obvious, for the nonlinear coupling causes excitation of higher modes, and hence energy transfer, when, say, the first mode is unstable; the second has long been known, namely that the coupling must also cause shifts of the frequencies from their linear non-integral values to the integral values required for a periodic limit cycle, but part of the significance of this property has been unclear. In particular, the necessity for the frequency shifts reduces the efficiency at which energy is transfered between modes and leads to higher amplitude oscillations. Our analysis shows that the larger are the differences of the linear frequencies from perfect integral values, the larger are the amplitudes in the limit cycle. These conclusions suggest a way to reduce the amplitudes of transverse oscillations, and examples are presented showing this possibility.
Cell-mediated immune responses to BK virus in normal individuals

A lymphoproliferative assay was developed to study cell-mediated immunity (CMI) to BK virus (BKV), a human papovavirus, in healthy volunteer subjects. Responses to ultraviolet-inactivated antigen prepared from BKV-infected fibroblasts were compared to those elicited against a mock antigen preparation and an unrelated control antigen (tetanus toxoid, TET). CMI to BKV and TET were contrasted with humoral immunity as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Specificity of the assay was confirmed by absence of response to mock antigen in all subjects studied. Positive response to BKV antigen was observed in all of 15 seropositive individuals but not in 5 neonates or 1 seronegative child. Similarly, all TET seropositive (n = 13) but no seronegative subjects (n = 2) responded to TET. The magnitude of lymphoproliferation to either antigen did not correlate with antibody titer. Additionally, the frequency of peripheral blood BKV-specific proliferating lymphocytes was determined by limiting dilution analysis (LDA). The frequency was approximately tenfold less than that observed for TET in the same group of subjects (1/30,300 vs 1/2,700). This may be due to differences in route and frequency of antigen exposure, both of which are unknown, at present, for BKV.
Identification of Hydrometeors with Elliptical and Linear Polarization Ka-Band Radar

Abstract Polarimetric radar can be used to identify various types of hydrometeors. Ice crystals of the varied growth habits depolarize and backscatter millimeter-wavelength radiation according to crystal aspect ratio, bulk density, and orientation, and the polarization state of the incident radiation. In this paper model calculations of the depolarization caused by various crystal types are extended from previous work, and Ka-band (8.66 mm) radar measurements of linear and elliptical depolarization ratios (LDR and EDR) from various ice hydrometeors are presented. The measurements for regular crystals are related to the models. Drizzle drops, which are quasi-spherical, serve as a reference. Signature discrimination in cloud systems with more than one type of hydrometeor is addressed. The model calculations illustrate the interplay of the parameters that control depolarization. They predict that in the depolarization signatures, crystals of the various basic planar and columnar habits should generally be mo...
Control of Free-Floating Humanoid Robots Through Task Prioritization

The possibility of controlling humanoid robots in free-space opens new fields of application involving free-floating behaviors. Recently, we presented a prioritized task-oriented control framework for the control of multiple motion primitives while complying with physical constraints imposed by the robot’s body and environment. We adapt here this framework to the control of free-floating robots.
Taylor Averaging on Heterogeneous Foams

In this article we present a formulation to account for the effect of cell size distribution on the mechanical behavior of foams. The present approach averages the response of unit cells with different sizes via a Taylor averaging approach. This technique can be applied to different unit cell models where the cell size is explicitly given. In order to keep the averaging formulation analytically traceable, we select a unit cell model, bubble model (Ortiz, M., Gioia, G. and Cuitino,A.M. Manuscript in preparation), that considers the behavior of an homogeneous array of thin-walled spherical cells undergoing uniform finite deformation. This model relays on the computation of the strain energy density for the deformed configuration due to membrane stretching and bending. For this unit cell model, the effect of the cell size distribution is described only by the first three moments of the distribution, or the mean radius, variance and skeweness. The effect of these parameters on the foam behavior subjected to u...
The Stepparent Relationship Index: Development, validation, and associations with stepchildren’s perceptions of stepparent communication competence and closeness

There is a growing consensus among family researchers that many of the challenges facing members of stepfamilies revolve around the role of the stepparent. Using schema theory, this study extends recent research on the stepparent role by developing an empirically reliable measure for the primary dimensions that stepchildren identify as part of their stepparent relationship schemas. Participants included 522 young adult stepchildren from 4 different states who completed an inventory assessing key dimensions of the stepparent-stepchild relationship, as well as stepchildren’s perceptions of stepparents’ communication competence and closeness. The results produced a new multidimensional measure, the Stepparent Relationship Index, as three dimensions of the stepparent-stepchild relationship emerged from factor analytic techniques: positive regard, (step)parental authority, and affective certainty. Each subscale produced acceptable reliability estimates, and initial evidence of concurrent validity was obtained.
Social Security and Medicare

With the retirement of baby boomers set to begin within a decade, concerns about the solvency of the two pillars of social insurance in the United States have gained heightened scrutiny in recent years. Social Security, created in 1935, and Medicare, added in 1965, unarguably have nurtured widespread expectations that the federal government bears an obligation to care for the elderly. Much of the public, however, is not attentive to funding arrangements for these programs. The intergenerational aspect of Medicare and Social Security funding eludes many Americans, as polling evidence reported in Baggette, Shapiro, and Jacobs (1995) indicates. Among the majority of the public who do grasp this concept, there appears to be a mixture of denial and dread about what is to become of their long-promised safety net in their golden years. Building on two articles from the mid-1990s (Baggette, Shapiro, and Jacobs 1995; Jacobs, Shapiro, and Schulman 1993), we present longitudinal public opinion data on Social Security and Medicare from the mid-1990s to early 2004. The wealth of public opinion data available over the past decade forced us to take a selective approach to inclusion here. In addition to the long-standing questions about the solvency of these programs, several new issues have arisen in recent years, including calls for partial privatization of Social Security, strenuous debates over the future of the program, prescription drug coverage under Medicare, and the implications of rising healthcare costs more generally. We track public opinion on some of these more recent topics, as well as some enduring questions of spending priorities, confidence in politicians to protect these programs, and more general retirement planning issues. Several patterns emerge. Americans have grown somewhat more optimistic about Social Security's and Medicare's future since the mid-1990s, even amid evidence to the contrary. Generally, polls suggest that Americans continue to be deeply divided on the idea of partial privatization of Social Security, specifically on the idea of individualized investment of a portion of Social Security taxes. The public remains strongly opposed to investment in stocks by the
Chemosensory Regulation of a HEAT-Repeat Protein Couples Aggregation and Sporulation in Myxococcus xanthus

Chemosensory systems are complex, highly modified two-component systems (TCS) used by bacteria to control various biological functions ranging from motility to sporulation. Chemosensory systems and TCS both modulate phosphorelays comprised of histidine kinases and response regulators, some of which are single-domain response regulators (SD-RRs) such as CheY. In this study, we have identified and characterized the Che7 chemosensory system of Myxococcus xanthus, a common soil bacterium which displays multicellular development in response to stress. Both genetic and biochemical analyses indicate that the Che7 system regulates development via a direct interaction between the SD-RR CheY7 and a HEAT repeat domain-containing protein, Cpc7. Phosphorylation of the SD-RR affects the interaction with its target, and residues within the α4-β5-α5 fold of the REC domain govern this interaction. The identification of the Cpc7 interaction with CheY7 extends the diversity of known targets for SD-RRs in biological systems.
Regression analysis for multiple-disease group testing data

Group testing, where individual specimens are composited into groups to test for the presence of a disease (or other binary characteristic), is a procedure commonly used to reduce the costs of screening a large number of individuals. Group testing data are unique in that only group responses may be available, but inferences are needed at the individual level. A further methodological challenge arises when individuals are tested in groups for multiple diseases simultaneously, because unobserved individual disease statuses are likely correlated. In this paper, we propose new regression techniques for multiple-disease group testing data. We develop an expectation-solution based algorithm that provides consistent parameter estimates and natural large-sample inference procedures. We apply our proposed methodology to chlamydia and gonorrhea screening data collected in Nebraska as part of the Infertility Prevention Project and to prenatal infectious disease screening data from Kenya.
Open Surgical Approaches for Pulmonary Metastasectomy

Surgeons differ in the approach to resection of pulmonary metastases from nonpulmonary primary malignancies, with some favoring procedures that minimize trauma to the patient, and others performing open procedures with the goal of maximizing likelihood of resection of all detectable sites of disease. This article reviews how pulmonary metastasectomy emerged as a therapy for metastatic disease. Discussed is how surgical approaches used for this procedure have evolved, the available literature addressing whether open procedures lead to more complete resections, and if so whether resection by open procedures increases the likelihood of cure following resection. The technical aspects of the various thoracotomy techniques are also reviewed.
GENETIC VARIATION OF XYLELLA FASTIDIOSA ASSOCIATED WITH GRAPEVINES IN TWO MAJOR VITICULTURAL REGIONS IN THE UNITED STATES: CALIFORNIA AND TEXAS

Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) causes diseases in many agricultural, horticultural, and landscape crops, including Pierce’s disease (PD) of grapevines. PD has been a serious problem in scattered table, wine and raisin grape growing regions throughout California, as well as in Texas for more than 100 years. In this study, we evaluated the genetic variation in diversity and structure of Xf associated with PD of grapevines in California and Texas using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. The analysis revealed a high level of genetic diversity across the populations of Xf isolated from the grapevines from different viticulture locations or counties in California and Texas. Overall genetic diversity of Xf was detected comparatively high in Texas (0.835) than that in California (0.662). Hierarchical analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed a significant genetic structure of Xf population between California and Texas. UPGMA clustering analysis and the Bayesian clustering algorithm using STRUCTURE consistently placed California and Texas Xf populations into two major genetic groups with no clear population structure within each state.
Death by a Thousand Cuts: Constitutional Wrongs without Remedies after Wilkie v. Robbins

In this essay, I consider the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision in Wilkie v. Robbins, 127 S.Ct. 2588 (2007), holding that no federal action for damages may be brought by a cattle rancher in Wyoming against officers of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management for destroying his cattle and dude ranch business in deliberate retaliation for his refusal to give the Bureau an easement over his land without compensation by the Bureau and without its invocation of the federal power of eminent domain. The Court conceded that the rancher had no effective federal remedy other than such a damages action against the cumulative impact of the sequence of retaliatory actions taken by the federal officials and that the only remedies available to the rancher - suits under state tort law and under the federal Administrative Procedure Act - although potentially capable of redressing some of the individual actions taken by BLM officers against the rancher, could not have effectively prevented or redressed the "death by a thousand cuts" brought about by those officers. It conceded as well that Congress had neither precluded the judicial recognition of a federal cause of action for damages nor provided the kind of substitute that would displace such a cause of action under the doctrine of Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of the FBI, 403 U.S. 388 (1971). The Court reasons, however, that such a cause of action would present the federal judiciary with line-drawing difficulties that might not successfully prevent a flood of litigation and that, on balance, the case for recognizing such a cause of action was not established. This essay argues that this analysis represents an unacknowledged retreat from a well-established line of precedent under Bivens and that the analysis is unpersuasive even on its own terms, noting that the predicted flood of litigation had not materialized under the 140-year-old federal statute, 42 U.S.C. §1983, that created a cause of action for damages against conduct identical to that of the BLM agents in this case if committed by state rather than federal agents. The essay explores the incentives created by Wilkie v. Robbins for intentional circumvention of the Takings and Just Compensation Clauses by federal agents and addresses the dangers thereby created for any meaningful protection of private property sought by the Federal Government, as well as the dangers created for the meaningful protection of other constitutional rights against deliberate erosion by federal agents. Finally, the essay argues that the Bivens issue should not have been reached at all by the Supreme Court because it was demonstrably beyond the appellate jurisdiction of that Court and of the Court of Appeals in this interlocutory pre-trial appeal from a lower court ruling denying qualified immunity to the defendant officers even on the premise that their conduct, if in clear violation of established federal constitutional rights, would have given rise to damages under the Bivens doctrine.
Cortical Mapping with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

The localization of essential cortical motor and language regions is of great relevance across a wide spectrum of basic, translational, and clinical neuroscience. Retrospective localization studies relied largely on lesion-symptom mapping, in which existing injuries were correlated with clinical symptoms [1–6]. The advent of intraoperative direct cortical stimulation (DCS) mapping revolutionized this field, allowing clinicians to interrogate a region with a temporary electrical lesion. While this technique is effective, it is also highly invasive, requiring a craniotomy for cortical exposure, and is thus performed only when necessary for the surgical management of an existing lesion. A technique for noninvasive, lesion-based identification of critical motor and language sites would therefore be of great benefit to clinicians. Such a technique would also be important for neurophysiologists interested in testing cognitive models of language, including language streams [7] and connectome-based models [8].
Effects of protein tyrosine kinase and protein tyrosine phosphatase on apical K+ channels in the TAL

We have previously demonstrated that the protein level of c-Src, a nonreceptor type of protein tyrosine kinase (PTK), was higher in the renal medulla from rats on a K-deficient (KD) diet than that ...
Belief Elicitation with a Synchronized Lottery Choice Menu That Is Invariant to Risk Attitudes

This paper uses a Bayesian information processing task to compare belief elicitation mechanisms including a quadratic scoring rule, a Becker-DeGroot-Marschak pricing procedure, and a two-stage menu of lottery choices that is structured to identify a precise point of probability indifference. The choice menu yields a higher incidence of correct Bayesian responses and lower belief error averages. Unlike the quadratic scoring rule, the binary payoffs for the lottery choice mechanism are synchronized to provide theoretical incentive-compatibility regardless of risk attitudes. In addition, the choice menu structure is more transparent and intuitive than the Becker-DeGroot-Marschak procedure. (JEL C91, D44, D81, D83)
Assessing reliability and validity measures in managed care studies.

BACKGROUND: To review the reliability and validity literature and develop an understanding of these concepts as applied to managed care studies. RESULTS: Reliability is a test of how well an instrument measures the same input at varying times and under varying conditions. Validity is a test of how accurately an instrument measures what one believes is being measured. METHODS: A review of reliability and validity instructional material was conducted. CONCLUSIONS: Studies of managed care practices and programs abound. However, many of these studies utilize measurement instruments that were developed for other purposes or for a population other than the one being sampled. In other cases, instruments have been developed without any testing of the instrument9s performance. The lack of reliability and validity information may limit the value of these studies. This is particularly true when data are collected for one purpose and used for another. The usefulness of certain studies without reliability and validity measures is questionable, especially in cases where the literature contradicts itself.
Modeling threshold detection and search for point and extended sources

This paper deals with three separate topics. 1)The Berek extended object threshold detection model is described, calibrated against a portion of Blackwell’s 1946 naked eye threshold detection data for extended objects against an unstructured background, and then the remainder of Blackwell’s data is used to verify and validate the model. A range equation is derived from Berek’s model which allows threshold detection range to be predicted for extended to point objects against an un-cluttered background as a function of target size and adapting luminance levels. The range equation is then used to model threshold detection of stationary reflective and self-luminous targets against an uncluttered background. 2) There is uncertainty whether Travnikova’s search data for point source detection against an un-cluttered background is described by Rayleigh or exponential distributions. A model which explains the Rayleigh distribution for barely perceptible objects and the exponential distribution for brighter objects is given. 3) A technique is presented which allows a specific observer’s target acquisition capability to be characterized. Then a model is presented which describes how individual target acquisition probability grows when a specific observer or combination of specific observers search for targets. Applications for the three topics are discussed.
Clofarabine Is Active in Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS).

Background. Clofarabine, an adenosine nucleoside analog, is active in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL). Its anti-MDS activity is not well defined. Study Aims. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of clofarabine in MDS in two studies, one with intravenous administration and one with oral, using lower doses than those for leukemia (40–52 mg/m 2 IV daily x 5). Study Group and Results. The first study randomized patients in a Bayesian design to receive clofarabine 15 or 30 mg/m 2 IV daily x 5 every 4–6 weeks. The second study used clofarabine 40 mg/m 2 orally daily x 5 every 4–6 weeks (assuming oral bioavailability about 50%). Standard eligibility criteria for MDS were used; only high risk MDS patients (IPSS intermediate or high) were eligible. So far, 16 patients have been treated, 10 on IV clofarabine and 6 on oral clofarabine. Age ≥60 yr in 13 (81%); prior therapy with decitabine/azacitidine 11 (69%); cytogenetic abnormalities 12 (75%). Responses were graded according to International Working Group criteria (IWG). Results are shown in the table below. Myelosuppression was significant resulting in febrile episodes and hospitalization in 4/6 patients on oral clofarabine and in 4/10 patients on IV clofarabine. Rash grade 3 was noted in 1 patient on oral clofarabine. Summary. Clofarabine is active in MDS. The oral dose of 40 mg/m 2 daily x 5 may be too high for MDS; lower dose of oral clofarabine 30 mg/m 2 orally daily x 5 will be tested with PK studies. The 2 IV schedules (15 vs. 30 mg/m 2 ) are ongoing.
INTERNET RESOURCES: East Asian studies: Sites to help meet the growing demand for information

Presentation de sites Internet donnant des informations sur les pays d'Asie : Chine, Hong Kong, Japon, Macao, Coree du Nord, Coree du Sud, Taiwan, Thibet. Les informations concernent tous les domaines
Acute Basal Ganglia Enlargement with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Tics, and Strep Infection

A 12-year-old boy with an acute exacerbation of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms and tics following a Group A B-hemolytic streptococcal (GABHS) throat infection is reported from the National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD.
The Supply and Demand of the Cardiovascular Workforce: Striking the Right Balance.

As the burden of cardiovascular disease in the United States continues to increase, uncertainty remains on how well-equipped the cardiovascular workforce is to meet the challenges that lie ahead. In a time when health care is rapidly shifting, numerous factors affect the supply and demand of the cardiovascular workforce. This Council Commentary critically examines several factors that influence the cardiovascular workforce. These include current workforce demographics and projections, evolving health care and practice environments, and the increasing burden of cardiovascular disease. Finally, we propose 3 strategies to optimize the workforce. These focus on cardiovascular disease prevention, the effective utilization of the cardiovascular care team, and alterations to the training pathway for cardiologists.
Latino Group Identity: Measuring a Moving Target

This is the first chapter in the third section of the book, which explores Latino panethnic identity and its relationship to partisanship. In this chapter, the author theoretically and statistically develops a measure of Latino panethnic identity using the LNS 2006 and LNS New England. Using covariance structure analysis, the author proposes a measure of Latino panethnic identity that is composed of both home country and Latino superordinate identity. This solidifies the view that Latinos generally possess a complex social identity. The analyses show that linked fate is not the only important component for Latino politics. The scale developed shows good properties and allows for the testing of the identity-to-partisanship link. The chapter also presents religion as an important identity for Latino politics.
Moving “Up and Out” Together: Exploring the Mother–Child Bond in Low-Income, Single-Mother-Headed Families

Bearing children is often viewed as negatively impacting the social mobility of low-income single mothers. This analysis draws on 66 in-depth interviews with low-income, single-mother participants in an antipoverty program in Boston. The author argues that the mother–child relationship is at the center of efforts by these single mothers to move out of poverty. Interviewees repeatedly expressed the primacy of their children's needs being met in order for them to move forward. Mothers tried to include their children in efforts to move out of poverty, thus fulfilling the role of a “good mother” while exhibiting proper behavior for a poor person trying to achieve economic independence. The data here highlight the limitations of policy initiatives that fail to acknowledge the centrality of children's well-being to the lives of single mothers and suggest that the mother–child bond may be an untapped resource for policies and programs serving this community.
Love and Rayleigh waves in an irregular soil layer

abstract Most studies of surface ground motion caused by earthquake have been based on the assumption that this motion is caused by the upward propagation of shear waves through a soil deposit from an underlying rock formation. However, much of the recorded strong ground motion from earthquakes has been caused by horizontally propagating Love and Rayleigh waves. In this study an irregular structure has been represented by a finite element model, which has been forced at one end to oscillate with the stresses corresponding to the displacements of fundamental Love and Rayleigh modes of periods from 2 sec down to 0.375 sec. The irregular structure represented by the finite element model is an alluvial valley with a layer of alluvium, 100 m thick, over Pierre Shale, 900 m thick. The side of this valley dips at an angle of 45°. As would be expected from the study of the upward propagation of shear waves, there are large amplifications of surface Love-wave and horizontal Rayleigh-wave motions within the alluvial valley at a period of 2 sec. However, these large amplifications do not occur at periods shorter than 2 sec because of three factors. First, at periods shorter than 2 sec, practically all of the energy of the fundamental Love and Rayleigh modes at the side of the alluvial valley is transferred within the alluvial valley to higher Love and Rayleigh modes; these modes do not have large surface displacements. Second, for this particular model of an alluvial valley, the horizontal surface amplitude of the fundamental Rayleigh mode at periods of approximately 2 sec is large compared with the vertical surface amplitude, whereas at periods of approximately 1 sec the vertical surface amplitude is large compared with the horizontal surface amplitude. Finally, at periods shorter than approximately 2 sec, damping of surface amplitudes of Love and Rayleigh modes within the alluvial valley is more effective. The method of considering the upward propagation of shear waves explicitly allows for only the last of these three factors.
Emergency department use and barriers to wellness: a survey of emergency department frequent users

There is no common understanding of how needs of emergency department (ED) frequent users differ from other patients. This study sought to examine how to best serve this population. Examinations of why ED frequent users present to the ED, what barriers to care exist, and what service offerings may help these patients achieve an optimal level of health were conducted. We performed a prospective study of frequent ED users in an adult only, level 1 trauma center with approximately 90,000 visits per year. Frequent ED users were defined as those who make four or more ED visits in a 12 month period. Participants were administered a piloted structured interview by a trained researcher querying demographics, ED usage, perceived barriers to care, and potential aids to maintaining health. Of 1,523 screened patients, 297 were identified as frequent ED users. One hundred frequent ED users were enrolled. The mean age was 48 years (95% CI 45–51). The majority of subjects were female (64%, 64/100, 95% CI 55–73%), white (61%, 60/98, 95% CI 52–71%) and insured by Medicaid (55%, 47/86, 95% CI 44–65%) or Medicare (23%, 20/86, 95% CI 14–32%). Subjects had a median of 6 ED visits, and 2 inpatient admissions in the past 12 months at this hospital. Most frequent ED users (61%, 59/96, 95% CI 52–71%) stated the primary reason for their visit was that they felt that their health problem could only be treated in an ED. Transportation presented as a major barrier to few patients (7%, 7/95, 95% CI 3–14%). Subjects stated that “after-hours options, besides the ED for minor health issues” (63%, 60/95, 95% CI 53–73%) and having “a nurse to work with you one-on-one to help manage health care needs” (53%, 50/95, 95% CI 43–63%) would be most helpful in achieving optimal health. This study characterized ED frequent users and identified several opportunities to better serve this population. By understanding barriers to care from the patient perspective, health systems can potentially address unmet needs that prevent wellness in this population.
A “Queer-Looking Compound”: Race, Abjection, and the Politics of Hawaiian Poi

The ecological, cosmological, and genealogic meanings of kalo (taro) and the foods made from it bind the practice of eating poi, an important traditional staple food, to both material and cultural ...
Trends in non-medical prescription opioids and heroin co-use among adults, 2003-2014.

Abstract Background Patterns in non-medical prescription opioid (NMPO) and heroin use have recently shifted, with evidence that NMPO-only users transition to NMPO and heroin co-use. Co-use is associated with increased risk of morbidity and overdose, highlighting the need for further investigation. This study aims to quantify, describe, and explore trends in co-use. Methods Using data from the 2003–2014 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health, we compared co-use to NMPO- and heroin-only use across demographic, substance use and mental health characteristics with chi-squared tests. Logistic regression models assessed trends in opioid use overall, and among co-users. Results From 2003 to 2014, the prevalence of all opioid use (NMPO-only, heroin-only, and co-use) and NMPO-only use decreased 6.08% (p Discussion The increased prevalence of co-use and differences across demographic, substance use, and mental health characteristics highlight the need for targeted prevention and response interventions for this emerging, high-risk group.
Evaluation and Modelling of Detection, Location and Discrimination of Lesions in Mammograms

Previously we described mass detection results for human and model observers using mammogram and filtered noise backgrounds with the same power spectrum. The results were unusual in that threshold amplitudes (contrasts) increased as mass size increased. We were able to predict these results using mathematical observer models. When observers had to search for the mass, human thresholds were identical for both backgrounds. This suggests that breast structure in the image is equivalent to random noise. In mass discrimination experiments, thresholds for masses larger than 4 mm were about 1.5 to 2 times higher than for detection. We conclude that detection, localization and discrimination of masses in mammograms are limited by statistical variation in normal breast structure in the image, rather than imaging system noise.