cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sibling similarity for MDD : Evidence for shared familial factors

Abstract Background Sibling designs have the potential to identify familial factors that are shared and unshared between siblings. Unfortunately, this methodology has rarely been applied to mood disorders. Methods The current study uses the original participants from the Oregon Adolescent Depression Project (OADP) and their closest-aged sibling to investigate familial influences on sibling similarity and differences for psychopathology. Diagnostic interviews were conducted with the original participants on three occasions and with full siblings and biological parents at the time of the third assessment. Results Maternal major depressive disorder (MDD) was associated with sibling similarity for MDD and anxiety disorders, and maternal anxiety disorder was associated with sibling similarity for MDD. A number of maternal and paternal disorders were associated with sibling differences for psychopathology. The data suggest that maternal MDD and anxiety disorder have a greater influence than paternal MDD and anxiety disorder in influencing sibling similarity for MDD. Limitations Original participants were assessed on up to three occasions while their siblings were assessed only once. Conclusions Maternal MDD and anxiety disorder appear to act as shared familial risk factors with respect to sibling MDD. In addition, parental psychopathology has non-shared influences on sib-pairs. Future research should assess differential parental treatment and individual sibling characteristics as additional factors that may influence sibling similarity and differences in psychopathology.
Decomposing the increase in men’s time on childcare during the great recession

In this paper, I examine the time men spent on childcare during the recession of 2007–2009. The recession provides a sudden change in the employment opportunities of men relative to women in the United States. Using the American Time Use Survey and the linked Current Population Survey, I show that this lopsided shock to employment opportunities was accompanied by an increase in the average amount of time men spent on childcare. In particular, men’s average time on physical care for children increased during the recession; this is an element of childcare that men perform less than women. I decompose the total change in average time on childcare into behavioral, compositional, and between group change. A behavioral change among employed men accounted for the majority of the total increase in the average time spent on childcare; among men who are out of the labor force, the increase is entirely due to compositional changes.
Sclerosing sweat duct carcinoma in an 11-year-old boy.

background. Sclerosing sweat duct Carcinoma, or microcystic adnexal Carcinoma, is a rare neoplasm of the skin with both pilar and eccrine differentiation. Previously this neoplasm has been reported only in adults. We describe a case of sclerosing sweat duct Carcinoma in an 11-year-old white male. objective. Description of Mohs surgical procedure for successful management of sclerosing sweat duct Carcinoma in a child. methods. Mohs micrographic surgery was performed on this rare neoplasm. results. The described procedure resulted in successful excision of this uncommon neoplasm. conclusion. We present a case of sclerosing sweat duct Carcinoma, an unusual cutaneous neoplasm, in an 11-year-old male that was successfully managed using Mohs micrographic surgery.
Perceptions and the role of group exercise among New York City adults, 2010-2011: an examination of interpersonal factors and leisure-time physical activity.

Abstract Objective To examine associations of descriptive norms (i.e., behaviors of social group members) and exercising ‘with a partner’ or ‘as a part of a group’ on weekly leisure-time physical activity. Methods T-tests and adjusted multivariable linear models were used to test the associations between descriptive norms and exercising with a partner or as a part of a group with self-reported leisure-time physical activity using the cross-sectional, population-based New York City Physical Activity and Transit (PAT) Survey 2010–2011 (n = 3806). Results Overall, 70.6% of adult New Yorkers reported having physically active friends. Having active friends was associated with increased leisure-time physical activity; however, the effect varied by sex. Compared to those who did not have active friends, males with active friends reported two times more activity (56 min/week) and women reported two and a half times more activity (35 min/week) (both p-values Conclusions Descriptive norms and group exercise were associated with leisure-time physical activity among adults. Based on these associations, encouraging group exercise may be an effective strategy for increasing leisure-time physical activity among certain subgroups.
Specific binding of synthetic chemotactic peptides to rabbit peritoneal neutrophils: Effects on dissociability of bound peptide, receptor activity and subsequent biologic responsiveness (deactivation)

Abstract The specific binding of the radiolabeled peptide, forrnyl norleucyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (f Nle-Leu-[3H] Phe) to rabbit neutrophils at 4° and 37° saturates between 10 and 100 nM f NIe-Leu[3H] Phe with a t l 2 for the half-maximal amount bound of less than 1 min.The rate of dissociation of the radiolabeled peptide from homogenates or isolated plasma membranes of neutrophils at 4° or 37° is extremely rapid (t) 1 2 less than 1 min). However, there is little dissociation of f Nle-Leu[3H] Phe bound to whole cells at 37°; the label slowly released from these cells comigrates with phenylalanine, not with the intact peptide. Most of the [3H] label bound to the cells at 37° is found in the lysosomal and microsomal fractions. These findings suggest internalization of the chemotactic peptide. In addition, there is a loss of the receptor sites of intact neutrophils following their treatment with the chemotactic peptide, formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenyl-alanine (f Met-Leu-Phe). Moreover, membranes from cells pretreated with f Met-Leu-Phe show only 30% of the binding activity/mg protein of membranes isolated from control neutrophils. Prior treatment of the neutrophil with peptide results in a loss of binding sites that is greater than the number of molecules of peptide bound. This suggests that factors additional to or other than internalization of the receptor-ligand complex are involved in the loss of receptor sites following pretreatment with peptide. Pretreatment of neutrophils with chemotactic peptides also induces a loss of biologic responsiveness to further challenge with peptide. The loss of biologic responsiveness after pretreatment (deactivation) is proportionally greater than the loss of receptor sites except at the highest concentration of peptide used in the pretreatment. This suggests that homologous deactivation is due not only to a loss of receptor activity but also to a post receptor process.
Assays with lower detection limits: implications for epidemiological investigations.

Summary Epidemiological investigations of health effects related to chronic low-level exposures or other circumstances often face the difficult task of dealing with levels of biomarkers that are hard to detect and/or quantify. In these cases instrumentation may not adequately measure biomarker levels. Reasons include a failure of instruments to detect levels below a certain value or, alternatively, interference by error or ‘noise’. Current laboratory practice determines a ‘limit of detection (LOD)’, or some other detection threshold, as a function of the distribution of instrument ‘noise’. Although measurements are produced above and below this threshold in many circumstances, rather than numerical data, all points observed below this threshold may be reported as ‘not detected’. The focus of this process of determination of the LOD is instrument noise and avoiding false positives. Moreover, uncertainty is assumed to apply only to the lowest values, which are treated differently from above-threshold values, thereby potentially creating a false dichotomy. In this paper we discuss the application of thresholds to measurement of biomarkers and illustrate how conventional approaches, though appropriate for certain settings, may fail epidemiological investigations. Rather than automated procedures that subject observed data to a standard threshold, the authors advocate investigators to seek information on the measurement process and request all observed data from laboratories (including the data below the threshold) to determine appropriate treatment of those data.
Conformation of L-cystathionine, a carba analog of cystine, and stereochemistry of hormone-receptor interactions.

The conformation of L-cystathionine, a carba analog of L-cystine has been studied in the solid state using X-ray diffraction techniques. Crystals of L-cystathionine are tetragonal, space group P41 with cell constants a = 6.691(1)A, c = 21.998(3) A and Z = 4. From diffractometer data to the limit of 2π = 162° for Cukα, the structure was refined using full-matrix least-squares to an R value of 0.061. L-Cystathionine is isostructural chemically to L-cystine and its crystal structure is isomorphous to tetragonal L-cystine (Chaney, M.O. and Steinrauf, L.K. (1974) Acta Crystallogr. 1330, 711–716). The crystal structure of L-cystathionine is disordered, leading to two slightly differing conformers of L-cystathionine (each with half occupancy) with same helical sense but running in opposite directions and occupying the locations of L-cystine molecules in tetragonal L-cystine structure. Their conformational similarity, even when no sterical constraints such as cyclization are present, offers an explanation of the activities of the carba analogs of neuro-hypophysial hormones in terms of the structural integrity of the disulfide-like bridges.
Economic development in East Asia and a critique of the post-Confucian thesis

Some scholars have put forward what they call a post-Confucian thesis to explain East Asia’s successful economic development. The thesis makes two important arguments: first, that Confucianism has enabled East Asian countries to take a different type of capitalism and a different path to modernity than did the West; second, that Confucianism has been the source of those ethics such as activism, hard work, thrift, and the like that have been conducive to economic development in East Asia. This article calls into question the first argument of the thesis by taking the example of the employment systems in Japan and Korea and showing that Confucianism has not been an important factor in defining their central features. In order to evaluate the second argument, this article investigates two major modernization campaigns in Japan and Korea, claiming that those supposedly Confucian virtues can be better seen as the products of the states’ social engineering for modernization and economic development.
Burst switching without guard interval in all-optical software-define star intra-data center network

Optical switching has been introduced in intra-data center networks (DCNs) to increase capacity and to reduce power consumption. Recently we proposed a star MIMO OFDM-based all-optical DCN with burst switching and software-defined networking. Here, we introduce the control procedure for the star DCN in detail for the first time. The timing, signaling, and operation are described for each step to achieve efficient bandwidth resource utilization. Furthermore, the guidelines for the burst assembling period selection that allows burst switching without guard interval are discussed. The star all-optical DCN offers flexible and efficient control for next-generation data center application.
The Peroxin Loss-of-Function Mutation abstinence by mutual consent Disrupts Male-Female Gametophyte Recognition

In eukaryotes, fertilization relies on complex and specialized mechanisms that achieve the precise delivery of the male gamete to the female gamete and their subsequent union [1-4]. In flowering plants, the haploid male gametophyte or pollen tube (PT) [5] carries two nonmotile sperm cells to the female gametophyte (FG) or embryo sac [6] during a long assisted journey through the maternal tissues [7-10]. In Arabidopsis, typically one PT reaches one of the two synergids of the FG (Figure 1A), where it terminates its growth and delivers the sperm cells, a poorly understood process called pollen-tube reception. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of the Arabidopsis mutant abstinence by mutual consent (amc). Interestingly, pollen-tube reception is impaired only when an amc pollen tube reaches an amc female gametophyte, resulting in pollen-tube overgrowth and completely preventing sperm discharge and the development of homozygous mutants. Moreover, we show that AMC is strongly and transiently expressed in both male and female gametophytes during fertilization and that AMC functions in gametophytes as a peroxin essential for protein import into peroxisomes. These findings show that peroxisomes play an unexpected key role in gametophyte recognition and implicate a diffusible signal emanating from either gametophyte that is required for pollen-tube discharge.
An Annotated Bibliography of 46 Useful Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery Monographs Published from 1902–2007

ABSTRACT The Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery Department train staff, updates manuals, compiles statistics, trains staff, follows copyright guidelines, and performs other relevant duties. Knowledge of copyright guidelines is an important factor that affects decisions on whether to borrow or purchase. Practices and procedures of other institutions guide decisions about how an interlibrary loan and document delivery department operates on a day-to-day basis. The titles in this annotated bibliography will help to guide interlibrary loan practitioners to texts with information on specific topics. This annotated bibliography lists titles with historical, statistical, practical, and useful information on how to operate and manage the interlibrary loan unit.
Correlation time expansion for multidimensional weakly non-markovian gaussian processes

Abstract The stochastic Liouville equation is evaluated explicitly through first order in an expansion in terms of correlation times of multiplicative gaussian coloured noise for a general multidimensional weakly non-markovian process by means of Novikov's theorem. It is explained why the present result is new.
HeLa Cell Cytoplasmic mRNA Contains Three Classes of Sequences Predominantly Poly(A)‐Free, Predominantly Poly(A)‐Containing and Bimorphic

The mRNA species which exist in the HeLa cell polyribisomes in a form devoid of A sequences longer than 8 nucleotides constitute the poly(A)-free class of mRNA. The rapidly labelled component of this mRNA class shares no measurable sequence homology with poly(A)-containing RNA. If poly(A)-free mRNA larger than 12 S labelled for 2 h in vivo is hybridized with total cellular DNA, it hybridizes primarily with single-copy DNA. When a large excess of steady poly(A)-containing RNA is added before hybridization of labelled poly(A)-free RNA, no inhibition of hybridization occurs. This indicates the existence of a class of poly(A)-free mRNA with no poly(A)-containing counterpart. Some mRNA species can exist solely as poly(A)-containing mRNAs. These mRNAs in HeLa cells are found almost exclusively in the mRNA species present only a few times per cell (scarce sequences). Some mRNA species can exist in two forms, poly(A)containing and lacking, as evidenced by the translation data in vitro of Kaufmann et al. [Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 74, 4801--4805 (1977)]. In addition, if cDNA to total poly(A)-containing mRNA is fractionated into abundant and scarce classes, 47% of the scarce class cDNA can be readily hybridized with poly(A)-free mRNA. 10% of the abundant cDNA to poly(A)-containing mRNA will hybridize with poly(A)-free sequences very rapidly while the other 90% hybridize 160 times more slowly, indicating two very different frequency distributions. The cytoplasmic metabolism of these three distinct mRNA classes is discussed.
Species Composition and Seasonal Abundance of Stink Bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) in Southern Florida Rice

Stink bugs were sampled with sweep nets in eight southern Florida rice fields during 1983 and 1984. Four stink bug species were found; of these, Oebalus pugnax (F.), composed >95% of the total population. Stink bugs were found continuously in rice fields from June through November. Population densities increased rapidly in rice fields at heading and were most abundant during the grain-filling period in both main and ratoon crops. Populations increased rapidly in fields because of adult migration and egg hatch. Populations of stink bugs greater than economic threshold levels were found in 50% of the main-crop and 100%of the ratoon-crop fields studied.
Role of metals in snake venoms for hemorrhagic, esterase and proteolytic activities.

Abstract Atomic absorption analysis was used in the determination of metal distribution of seventeen snake venoms. Ca, Mg, Zn, Na and K, were found in all venoms tested. Biological and enzymatic activities were followed as the metal ions of the venoms were removed with EDTA. Lethality and esterase activity remained unchanged by the removal of metals, while hemorrhagic and proteolytic activity showed a marked decrease. Hemorrhagic activity could be partly restored by the addition of divalent Mg or Zn.
Online learning for stochastic linear optimization problems

We consider the stochastic online linear optimization problems under unknown cost models. At each time, an action is chosen from a compact subset in Rd and a random cost with an unknown distribution (depending on the action) is incurred. The expected value of the random cost is assumed to be a (unknown) linear function over the action space. The objective is to minimize the growth rate of regret (i.e., the increase in expected total cost compared to the ideal scenario with known cost models) in terms of both problem size and time horizon length. We propose a policy that achieves a regret polynomial in the problem size and sublinear in time. This policy also allows a performance tradeoff in terms of the problem size and the time horizon length: it can offer a linear regret order in problem size with an arbitrarily small sacrifice in the regret order with time. We further consider a special class of the problem when the action space is a polytope or finite and show that a regret logarithmic with time and polynomial with the problem size can be achieved. This special class includes the adaptive shortest-path routing problem in networks with unknown and stochastically varying link sates.
Comparison of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and gas chromatography procedures for the detection of cyanazine and metolachlor in surface water samples.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) data from surface water reconnaissance were compared to data from samples analyzed by gas chromatography for the pesticide residues cyanazine (2-[[4-chloro-6-(ethylamino)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]amino]-2-methylpropanenitrile) and metolachlor (2-chloro-N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-N-(2-methoxy-1-methylethyl)acetamide). When ELISA analyses were duplicated, cyanazine and metolachlor detection was found to have highly reproducible results; adjusted R2s were 0.97 and 0.94, respectively. When ELISA results for cyanazine were regressed against gas chromatography results, the models effectively predicted cyanazine concentrations from ELISA analyses (adjusted R2s ranging from 0.76 to 0.81). The intercepts and slopes for these models were not different from 0 and 1, respectively. This indicates that cyanazine analysis by ELISA is expected to give the same results as analysis by gas chromatography. However, regressing ELISA analyses for metolachlor against gas chromatography data p...
Neural antigens of morphologically differentiated neuroblastoma cells

Murine neuroblastoma cells in serum-free medium undergo correlative morphological and serological differentiation. The antigens specific to the differentiated cells are found in large quantities in mouse brain.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Alterations in Spinal-Cord Injury

Spinal-cord injury (SCI) is a worldwide medical problem, past and present. In the historical perspective, Lord Nelson was one of the victims of SCI as a result of a gunshot wound during the Battle of Trafalgar; the bullet, after penetrating the chest, lodged in the thoracic spine, producing paraplegia below the breast. The final scene in Nelson’s life was recorded by Beatty, the ship’s surgeon. Mr. Beatty was called by Dr. Scott to Nelson, who said, “Ah, Mr. Beatty, I have sent for you to say what I forgot to tell you before, that all power of motion and feeling below my chest are gone; and you very well know I can live but a short time.” The surgeon’s reply was: “My Lord, unhappily for our country, nothing can be done for you.” Nelson died within a few hours. Presumably, death was caused by the associated trauma, e.g., laceration of a great vessel, rather than the direct effect of SCI.34
Supercritical Fluids for the Fabrication of Semiconductor Devices: Emerging or Missed Opportunities?

Next generation semiconductor devices and evolving opportunities in nanoelectronics present new challenges for fabrication technology. These include patterning and structure generation to define the smallest features, the deposition of metals, metal oxides, and other functional layers within challenging topographies, and development of the associated integration steps necessary to create working devices. Implementation of emergent technical solutions, however, is also subject to economic realities that require high volume process tools, reliability, and low cost per device layer. Changes in semiconductor process technology have to date largely been driven by the continued downscaling of device features to increase transistor density. Leading edge microprocessors are currently in production at the 45 nm device node. Device dimensions approaching 22 nm will be realized withinin the next several years. As manufacturing moves to smaller and smaller features, it is necessary to re-evaluate process technology and decide if evolutions in current methods are sufficient or if technical and/or economic considerations will mandate change. Semiconductor fabrication relies on a combination of gas (or vapor) based techniques and liquid phase processing. Each has its advantages. Gas phase techniques allow for dry processing, complete wetting of surfaces, and the absence of surface tension, which in turn allows facile transport of reagents into confined geometries. Vapor phase transport of reagents and processing aids, however, are subject to species volatility constraints. Liquid phase processes have the advantage of species transport in solution, but the presence of the liquid phase can give rise to contamination issues, sluggish mass transport, and difficulties such as pattern collapse for the smallest device features. The latter arises from surface tension and associated capillary forces. These limitations are especially relevant for processing and fabrication at the nanoscale.
Peripheral arterial disease

Summary Lower extremity peripheral arterial disease(PAD) most frequently presents with pain during ambulation, which is known as "intermittent claudication". Some relief of symptoms is possible with exercise, pharmacotherapy, and cessation of smoking. The risk of limb-loss is overshadowed by the risk of mortality from coexistent coronary artery and cerebrovascular atherosclerosis. Primary therapy should be directed at treating the generalised atherosclerotic process, managing lipids, blood sugar, and blood pressure. By contrast, the risk of limb-loss becomes substantial when there is pain at rest, ischaemic ulceration, or gangrene. Interventions such as balloon angioplasty, stenting, and surgical revascularisation should be considered in these patients with so-called "critical limb ischaemia". The choice of the intervention is dependent on the anatomy of the stenotic or occlusive lesion; percutaneous interventions are appropriate when the lesion is focal and short but longer lesions must be treated with surgical revascularisation to achieve acceptable long-term outcome.
Molecular etiologies of MODY and other early-onset forms of diabetes.

Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) are monogenic forms of type 2 diabetes that are characterized by an early disease onset, autosomal-dominant inheritance, and defects in insulin secretion. Genetic studies have identified mutations in at least eight genes associated with different forms of MODY. The majority of the MODY subtypes are caused by mutations in transcription factors that include hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF)-4α, HNF-1α., PDX-1, HNF-1β, and NEURO-D1/BETA-2. In addition, genetic defects in the glucokinase gene, the glucose sensor of the pancreatic β cells, and the insulin gene also lead to impaired glucose tolerance. Biochemical and genetic studies have demonstrated that the MODY genes are functionally related and form an integrated transcriptional network that is important for many metabolic pathways.
Academic support vs. information support: Bringing information management to the community college

TRADITIONAL USER SUPPORT at institutions of higher education has revolved around the idea that the staff of the computer center should provide resources and consultation primarily for applications considered more traditional in nature: registration, financial aid, data processing/computer science applications such as languages (COBOL, FORTRAN, BASIC, JCL, etc.), Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI), and research projects which might utilize a statistical package like SAS or SPSS. This has most certainly been true at four-year institutions and to only a lesser degree at community colleges.However, as the number and types of user groups within the institution have become more diverse, the computer center has shifted its support away from more traditional classroom applications toward becoming an information service consultant for the institutional workforce. This has been done to acknowledge the fact that the computer center's user groups have become more diverse and many times more dependent on its support functions.This paper will discuss some of the major issues which have accompanied this shift from academic instructional support to information services support as it has been addressed by one major community college. Most notably, it will discuss: the steps taken to implement a comprehensive management information system; Planning mechanisms required to implement the necessary training support for new applications, including education programs, presentational and supplemental materials, along with media and hardware support; and the use of feedback mechanisms to aid the definition and development of training programs required by this transition from traditional academic consulting to information management user services.
The Cramer-Rao bound for pole and amplitude coefficient estimates of damped exponential signals in noise

A complete Cramer-Rao bound (CRB) derivation is provided for the case in which signals consist of arbitrary exponential terms in noise. Expressions for the CRBs of the parameters of a damped exponential model with one set of poles and multiple sets of amplitude coefficients are derived. CRBs for the poles and amplitude coefficients are derived in terms of rectangular and polar coordinate parameters. For rectangular parameters it is shown that CRBs for the real and imaginary parts of poles and amplitude coefficients are equal and uncorrelated. In polar coordinates, the angle and magnitude CRBs are also uncorrelated. Furthermore, the CRBs of the pole angles and relative magnitudes are equal and are logarithmically symmetric about the unit circle. >
PCR Detection of Acute Ehrlichia Canis Infection in Dogs

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based detection assay that specifically detected Ehrlichia canis in dogs with acute infections was developed. A region of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene of E. canis was targeted for PCR amplification and chemiluminescent hybridization (CH) with a complementary internal 287-base pair (bp) oligonucleotide probe. The CH improved the PCR assay sensitivity 1,000-fold as compared with visualization on ethidium bromide-stained agarose gels. The PCR assay with CH (PCR/CH) detected as little as 30 fg of E. canis genomic DNA, the equivalent of approximately 150 E. canis organisms. The 495-bp product defined by the specific primers was not detected when genomic DNA from E. platys, E. chaffeensis, E. risticii, and E. equi were used in the PCR/CH assay. The PCR/CH assay was tested with unfractionated blood samples collected from 9 dogs experimentally infected with E. canis. The PCR/CH assay had greater detection sensitivity than did cell culture isolation (CCI) from infected blood. PCR/CH detected E. canis 7 days prior to CCI in 4 of 6 experimentally infected dogs. The results obtained with the PCR/CH assay otherwise consistently matched the results obtained by CCI. This PCR/CH assay is a rapid, sensitive, and specific method for E. canis detection with sensitivity comparable to or exceeding that of CCI. A diagnosis of E. canis using this PCR/CH assay can be made in 2 days as compared with 1-4 weeks for CCI. The PCR/CH assay appears to be an acceptable alternative or complement to current diagnostic techniques.
Police drug crackdowns and hospitalisation rates for illicit-injection-related infections in New York City

Using longitudinal data, this analysis tests the hypothesis that eight police drug crackdowns implemented in 27 New York City police precincts between 1995 and 1999 were associated with subsequent increases in monthly precinct-specific hospitalisation rates for illicitinjection-related abscesses, cellulitis, and endocarditis. Crackdowns are sustained police initiatives designed to reduce the possession and sale of illicit drugs through heightened surveillance and arrests of drug users and street-level dealers. We linked hospitalisation data (48,986 illicit-injection-related abscess or cellulitis cases and 5452 illicit-injection-related endocarditis cases) and arrest and United States Cens us data to police precincts to calculate hospitalisation and arrest rates. Analyses indicate that drug-related arrest rates climbed 39% in the crackdowns’ first year compared with the previous year. Contrary to our hypothesis, we found evidence of a stasis or decline in hospitalisation rates in the crackdowns’ first year, based on multivariate Poisson regression models that included sensitivity analyses that accounted for the increased incarceration of injectors after each crackdown’s onset. We discuss several possible explanations for these findings and conclude that future research is warranted regarding the relationship between police strategies and drug users’ health that incorporates inmate health data and both individual-level and precinct-level data. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
A Case Study of the Enterprise Zone Program: “EZ” Avenue to Minority Economic Development?

This article explores Pennsylvania’s enterprise zone program as an economic development strategy in one city—Philadelphia. Given the underlying corporate-centered focus of economic development policies, it focuses on whether such policies can effectively reduce the high rate of joblessness for central-city residents as well as increase the rate of business development for minority business owners. To have a long-term impact on minority communities, economic development policies should identify ways to increase minority economic development through entrepreneurship and job creation strategies.
The Origins and Purposes of Several Conceptions of Systems Theory and Cybernetics

Beginning in the 1940s, the work of several groups of scientists began to coalesce around a set of ideas which represented a departure from standard scientific thought at the time (this departure from classical science continues today). Foremost on the list of these ideas is the role that feedback plays in the performance of any system. Scientists began to identify and account for the presence of positive (or amplifying) and negative (or compensating) feedback loops. Feedback plays an important role in any system which is not completely reductionist. In other words, if there is any interaction among the parts of a system, then a holistic perspective will increase the understanding and possible prediction of the system effects. Fisher (1935) was, perhaps, the first to offer a comprehensive treatise on this subject.Other changes in thinking that were taking place at the time included the notions of causality and observation. Nearly all work until that time had assumed linearly causal relationships among phenomena. Researchers began noticing the preponderance of situations in which circularly or mutually causal explanations seemed to be more fruitful. They also had resurrected Aristotle's distinction between efficient cause and final cause. A final change mentioned here is from objective observation, which seemed fairly clear-cut in sciences dealing with inanimate objects, to other forms of observation which included aspects of subjectivity. Mitroff and Blankenship (1973) explore the differences in scientific method when the observer is part of the phenomena being observed. Dent and Umpleby (forthcoming) address these and other underlying assumptions in the various strands of research groups devoted to systems thinking.This paper presents a history of science pertaining to several different conceptions of systems theory and cybernetics. Although several research groups worked using the ideas above, they did so in relative isolation from one another with different emphases. This paper will discuss the books and people, conferences and institutes, and politics and technology that have influenced the systems theory movement. Several schools of thought within systems science are described. Three viewpoints within the heading of cybernetics are discussed. The schools of thought discussed are general systems theory, the systems approach, operations research or systems analysis, system dynamics, learning organizations, and total quality management. Total quality management is a new addition to the list, but appropriate in many ways. This paper will not address artificial intelligence, complexity theory, family therapy, or other traditions.
Nature of the Carrier State of Bacteriophage SP-10 in Bacillus subtilis

Although the association of phage SP-10 with Bacillus subtilis W-23-Sr persists in heat- and antiserum-resistant form through the spore stage, it is unstable in vegetative cells and frequently terminates in loss of the carried phage or in lysis. On low-tonicity media, the plating efficiency of carrier cells is low. However, high concentrations of succinate or sucrose or a slowed growth rate preserve viability: on 0.48 m succinate-agar, the viable count per optical density unit is the same as that of a noncarrier control culture. Carrier clones retain phage on 0.48 m succinate-agar. At higher succinate levels, many colonies emerge free of phage; at 1 m succinate, all are cured, probably because high succinate inhibits reinfection. Growth of carrier cells in liquid medium with antiphage serum results in rapid curing; events in such cultures with and without succinate were studied quantitatively by tracing the emergence of sensitive cells, the multiplication and induction of carrier cells, and the sensitivity of carrier cells to superinfection with virulent phage. During log phase, 40 to 70% of the carrier cells became sensitive to virulent phage, although the same cells were insensitive during lag and stationary phase. Apparently, fluctuations in repressor levels are responsible. Spontaneous induction of carrier cells followed a qualitatively similar pattern, perhaps in response to changes in level of the same repressor. Production of sensitive segregants by carrier followed a different course, presumably because the repressor does not affect segregation. Many sensitive cells were found two to three divisions after inoculation in antiserum medium. This suggests that each inoculum cell contained one or only a few phage replicons. The data are compatible with the idea that the carrier state in media without antisera is maintained entirely by reinfection and without replication of phage in the latent state. Alternative models which involve replication of latent phage are not ruled out, however.
Predictors of Suicidal Ideation Among “At Risk” Cocaine‐Using African American Women

The focus of this study was to identify factors that differentiate women drug abusers who had experienced suicidal ideation from those who did not. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 221 cocaine-using women in Atlanta, GA, 88 (39.8%) of whom reported thinking about committing suicide at least once during the 90 days prior to interview and 133 (60.2%) of whom did not. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify predictors of suicidal ideation, and post hoc goodness-of-fit tests were conducted to assess the robustness of final models derived. Model 1 excluded all psychosocial functioning measures and Model 2 included these items. Both models showed that suicidal ideation was more common among women who were unemployed, had been abused sexually, engaged in sexual relations to cope with stresses, or had less helpful relatives. In addition, Model 1 revealed a heightened risk for women experiencing financial problems and those who had a previous mental health diagnosis, whereas Model 2 showed an elevated risk among women who experienced anxiety and those who had lower levels of self-esteem. These findings suggest the need for prevention and intervention programs that target at-risk women, and for such programs to include an emphasis on suicidal ideation in addition to focusing on risk factors that are addressed more commonly.
Therapy for metastatic melanoma: the past, present, and future

Metastatic melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer with a median overall survival of less than one year. Advancements in our understanding of how melanoma evades the immune system as well as the recognition that melanoma is a molecularly heterogeneous disease have led to major improvements in the treatment of patients with metastatic melanoma. In 2011, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved two novel therapies for advanced melanoma: a BRAF inhibitor, vemurafenib, and an immune stimulatory agent, ipilimumab. The success of these agents has injected excitement and hope into patients and clinicians and, while these therapies have their limitations, they will likely provide excellent building blocks for the next generation of therapies. In this review we will discuss the advantages and limitations of the two new approved agents, current clinical trials designed to overcome these limitations, and future clinical trials that we feel hold the most promise.
A five level hierarchy for the management of simulation models

The goal-driven automated generation of models from a set of design specifications is described. A five-level hierarchy is introduced which supports the automated generation of both models and simulation experiments from an abstract description of an overall design, and from an abstract description of the goals of the simulation study. The aim is to be able to generate models and experiments in a top-down fashion from a description of static components and the couplings between these components by automating the stepwise refinement process. Detailed model descriptions are extracted from template files residing in model libraries. The authors emphasize problems encountered in the automatic generation of continuous-system models since the synthesis of these models is more involved than the synthesis of discrete-event models. It is shown how a particular implementation of an automatic model synthesis tool, the DEVS-Scheme modeling environment, can be used to tackle a number of important realistic application problems. >
Simulated effects of climate change on summertime nitrogen deposition in the eastern US

Abstract It is anticipated that climate change may impact regional-scale air quality and atmospheric deposition in the coming decades. To simulate the effects of climate change on nitrogen (N) deposition across numerous watersheds in the eastern US, we applied the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies General Circulation Model (GISS-GCM), Fifth Generation Pennsylvania State University/National Center for Atmospheric Research Mesoscale Model (MM5), Sparse Matrix Operator Kernel Emissions (SMOKE) modeling system, and the US Environmental Protection Agency Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) Model. Keeping chemical initial and boundary conditions, land use, and anthropogenic area and point source emissions fixed, this modeling system was applied over five summers (June–August) from 1993 to 1997 and five summers from 2053 to 2057. Over these eastern US watersheds, the modeling system estimated 3–14% increases in summertime N deposition as a result of climate change. This increase is primarily due to the direct effects of climate change on atmospheric conditions and chemistry. Wet N deposition is predicted to increase as a result of increased precipitation, while dry N deposition is predicted to increase as higher surface temperatures favor gas-phase nitric acid to particulate nitrate. The simulated increase suggests that additional reductions in N oxides and/or ammonia may be needed to fully realize the anticipated benefits of planned reduction strategies, including the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR).
A Climatology of 500-hPa Closed Lows and Associated Precipitation in the Northeastern United States

AbstractTemporal trends in precipitation associated with 500-hPa low pressure systems are assessed for consistency with overall precipitation trends in the northeastern United States. Increases in precipitation associated with closed upper lows can be attributed to an increase in the number of closed lows and/or an increase in the average precipitation occurring in association with closed lows. A climatological description of 500-hPa closed lows was developed, and precipitation was analyzed using data from the U.S. Cooperative Observer Program. Closed 500-hPa lows were identified within a rectangular geographic region bounded by 35° and 50°N and 65° and 90°W. Precipitation observations within 1.25° of latitude and 1.25° of longitude of the closed-low center were attributed to the closed low. Statistical testing procedures were conducted to evaluate whether a long-term trend existed in the closed-low frequency, the average precipitation occurring near closed lows, or the percentage of >2.54-cm precipitatio...
URANS analysis of a broaching event in irregular quartering seas

Ship motions in a high sea state can have adverse effects on controllability, cause loss of stability, and ultimately compromise the survivability of the ship. In a broaching event, the ship losses control, naturally turning broadside to the waves, causing a dangerous situation and possibly capsizing. Classical approaches to study broaching rely on costly experimental programs and/or time-domain potential or system-based simulation codes. In this paper the ability of Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) to simulate a broaching event in irregular waves is demonstrated, and the extensive information available is used to analyze the broaching process. The demonstration nature of this paper is stressed, as opposed to a validated study. Unsteady RANS (URANS) provides a model based on first principles to capture phenomena such as coupling between sway, yaw, and roll, roll damping, effects of complex waves on righting arm, rudders partially out of the water, etc. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method uses a single-phase level-set approach to model the free surface, and dynamic overset grids to resolve large-amplitude motions. Before evaluating irregular seas two regular wave cases are demonstrated, one causing broaching and one causing stable surf riding. A sea state 8 is imposed following an irregular Bretschneider spectrum, and an autopilot was implemented to control heading and speed with two different gains for the heading controller. It is concluded that the autopilot causes the ship to be in an adverse dynamic condition at the beginning of the broaching process, and thus is partially responsible for the occurrence of the broaching event.
A BiCMOS wireless interface chip for micromachined stimulating microprobes

This paper describes a BiCMOS interface chip, (Interestim-1), for wireless power and data transfer to the University of Michigan micromachined stimulating microprobes (STIM). Interestim-1 uses an amplitude modulated 4 MHz carrier to receive data and power through inductive coupling. It is designed to generate dual regulated /spl plusmn/5 V supplies capable of providing up to 50 mW, to regenerate a 4 MHz internal clock from the radio-frequency (RF) carrier, and to extract data bit stream up to 100 kBit/sec from the ASK modulated RF carrier. The internal clock is stepped down by a user selectable ratio to be synchronized with the recovered data and sent to the STIM probes after parity checking, DC level shifting, and adding strobe pulses based on the STIM microprobe timing protocol. The circuitry has been designed and fabricated in the University of Michigan's single metal, dual-poly 3-/spl mu/m BiCMOS process, and has 1100 transistors occupying an area of 10 mm/sup 2/. The total power dissipation of the chip when supplying 20 mW to the stimulator chip is less than 10 mW.
Long-term follow-up of survivors of prehospital sudden cardiac death treated with coronary bypass surgery

Abstract Although coronary artery bypass surgery is beneficial to patients with severe coronary artery disease, its role in preventing the recurrence of prehospital cardiac arrest in patients is not clear. In this article, we report on the long-term follow-up of 49 survivors of prehospital coronary arrest who had coronary artery bypass surgery. Prior to their prehospital cardiac arrest, 14% of the patients had a history of unstable angina. Coronary angiograms obtained after prehospital cardiac arrest showed that 71% of the patients had three-vessel coronary artery disease and 6% had single-vessel disease. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 45%. There were four postoperative deaths; three were caused by pump failure, and one was caused by refractory ventricular arrhythmias. After a maximum follow-up period of 102 months (mean of 55.4 months), there were seven cardiac deaths; five of the patients died of recurrent ventricular fibrillation, and two patients; deaths were related to refractory heart failure. Actuarial analyses of the 49 patients showed that the probability of survival at 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, and 5 years was 92%, 92%, 89%, 82%, and 72%, respectively. After surgery, 35 of the 45 patients who were discharged from the hospital were asymptomatic, and 23 of the 32 patients who were employed when their prehospital cardiac arrest occurred returned to their employment. We concluded that coronary artery by pass surgery is beneficial to certain survivors of prehospital sudden death. After surgery, most patients are asymptomatic and capable of returning to their employment and the recurrence of prehospital sudden death is low.
Welfare Gains from Financial Liberalization

Financial liberalization has been a controversial issue, as empirical evidence for growth enhancing effects is mixed. Here, we find sizable welfare gains from liberalization (cost to repression), though the gain in economic growth is ambiguous. We take the view that financial liberalization is a government policy that alters the path of financial deepening, while financial deepening is endogenously chosen by agents given a policy and occurs in transition towards a distant steady state. This history-dependent view necessitates the use of simulation analysis based on a growth model. Our application is a specific episode: Thailand from 1976 to 1996.