cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Histone/protein deacetylase inhibitor therapy for enhancement of Foxp3+ T-regulatory cell function posttransplantation.

T-regulatory (Treg) cells are like other cells present throughout the body in being subject to biochemical modifications in response to extracellular signals. An important component of these responses involves changes in post-translational modifications (PTMs) of histones and many non-histone proteins, including phosphorylation/dephosphorylation, ubiquitination/deubiquitination and acetylation/deacetylation. Foxp3, the key transcription factor of Tregs, is constantly being rapidly turned over, and a number of these PTMs determine its level of expression and activity. Of interest in the transplant setting, modulation of the acetylation or deacetylation of key lysine residues in Foxp3 can promote the stability and function, leading to increased Treg production and increased Treg suppressive activity. This mini-review focuses on recent data concerning the roles that histone/protein deacetylases (HDACs) play in control of Treg function, and how small molecule HDAC inhibitors can be used to promote Treg-dependent allograft survival in experimental models. These data are discussed in the light of increasing interest in the identification and clinical evaluation of isoform-selective HDAC inhibitors, and their potential application as tools to modulate Foxp3+ Treg cell numbers and function in transplant recipients.
Mid-Western US heavy summer-precipitation in regional and global climate models: the impact on model skill and consensus through an analogue lens

Regional climate models (RCMs) can simulate heavy precipitation more accurately than general circulation models (GCMs) through more realistic representation of topography and mesoscale processes. Analogue methods of downscaling, which identify the large-scale atmospheric conditions associated with heavy precipitation, can also produce more accurate and precise heavy precipitation frequency in GCMs than the simulated precipitation. In this study, we examine the performances of the analogue method versus direct simulation, when applied to RCM and GCM simulations, in detecting present-day and future changes in summer (JJA) heavy precipitation over the Midwestern United States. We find analogue methods are comparable to MERRA-2 and its bias-corrected precipitation in characterizing the occurrence and interannual variations of observed heavy precipitation events, all significantly improving upon MERRA precipitation. For the late twentieth-century heavy precipitation frequency, RCM precipitation improves upon the corresponding driving GCM with greater accuracy yet comparable inter-model discrepancies, while both RCM- and GCM-based analogue results outperform their model-simulated precipitation counterparts in terms of accuracy and model consensus. For the projected trends in heavy precipitation frequency through the mid twenty-first century, analogue method also manifests its superiority to direct simulation with reduced intermodel disparities, while the RCM-based analogue and simulated precipitation do not demonstrate a salient improvement (in model consensus) over the GCM-based assessment. However, a number of caveats preclude any overall judgement, and further work—over any region of interest—should include a larger sample of GCMs and RCMs as well as ensemble simulations to comprehensively account for internal variability.
Using an onset-anchored Bayesian hierarchical model to improve predictions for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis disease progression.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a rare disease with extreme between-subject variability, especially with respect to rate of disease progression. This makes modelling a subject’s disease progression, which is measured by the ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS), very difficult. Consider the problem of predicting a subject’s ALSFRS score at 9 or 12 months after a given time-point. We obtained ALS subject data from the Pooled Resource Open-Access ALS Clinical Trials Database, a collection of data from various ALS clinical trials. Due to the typical linearity of the ALSFRS, we consider several Bayesian hierarchical linear models. These include a mixture model (to account for the two potential classes of “fast” and “slow” ALS progressors) as well as an onset-anchored model, in which an additional artificial data-point, using time of disease onset, is utilized to improve predictive performance. The onset-anchored model had a drastically reduced posterior predictive mean-square-error distributions, when compared to the Bayesian hierarchical linear model or the mixture model under a cross-validation approach. No covariates, other than time of disease onset, consistently improved predictive performance in either the Bayesian hierarchical linear model or the onset-anchored model. Augmenting patient data with an additional artificial data-point, or onset anchor, can drastically improve predictive modelling in ALS by reducing the variability of estimated parameters at the cost of a slight increase in bias. This onset-anchored model is extremely useful if predictions are desired directly after a single baseline measure (such as at the first day of a clinical trial), a feat that would be very difficult without the onset-anchor. This approach could be useful in modelling other diseases that have bounded progression scales (e.g. Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, or inclusion-body myositis). It is our hope that this model can be used by clinicians and statisticians to improve the efficacy of clinical trials and aid in finding treatments for ALS.
Identification and characterization of eight novel SMPD1 mutations causing types A and B Niemann-Pick disease.

Types A and B Niemann-Pick disease (NPD) result from the deficient activity of acid sphingomyelinase (ASM), due to mutations in the sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase 1 (SMPD1) gene. Here we report the identification, characterization and genotype/phenotype correlations of eight novel mutations in six unrelated NPD patients. These mutations included seven missense mutations: c.631T > C (p.W211R), c.757G > C (p.D253H), c.940G > A (p.V314M), c.1280A > G (p.H427R), c.1564A > G (p.N522S), c.1575G > C (p.Q525H) and c.1729A > G (p.H577R), and a novel frameshift mutation, c.1657delACCGCCT (fsT553). Each missense mutation was expressed in 293T or COS-7 cells; mutant enzymes p.W211R, p.D253H, p.H427R and p.H577R had G mutation obliterated a known N-glycosylation site and its p.N522S mutant enzyme had ∼10% of expressed wild-type activity. Western blot analysis revealed that each mutant protein was expressed at near wild-type amounts, despite their differences in residual activity. The novel seven-base deletion occurred at codon 553, leading to a premature truncation after residue 609. The expression studies predicted the clinical phenotypes of the six patients: two type A patients had genotypes with only type A alleles [c.631T > C (p.W211R), c.757G > C (p.D253H) and c.1729A > G (p.H577R)], and the other four type B disease patients had at least one neuroprotective mutant type B allele [c.940G > A (p.V314M), c.1280A > G (p.H427R), c.1564A > G (p.N522S) and c.1575G > C (p.Q525H)] that expressed >5% residual ASM activity. Thus, these new mutations provide novel genotype/phenotype correlations and further document the genetic heterogeneity in types A and B NPD.
Multiple Criteria Decision Support for Software Reuse: An Industrial Case Study

In practice, many factors must be considered and balanced when making software reuse decisions. However, few empirical studies exist that leverage practical techniques to support decision-making in software reuse. This paper reports a case study that applied SMART (Simple Multi-Attribute Rating Technique) to a company that considered reuse as an option of re-engineering its web site. The company’s reuse goal was set to maximize benefits and to minimize costs. We applied SMART in two iterations for the company’s software reuse project. The main difference is that the first iteration used the COCOMO (COnstructive COst MOdel) to quantify the cost in the beginning of the software project. In the second iteration, we refined the cost estimation by using the COCOMO II model. This combined approach illustrates the importance of updating and refining the decision support for software reuse. The company was informed the optimal reuse percentage for the project, which was reusing 76–100 % of the existing artifacts and knowledge. Our study not only shows that SMART is a valuable and practical technique that can be readily incorporated into an organization’s software reuse program, but also offers concrete insights into applying SMART in an industrial setting.
Mechanisms of Pesticide Resistance in Non-Target Organisms

Published literature on pesticide resistance is voluminous. In preparation of this paper, a computerized literature search of over 50,000 journals resulted in off-line printouts of about 2,000 resistance articles from the data banks of Chemical Abstracts, Biological Abstracts, Enviroline, Toxline, and Agricola. These references spanned approximately the last ten years.
Getting the most from your CAR target.

In this issue of Blood , Scarfo et al describe a new target for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, CD37, that reveals how the field of immunotherapy is adapting after the landmark success of CD19 CAR T cells. 1
Ethical Decision Making and Psychological Entitlement

Job candidates who possess characteristics likely to result in organizationally desired outcomes are valuable, yet not always easily identified. Offering validation support for selection tools that organizations can use to identify such candidates is therefore important. The present study examines the construct of psychological entitlement to determine if it can be used to identify individuals who are more likely to make sound ethical judgments in organizations. Specifically, we examine the relationship between psychological entitlement and ethical decision making, positing that individuals with high levels of psychological entitlement are more likely to make less ethical decisions and to use less ethical upward influence tactics than those with opposing characteristics. We administered a survey to 174 participants using the Multidimensional Ethics Scale, the Subordinate Influence Ethics Scale, and the Psychological Entitlement Scale. To test our hypotheses, we used hierarchical multiple regression. Results suggest that individuals with high levels of psychological entitlement are more likely to consider unethical actions as ethical, given several scenarios. In addition, individuals with high levels of psychological entitlement are more likely to consider self‐serving and maliciously‐intended upward influence tactics as acceptable when used to advance in an organization. They are also less likely to consider pro‐organizational upward influence tactics to be acceptable when used to advance in organizations.
Small Object Sensitive Segmentation of Urban Street Scene With Spatial Adjacency Between Object Classes

Recent advancements in deep learning have shown an exciting promise in the urban street scene segmentation. However, many objects, such as poles and sign symbols, are relatively small, and they usually cannot be accurately segmented, since the larger objects usually contribute more to the segmentation loss. In this paper, we propose a new boundary-based metric that measures the level of spatial adjacency between each pair of object classes and find that this metric is robust against object size-induced biases. We develop a new method to enforce this metric into the segmentation loss. We propose a network, which starts with a segmentation network, followed by a new encoder to compute the proposed boundary-based metric, and then trains this network in an end-to-end fashion. In deployment, we only use the trained segmentation network, without the encoder, to segment new unseen images. Experimentally, we evaluate the proposed method using CamVid and CityScapes data sets and achieve a favorable overall performance improvement and a substantial improvement in segmenting small objects.
Imaging Findings in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a common neurological disease with lasting impairment in a subset of patients. Current imaging protocols are not sensitive enough to detect lesions underlying concussive symptoms and disease burden. This chapter will describe research findings of advanced neuroimaging techniques in mTBI adults and children, focusing on structural, functional, and metabolic modalities. Patients with these seemingly mild traumas have evidence of diffuse axonal injury, disruption of neuro-vasculature, and metabolic disturbance. Some brain abnormalities resolve longitudinally, but others may persist long after the injury. Associations exist between imaging findings and postconcussive syndrome, neurocognitive test performance, and overall outcomes. The findings are promising, but not yet convincing to recommend any advanced technique for routine clinical use. The literature will benefit from improved methodology to facilitate comparison across studies and a framework focusing on the effects of specific lesions on distinct functional outcomes.
Horace Holley: Transylvania University and the making of liberal education in the early American republic, by James P. Cousins

Horace Holley, a New Englander by birth, played an important role in the development of US higher education during his time as president of Kentucky’s Transylvania University, the first college est...
Differential Effects of Physiological Arousal Following Acute Stress on Police Officer Performance in a Simulated Critical Incident.

Background: Police officer response in a critical incident is often a life-or-death scenario for the officer, the suspect, and the public. Efficient and accurate decisions are necessary to ensure the safety of all involved. Under these conditions, it is important to understand the effects of physiological arousal in response to acute stress on police officer performance in critical and dangerous incidents. Prior research suggests that physiological arousal following a stressor differentially affects police performance – communication may be impaired, whereas well-rehearsed, tactical behaviors may be resilient. Objectives: In this study, we examine the differential effects of physiological arousal across three police skill domains: verbal communication, nonverbal communication, and tactical skill. Methods: A sample of Swedish police cadets (N = 17) participated in a critical incident simulation, which was a reenactment of a real-life incident that had resulted in a police officer death; the simulation included multiple calls, dynamic environments, and surprise threats. An expert rater evaluated the cadets across multiple domains of skill, and physiological arousal was monitored by continuous heart rate monitoring and measures of circulating cortisol and antithrombin taken before and after the incident simulation. Results: The simulation increased police officer arousal, as reflected in elevated heart rate, but this alone did not predict differences in performance. Greater increase in antithrombin was associated with better general performance, but a specific deficit in verbal communication as compared to tactical performance and nonverbal communication. Change in cortisol was unrelated to the skill assessments. Conclusions: Police officer performance during a critical incident simulation is affected by physiological arousal. The findings are discussed with implications for police officer decision-making and real-world performance.
Cancer-associated thromboembolism: antithrombotic management of hospitalized patients

Cancer increases risk for venous thromboembolism. Incident thrombocytopenia increases hemorrhagic risk. Hospitalized adults with a cancer diagnosis who received subcutaneous dalteparin in doses adjusted according to platelet count were retrospectively evaluated. Outcomes of interest included nadir platelet counts, transfusions, thromboembolism, and hemorrhage. During a 2-year period of observation, 1854 cancer patients received individualized inpatient treatment with dalteparin. Transfusion was required in 38 of 77 (49.4%) patients with nadir platelet counts 50 × 109 cells/L (RR − 8.07; 95% CI − 4.79 to − 13.59, p 50 × 109 cells/L, respectively (p > 0.9 for all comparisons). Acute blood loss or major bleeding was documented in 10.5%, 12.5%, and 15.6% of patients with platelet counts of 50 × 109 cells/L, respectively (p > 0.9 for all comparisons). Among hospitalized cancer patients who received individualized dalteparin treatment, transfusion requirements varied inversely with platelet count. Irrespective of platelet counts, occurrence rates for venous thromboembolism and acute hemorrhage were similar across all treatment groups. Individualized dalteparin treatment provided a consistent pattern of safety and effectiveness.
CeO2 nanorods supported M–Co bimetallic oxides (M = Fe, Ni, Cu) for catalytic CO and C3H8 oxidation

Abstract Supported bimetallic catalysts with rational compositions and structural design have attracted great interest, due to the tunable structural orientation (alloy or intermetallic compound and core-shell structure etc.), synergetic effects, and combined properties related to the presence of two individual metals. In this study, 10 wt% Fe-Co, Ni-Co and Cu-Co bimetallic oxides with 1:2 atomic ratio (FeCo2Ox, NiCo2Ox and CuCo2Ox) were deposited onto CeO2 nanorods (CeO2NR) via a hydrothermal-assisted precipitation-deposition method. The bimetallic synergism effects, surface structure configuration and the metal (oxide)-support interactions were investigated. The catalysts were characterized by means of powder XRD, TEM, EDX, Raman spectroscopy, XPS, BET surface area, H2-TPR, O2 pulse chemisorption and O2-TPD. All the CeO2NR supported bimetallic catalysts show considerable low-temperature CO oxidation performance. And the catalytic activity toward CO oxidation follows the order: 10 wt% CuCo2Ox/CeO2NR (T50 = 95 °C and T90 = 148 °C) > 10 wt% FeCo2Ox/CeO2NR (T50 = 129 °C and T90 = 193 °C) > 10 wt% NiCo2Ox/CeO2NR (T50 = 147 °C and T90 = 196 °C). As for the catalytic oxidation of C3H8, all the designed catalysts show similar low-temperature performance, but the 10 wt% NiCo2Ox/CeO2NR catalyst exhibits the maximum C3H8 conversion above 330 °C. In addition, we also demonstrate the important role of oxygen storage capacity (OSC) of CeO2NR support and the impact of different oxygen species (physi-/chemisorbed oxygen, and bulk lattice oxygen) on the oxidation of CO and light hydrocarbons.
Epidemiology, clinical features, and resource utilization associated with respiratory syncytial virus in the community and hospital.

BACKGROUND The epidemiology, clinical features, and resource utilization of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases in the community and the hospital are not fully characterized. METHODS We identified individuals of all ages with laboratory-confirmed RSV from two sources, a community cohort undergoing surveillance for acute respiratory infections (ARIs) and hospitalized patients from the same geographic area of New York City between 2013 and 15. The epidemiology, clinical features, and resource utilization (antibiotic/steroid/ribavirin usage, chest X-rays, respiratory-support (continuous positive airway pressure [CPAP], mechanical ventilation or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation [ECMO]), and indicators of disease severity (respiratory-support, and/or ICU admission or death)) were compared among age groups using univariate and bivariate analyses. RESULTS In the community cohort (1777 people with 1805 ARIs), 66(3.7%) tested RSV-positive (3.8% of <1-year-olds; 3.8% of adults ≥65); 40.9% were medically attended, and 23.1% reported antibiotic usage. Among 40,461 tests performed on hospital patients, 2.7% were RSV-positive within ± 2 days of admission (37.3% <1 year old; 17.4% ≥65 years old). Among RSV-positive hospitalized adults ≥65%, 92.7%, 89.6% and 78.1% received a chest X-ray, antibiotics and/or steroids respectively, compared with 48.9%, 45.7%, and 48.7% of children <1. Severe illness occurred in 27.0% RSV-positive hospitalized <1-year-olds and 19.8% ≥65-year-olds. CONCLUSIONS Respiratory syncytial virus had a demonstrated impact in the community and hospital. Only 40% of RSV community cases were medically attended. In the hospitalized-cohort, <1- and ≥ 65-year-olds accounted for the majority of patients and had similar rates of severe illness. In addition, resource utilization was high in older adults, making both young children and older adults important potential RSV vaccine targets.
Chapter 19 – Teleost Immunoglobulins

Immunoglobulin (Ig) represents one of the most studied classes of molecules, having a key role in the adaptive immune response. The emergence of different Ig isotypes and their specific structural and functional features developed during evolution have been deeply investigated. This chapter will summarize the current knowledge of all Igs described in a phylogenetically early vertebrate group, the teleost fish. In teleosts, the Ig gene locus underwent significant modifications through several duplication and deletion events that occurred during evolution that generated an interesting diversification across species.
Association of Alcohol Intake With Hypertension in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: The ACCORD Trial

Background Heavy alcohol consumption has a well‐established association with hypertension. However, doubt persists whether moderate alcohol consumption has a similar link. This relationship is not ...
Patients with obstructive sleep apnea have suppressed levels of soluble cytokine receptors involved in neurodegenerative disease, but normal levels with airways therapy

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) results in systemic intermittent hypoxia. By one model, hypoxic stress signaling in OSA patients alters the levels of inflammatory soluble cytokines TNF and IL6, damages the blood brain barrier, and activates microglial targeting of neuronal cell death to increase the risk of neurodegenerative disorders and other diseases. However, it is not yet clear if OSA significantly alters the levels of the soluble isoforms of TNF receptors TNFR1 and TNFR2 and IL6 receptor (IL6R) and co-receptor gp130, which have the potential to modulate TNF and IL6 signaling. Picogram per milliliter levels of the soluble isoforms of these four cytokine receptors were estimated in OSA patients, in OSA patients receiving airways therapy, and in healthy control subjects. Triplicate samples were examined using Bio-Plex fluorescent bead microfluidic technology. The statistical significance of cytokine data was estimated using the nonparametric Wilcoxon rank-sum test. The clustering of these high-dimensional data was visualized using t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE). OSA patients had significant twofold to sevenfold reductions in the soluble serum isoforms of all four cytokine receptors, gp130, IL6R, TNFR1, and TNFR2, as compared with control individuals (p = 1.8 × 10−13 to 4 × 10−8). Relative to untreated OSA patients, airways therapy of OSA patients had significantly higher levels of gp130 (p = 2.8 × 10−13), IL6R (p = 1.1 × 10−9), TNFR1 (p = 2.5 × 10−10), and TNFR2 (p = 5.7 × 10−9), levels indistinguishable from controls (p = 0.29 to 0.95). The data for most airway-treated patients clustered with healthy controls, but the data for a few airway-treated patients clustered with apneic patients. Patients with OSA have aberrantly low levels of four soluble cytokine receptors associated with neurodegenerative disease, gp130, IL6R, TNFR1, and TNFR2. Most OSA patients receiving airways therapy have receptor levels indistinguishable from healthy controls, suggesting a chronic intermittent hypoxia may be one of the factors contributing to low receptor levels in untreated OSA patients.
Effect of milk vs. sugar-sweetened beverage supplementation on bone development in pre-pubertal pigs as model for children

Milk consumption has long been associated with better bone development in children, contrary to sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB); however, stronger evidence are needed. Therefore, this study aimed t...
Chemotherapy Remote Care Monitoring Program: Integration of SMS Text Patient-Reported Outcomes in the Electronic Health Record and Pharmacist Intervention for Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting

PURPOSE:Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is a common cause of unplanned healthcare utilization. The University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center initiated the chemotherapy remote care ...
Statistical Assessment of Replicability via Bayesian Model Criticism

Assessment of replicability is critical to ensure the quality and rigor of scientific research. In this paper, we discuss inference and modeling principles for replicability assessment. Targeting distinct application scenarios, we propose two types of Bayesian model criticism approaches to identify potentially irreproducible results in scientific experiments. They are motivated by established Bayesian prior and posterior predictive model-checking procedures and generalize many existing replicability assessment methods. Finally, we discuss the statistical properties of the proposed replicability assessment approaches and illustrate their usages by simulations and examples of real data analysis, including the data from the Reproducibility Project: Psychology and a systematic review of impacts of pre-existing cardiovascular disease on COVID-19 outcomes.
Dynamics of organic matter molecular composition under aerobic decomposition and their response to the nitrogen addition in grassland soils.

Abstract Grassland soils store a substantial proportion of the global soil carbon (C) stock. The transformation of C in grassland soils with respect to chemical composition and persistence strongly regulate the predicted terrestrial-atmosphere C flux in global C biogeochemical cycling models. In addition, increasing atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition alters C chemistry in grassland soils. However, there remains controversy about the importance of mineralogical versus biochemical preservation of soil C, as well as uncertainty regarding how grassland soil C chemistry responds to elevated N. This study used grassland soils with diverse soil organic matter (SOM) chemistries in an 8-month aerobic incubation experiment to evaluate whether the chemical composition of SOM converged across sites over time, and how SOM persistence responded to the N addition. This study demonstrates that over the course of incubation, the richness of labile compounds decreased in soils with less ferrihydrite content, whereas labile compounds were more persistent in ferrihydrite rich soils. In contrast, we found that the richness of more complex compounds increased over the incubation in most sites, independent of soil mineralogy. Moreover, we demonstrate the extent to which the diverse chemical composition of SOM converged among sites in response to microbial decomposition. N fertilization decreased soil respiration and inhibited the convergence of molecular composition across ecosystems by altering N demand for microbial metabolism and chemical interactions between minerals and organic molecules. This study provides original evidence that the decomposition and metabolism of labile organic molecules were largely regulated by soil mineralogy (physicochemical preservation), while the metabolism of more complex organic molecules was controlled by substrate complexity (biochemical preservation) independent to mineral-organic interactions. This study advanced our understanding of the dynamic biogeochemical cycling of C by unveiling that N addition dampened C respiration and diminished the convergence of SOM chemistry across diverse grassland ecosystems.
Maternal confidence, knowledge, and quality of mother‐toddler interactions: A preliminary study

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among maternal confidence, knowledge of child development, and quality of mother-toddler interactions using self-efficacy (Bandura, 1977, 1989) as the theoretical framework. Using the Toddler Care Questionnaire, 50 mothers of toddlers were asked to estimate their confidence in their ability to parent their toddlers. Mothers also completed the Knowledge of Infant Development Questionnaire and were videotaped in their homes during a structured interaction with their toddlers. Maternal confidence was positively correlated with maternal knowledge of child development and parenting. The relationships among mother's knowledge of child development, maternal confidence, and quality of mother-toddler interactions were examined by a 2 × 3 analysis of variance with quality of interactions as the dependent variable. There were no significant main effects for maternal knowledge or confidence on quality of mother-toddler interactions, but there was a significant interaction effect. That is, the combined effects of maternal knowledge and confidence were related to quality of mother-toddler interactions. These results may explain previous inconsistencies in the literature regarding the significance of maternal confidence for mother-child interactions and are congruent with self-efficacy theory. Implications for interventions are discussed.
The use and utility of high-level semantic features in video retrieval

This paper investigates the applicability of high-level semantic features for video retrieval using the benchmarked data from TRECVID 2003 and 2004, addressing the contributions of features like outdoor, face, and animal in retrieval, and if users can correctly decide on which features to apply for a given need. Pooled truth data gives evidence that some topics would benefit from features. A study with 12 subjects found that people often disagree on the relevance of a feature to a particular topic, including disagreement within the 8% of positive feature-topic associations strongly supported by truth data. When subjects concur, their judgments are correct, and for those 51 topic-feature pairings identified as significant we conduct an investigation into the best interactive search submissions showing that for 29 pairs, topic performance would have improved had users had access to ideal classifiers for those features. The benefits derive from generic features applied to generic topics (27 pairs), and in one case a specific feature applied to a specific topic. Re-ranking submitted shots based on features shows promise for automatic search runs, but not for interactive runs where a person already took care to rank shots well.
Abstract W MP105: Long Term Stroke Outcome and Caregiving Among Mexican Americans (MA) and Non-Hispanic Whites (NHW): The Population-Based Brain Attack Surveillance in Corpus Christi (BASIC) Study

Background: Long term stroke outcomes in MA are understudied, and the role of informal caregiving and caregiver strain in this population is unknown. We report a pilot study of long-term outcomes in BASIC. Methods: Patients previously interviewed at 90 days post-stroke were invited to participate in a telephone survey related to their 6 or 12 month post-stroke activities of daily living (ADLs) during March-May 2013. ADL score (average of 7 items, range 1-4) was analyzed by self-reported ethnicity using repeated measures models. In a separate sample interviewed at 90 days, patients were asked about willingness to participate in longer term follow-up and a subset of caregivers responded to the caregiver strain index (CSI, range 1-13, higher is worse). Results: Among patients alive at the time of interview, 87% of 39 MA and 74% of 19 NHW participated in the 6 month interview, and 84% of 32 MA and 88% of 8 NHW participated in the 12 month interview. No patients refused at either time point; the remainder coul...
The prevalence and content of police discipline matrices

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine the prevalence of the use of discipline matrices across large US police departments, as well as to compare the structure and content of such matrices. Design/methodology/approach – The study employs a two phase approach. Phase I consisted of a brief online survey of a stratified, random sample of police departments with 100 or more sworn police officers and asked about whether or not the agency employed a discipline matrix. Phase II consisted of requesting a copy of the matrix and corresponding materials from all agencies who indicated they employed a matrix, and analyzing the content of those matrices. Findings – In total, 37 percent of responding agencies said they are using or are planning a discipline matrix, and the authors obtained a matrix from 32 police departments. The structure of the matrices and recommended discipline varied widely across these departments, indicating a lack of consensus on the development of this relatively new accountabilit...
Diagrams and Text as Computer Input

Diagrams are both natural and economical as a means of describing spatial objects and relationships. The use of relatively free-form diagrams as input to computer programs is potentially very attractive. However, understanding diagrams involves many of the same problems as understanding natural language: ambiguity of diagram elements and relationships, properties that are implicit rather than being explicitly shown, and the need to use context and world knowledge to resolve ambiguities. We describe a program, BEATRIX, that can understand textbook physics problems specified by a combination of English text and a diagram. The result of the understanding process is a unified internal model that represents information derived from both the text and the diagram. The process of interpreting diagram elements and relationships is described; a central problem is establishing coreference, that is, determining when parts of the text and diagram refer to the same object. Constraints supplied by the text, by the diagram, and by world knowledge are sued to reduce ambiguity of diagram elements until unique interpretations are obtained. Generalizations of these techniques to other diagram understanding tasks are discussed.
Exporting Exile on TV Martí

This essay focuses on U.S. broadcasting to Cuba, specifically the development and programming of TV Marti, a channel whose ostensible aim is to undermine the communist Cuban government and promote democratic transition. Since TV Marti’s first broadcast in 1990, Cuba has successfully jammed the signal, and the question of why the United States should continue to fund a station with no viewers has been the subject of ongoing discussion. Issues of reception have so overdetermined the debate as to obviate analysis of the productions themselves.This article argues that the existence of TV Marti is best understood in relation to Cuban exile nationalism. Fundamental confusion exists on the issues of what TV Marti is supposed to represent and for whom it is created, raising questions not only about its effectiveness as propaganda meant to interpellate Cuban nationals—if there are any watching—but also about what is at stake in exporting the exilic national imaginary.
Investment in Employment Relations in Japanese Firms

Abstract This paper distinguishes between two types of investment in employment relations: Investment in technical skills and investment in the reliability of information exchanged within the firm. The first type of investment affects productivity in ways that are well known. The second type of investment reduces miscommunication, disputes, and inefficient decisions; as a result it promotes cooperative industrial relations and therefore increases productivity. The two types of investment reinforce each other; an increased investment in technical skills stimulates the investment in information reliability and vice versa. The cost of investing in technical skills is a function of the availability of formal education, preparing students for training by imparting positive attitudes toward learning and by teaching mathematics, sciences, and the native language. The cost of investing in information reliability reflects the influences of culture and tradition, as well as workers′ ability and willingness to function cooperatively as a group. I hypothesize that in Japan the investment costs have been lower, and the marginal cost curves more elastic, than those in the United States. As a result, and in response to economic growth during the past three decades, typical Japanese workers have increased their investment in employment relations and have enjoyed more flexibility in working conditions than typical U.S. workers. The model predicts that economic growth and technological progress may stimulate both types of investment. This prediction is noteworthy since Japan′s investments in employment relations became pronounced in the 1960s when its economy experienced rapid technological changes and an accelerated economic growth. J. Japan. Int. Econ., Mar 1995, 9 (1), pp. 75-95. Ohio State University, 410 Arps Hall, 1945 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43210
Associations among aspects of impulsivity and eating factors in a nonclinical sample

Objective Impulsivity has been well documented as a factor in the behavior of eating-disordered populations and is likely to influence normal eating patterns as well. The current study attempted to clarify the relationship between the three elements of impulsivity (nonplanning, attentional, and motor) and the three factors of eating (cognitive restraint, disinhibition, and hunger) in a nonclinical sample. Method Data were collected from a sample (N = 112) of volunteer participants from the community who answered two self-report instruments related to impulsivity (the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, Version 11) and eating (the Eating Inventory). Partial correlations were performed on the data to control for age, sex, and education. Cognitive restraint did not correlate with any element of impulsivity. Disinhibition was positively correlated with both attentional impulsivity (r = .40, p < .001) and motor impulsivity (r = .32, p < .01). Attentional impulsivity was also positively correlated with hunger (r = .24, p < .05). Discussion The lack of association between cognitive restraint and impulsivity suggests that they are functionally distinct. Disinhibition is most closely associated with impulsivity, consistent with findings from clinical samples. Further clarification of the relationship between impulsivity and eating in nonclinical populations could facilitate a better understanding of the relationship between personality variables and normal eating behavior. © 2004 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 36: 229–233, 2004.
Environmental impact analysis: Its relevance for the U.K.'s extractive industries

The paper gives the background to the current debate in the U.K. concerning the possible need to introduce a standardised and perhaps mandatory system of environmental impact analysis for developmental proposals. This is shown to be a subject of very considerable interest to those concerned with mineral extraction and its environmental effects. The paper considers some of those features of the extractive industries which are of particular importance when selecting an approach to environmental assessment. It discusses the appropriate content for such a study. Attention is given to the socio-economic factors which are almost inevitably associated with the extractive industries. The paper concludes with a plea for a more systematic assessment of the potential impact of both new and continued extraction of raw materials and fossil fuels and suggests that there should be more emphasis on environmental issues when national, regional and local policies and plans for the extractive industries are prepared.
THE STUDY HABITS AND ATTITUDES INVENTORY AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR STUDENTS' SUCCESS

The purpose of this study was to construct a psychometrically sound inventory that could predict college academic success from students' study habits and attitudes. Success was measured in terms of grade point average. A 37-item inventory was constructed and twice revised by removing ineffective items after being administered to samples of 128 and 56 students. The final 31-item inventory was both reliable and valid. Strong correlations were found between both goal-setting and self-concept and academic success. A curvilinear relationship was found between study time and academic success.
Effect of non-linear plasma protein binding on unbound and total plasma phenylbutazone concentrations in cows.

Boudinot, F.D., Williams, R.J. & Smith, J. A. Effect of non-linear plasma protein binding on unbound and total plasma phenylbutazone concentrations in cows. J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap. 13, 132–136. The influence of plasma protein binding on unbound and total phenylbutazone concentrations in cows was examined employing data from the literature. Protein binding parameters (number of binding sites and affinity constants) were generated by computer analysis to characterize the concentration-dependent plasma protein binding of phenylbutazone. Unbound plasma phenylbutazone concentrations were calculated from total plasma drug concentrations observed after administration of a single dose of phenylbutazone to cows. Pharmacokinetic parameters for unbound phenylbutazone were obtained. Parameters characterizing die plasma protein binding and pharmacokinetics of unbound phenylbutazone derived from single-dose administration were then used to predict unbound and total drug concentrations after multiple-dose administration of phenylbutazone. Total plasma phenylbutazone concentrations predicted from single-dose pharmacokinetic parameters agreed well with observed values following multiple-dose administration of the drug. Thus, the results of this analysis demonstrate that the non-linear pharmacokinetics of phenylbutazone in the cow can be attributed to the concentration-dependent plasma protein binding of the drug. F. Douglas Boudinot, Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
Effect of fusicoccin and gibberellic acid on primary dormant Avena fatua caryopses

Fusicoccin induced germination in dormant and partially afterripened dormant caryopses of Avena fatua L. The rate of caryopsis germination was slower and final percentage germination lower in the highly dormant inbred line M73 at a given concentration of fusicoccin than in the dormant caryopses of line AN265. Gibberellic acid was more effective than fusicoccin in breaking dormancy in both lines. Promotion of germination of dormant caryopses by fusicoccin was inhibited by a 6-day pretreatment with (2-chloroethyl)trimethylammonium chloride. The basal rate of proton efflux from embryos isolated from dormant and fully afterripened line AN265 caryopses was similar. Addition of fusicoccin increased the rate of proton efflux from the isolated embryos of dormant and afterripened caryopses by nearly 400%. Gibberellic acid had no effect on the rate of proton extrusion. The uptake of 86Rb+ in dormant and afterripened A. fatua embryos was similar after a 2 h uptake period. The addition of fusicoccin to the medium doubled the uptake of 86Rb4 by dormant and afterripened embryos. Gibberelleic acid had no effect on the uptake of 86Rb+ by isolated embryos from either dormant or afterripened caryopses. The experimental results indicate that gibberellic acid is more versatile in its action than fusicoccin, and gibberellic acid may facilitate dormant A. fatua caryopsis germination by stimulating mechanisms other than the direct H+ efflux and K+ uptake at the membrane level.
Utilization of an ensiled wet brewers' grains-corn mixture by growing lambs

Two studies were conducted to evaluate the performance of lambs fed on and the digestibility of an ensiled wet brewers' grains-ground corn mixture (WBG-C). The WBG-C diet was compared with a pelleted complete diet (PEL) containing corn, alfalfa meal, soya-bean meal and peanut hulls. Crossbred lambs (Suffolk, Hampshire and Dorset crosses) were used to evaluate performance differences between diets under typical feedlot conditions in the first study, while the second study (a metabolism trial) evaluated fiber digestion, rumen fermentation and nitrogen utilization. In Study 1, lambs fed WBG-C were more efficient in converting feed to gain than those fed PEL, gaining at a faster rate and consuming less dry matter per day (P < 0.01). The apparent digestibility of the fiber constituents of WBG-C was greater than that of PEL. Digestion percentages indicated that the digestibilities of the dry matter, acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber were greater (P < 0.01) for the WBG-C than for the PEL. There was no treatment difference in nitrogen (N) retention when expressed either as an absolute (g per day), a percent of N intake or as a percent of N absorbed; however, N absorption as well as N excretion was greater (P < 0.01) for lambs receiving the WBG-C diet. Blood urea N was highest (P < 0.01) for WBG-C-fed lambs. Rumen pH was also highest for WBG-C-fed lambs (P < 0.01), with no difference in rumen ammonia-N between treatments. Acetic, propionic, butyric and isovaleric acids were at higher concentrations (mM) (P < 0.05) in lambs fed PEL. No difference was observed between treatments for the acetic: propionic acid ratio.
Observations of Counter-Current Toroidal Rotation in Alcator C-Mod LHCD Plasmas

Following the application of lower hybrid current drive (LHCD) power, the core toroidal rotation in Alcator C-Mod L- and H-mode plasmas is found to increment in the counter-current direction, in conjunction with a decrease in the plasma internal inductance, li. Along with the drops in li and the core rotation velocity, there is peaking of the electron and impurity density profiles, as well as of the ion and electron temperature profiles. The mechanism generating the counter-current rotation is unknown, but it is consistent in sign with an inward shift of energetic electron orbits, giving rise to a negative core radial electric field. The peaking in the density, toroidal rotation (in the counter-current direction) and temperature profiles occurs over a time scale similar to the current relaxation time but slow compared with the energy and momentum confinement times. Most of these discharges exhibit sawtooth oscillations throughout, with the inversion radius shifting inward during the LHCD and profile evolution. The magnitudes of the changes in the internal inductance and the central rotation velocity are strongly correlated and found to increase with increasing LHCD power and decreasing electron density. The maximum effect is obtained with a waveguide phasing of 60° (a launched parallel index of refraction n|| ~ 1.5), with a significantly smaller magnitude at 120° (n|| ~ 3.1), and with no effect for negative or heating (180°) phasing. Regardless of the plasma parameters and launched n|| of the waves, there is a strong correlation between the rotation velocity and li changes, possibly providing a clue for the underlying mechanism.
Application of reductive, single electron transfer processes to the generation and cyclization of ω-unsaturated α-amino radicals

Abstract Subjection of ω-unsaturated iminium salts 1 to dissolving metal reduction with samarium diiodide in the presence of camphorsulfonic acid afforded the corresponding α-amino radicals 2 , which underwent facile cyclization via a 5 - exo mode of closure leading to heterocyclic products of the general type 4 .