cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sensitive Task Assignments in Crowdsourcing Markets with Colluding Workers

Crowdsourcing has raised several security concerns. One of the concerns is how to assign sensitive tasks in the crowdsourcing market, especially when there are colluding participants in crowdsourcing. In this paper, we consider adversarial colluding participants who intend to extract sensitive data by exchanging information. We design a 3-step sensitive task assignment method: (1) the collusion estimation step that quantifies the workers' pairwise collusion probability by estimating answer truth based on their responses; (2) the worker selection step that executes a heuristic sampling-based approach to select the fewest workers whose collusion probability satisfies the given security requirement; and (3) the task partitioning step that splits the sensitive information among the selected workers. We perform an extensive set of experiments on both real-world and synthetic datasets. The results demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of our method.
A Two-Dimensional Associative Processor

Computing based on traditional approaches has hit its limits in terms of scalability and power consumption. For this reason, new computing paradigms have started to emerge that aim to perform operations directly in-memory to eliminate data movement costs. Even though traditional in-memory processor architectures together with emerging semiconductor technologies show promise for improving the efficiency of parallel computing, they lack some vital requirements such as flexibility and sequential execution. In this paper, a novel 2-D in-memory computing architecture is proposed. The proposed associative processing architecture is implemented by both CMOS/static random-access memory and ReRAM technologies and employed as an accelerator. As proven by circuit simulations and comparisons on a variety of benchmarks from different domains, the proposed architecture facilitates very efficient in-memory parallel computing together with a high degree of flexibility that results in faster running time in fundamental benchmarks.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Perspectives of a Group of Educators in Northwest Florida

Educators in two school districts were surveyed on their knowledge, attitudes, and perceived competence in educating students with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Data from 114 surveys were analyzed using quantitative and qualitative methods. Spearman rank order correlation coefficients revealed statistically significant positive correlations between attitude and knowledge, perceived competence and knowledge, and perceived competence and attitude. Friedman's ANOVA indicated differences between teaching experience and attitude, a relationship between knowledge and type of teacher training, and differences in perceived competence by teacher location and grade level of teaching. Qualitative results revealed themes of knowledge and empathy in response to questions regarding support and strengths in educating students with FAS. Recommendations for educators in northwest Florida were discussed as well as implications of the research for education.
Advances in phosphonium-based ionic liquids and poly(ionic liquid)s as conductive materials

Abstract Ionic liquids (ILs) and poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) are attracting significant research interest as safe and efficient electrolytes. Most research efforts focus on nitrogen based ILs and PILs (ammonium, imidazolium, pyridinium, etc.), while phosphorus based ILs and PILs have received relatively less attention despite exhibiting comparable ion conductivity over their nitrogen-based counterparts. In this review, we provide an overview of the structural elements in phosphorus based ILs and PILs that influence ion conductivity, such as ion size, ion polarizability, counterion selection, and backbone flexibility. We also highlight dominant physical parameters dictating ion conductivity including viscosity and glass transition temperature. A fundamental understanding of this structure-ion conductivity relationship will benefit the future rational design of phosphorus based ILs and PILs as electrolytes.
Understanding Perceptual and Conceptual Fluency at a Large Scale

We create a dataset of 543,758 logo designs spanning 39 industrial categories and 216 countries. We experiment and compare how different deep convolutional neural network (hereafter, DCNN) architectures, pretraining protocols, and weight initializations perform in predicting design memorability and likability. We propose and provide estimation methods based on training DCNNs to extract and evaluate two independent constructs for designs: perceptual distinctiveness (“perceptual fluency” metrics) and ambiguity in meaning (“conceptual fluency” metrics) of each logo. We provide evidences of causal inference that both constructs significantly affect memory for a logo design, consistent with cognitive elaboration theory. The effect on liking, however, is interactive, consistent with processing fluency (e.g., Lee and Labroo (2004), and Landwehr et al. (2011)).
Are yield-curve/monetary cycles’ approaches enough to predict recessions?

This paper proposes a new framework that identifies a threshold between the fed funds rate and the 10-year Treasury yield and, when the threshold is breached, the risk of a recession in the near future is significant. Our framework predicted several recessions before the yield curve inversion point/monetary cycles’ approaches. In addition, our framework accurately forecasted peaks in the S&P 500 index.
Depressive symptoms in parents of adolescents with myelomeningocele: the association of clinical, adolescent neuropsychological functioning, and family protective factors.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to determine if neuropsychological functioning and family protective factors are related to depressive symptoms in parents of adolescents with myelomeningocele (MMC). Methods Fifty adolescents (28 females, 22 males; predominately Caucasian; ages 12-21 years, M=15.7, SD=2.4) and their parents from a large Midwestern MMC Program participated in a cross-sectional descriptive mixed-methods study. Participants completed measures of adolescent clinical status (WeeFIM®, Demographic and Clinical Information Form), neuropsychological (NP) functioning, family protective factors and parents' depressive symptoms. Results Parents' depressive symptoms correlated significantly with NP functioning in the domains of Mental Processing Speed, Psychomotor Speed, Executive Functioning, Fine Motor Skills, and Language, and with each self-reported family protective factor. Multiple regression analysis revealed independent main effects for the NP variable, Executive Functioning and the Family Protective Factors Composite (p 0.10). Conclusion Clinicians are especially encouraged to include assessment of parental depressive symptoms if the adolescent has executive functioning impairments or if the parents have few family protective factors.
Statistical Study on Multispacecraft Widespread Solar Energetic Particle Events During Solar Cycle 24

We conduct a statistical study on the large three-spacecraft widespread solar energetic particle (SEP) events. Longitudinal distributions of the peak intensities, onset delays, and relation between the SEP intensity, coronal mass ejection (CME) shock speed, width, and the kinetic energy of the CME have been investigated. We apply a Gaussian fit to obtain the SEP intensity Io and distribution width and a forward-modeling fit to determine the true shock speed and true CME width. We found a good correction between and connection angel to the flare site and Io and the kinetic energy of the CME. By including the true chock speed and true CME widths, we reduce root-mean-square errors on the predicted SEP intensity by ~41% for protons compared to Richards et al.'s (2014, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11207-014-0524-8) prediction. The improved correction between the CME kinetic energy and SEP intensity provides strong evidence for the CME-shock acceleration theory of SEPs. In addition, we found that electron and proton release time delays (DTs) relative to Type II radio bursts increase with connection angles. The average electron (proton) DT is ~14 (32) min for strongly anisotropic events and ~2.5 (4.4) hr for weakly anisotropic events. Poor magnetic connectivity and large scattering effects are two main reasons to cause large delays.
Characteristics of diabetes diagnosis and control in toddlers and preschoolers from families with limited resources: A single center experience

Abstract Aim To describe the characteristics of diabetes diagnosis, insulin therapy regarding type, dose and frequency also the degree of glycemic control achieved in toddlers and preschoolers coming from families with limited resources. Methods Over one year, 69 toddlers and preschoolers clinically diagnosed as type 1 diabetes were included. Data related to presentation at diagnosis, insulin therapy and glycemic control was reviewed from patients' care givers and medical records. Results Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) was recorded in 71% of the children at initial diagnosis. The mean time since diabetes diagnosis was 2 ± 1 years. Most of children (65/69, 94%) were on basal-bolus regimen while four (6%) were on basal insulin only. NPH and long acting analogues were used as basal insulin in (74%) and (26%). Regular insulin and rapid acting analogues were used as bolus insulin (27%) and (73%).The mean frequency of daily self monitoring of blood glucose was (2.9 ± 1). The arithmetic mean of HbA1c done over past 6 months to one year before inclusion in the study was 8.2 ± 1.5% (66 ± 12 mmol/mol) with 65% having HbA1c ≥ 7.5% (≥58 mmol/mol). Conclusion Toddlers and preschoolers with diabetes coming from families with limited resources frequently present with DKA at diagnosis and have suboptimal self-monitoring of blood glucose and glycemic control. NPH is more commonly used in this age group, combined with postprandial rapid analogues and less commonly preprandial regular insulin and that yields more favorable HbA1c but with a greater risk of hypoglycemia. The most common cause of hospital readmission was ketoacidosis and uncontrolled hyperglycemia.
Parity between prescription and visitation rates in healthcare

In the refinement of healthcare practices, interrelated visitation and excessive medications rates are vital. This article extracts pertinent data evidence in a novel manner using a new bivariate probability model and probes their balancing nature. For this purpose, we introduce a parameter,$$0 < \xi < 1$$ and investigate its role. All expressions in our new methodology are explained with big healthcare data. Some comments are made for future work to refine more healthcare practices.
The BH3 mimetic ABT-737 potentiates TRAIL-mediated apoptosis by releasing Bim and Bak proteins in human pancreatic cancer cells

2389 Background. TRAIL has been shown to induce mitochondrial apoptotic signaling that can be negatively regulated by pro-survival Bcl-2 proteins. ABT-737 is a small molecule BH3 mimetic that binds to and antagonizes Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, but not Mcl-1. Materials and Methods. Human pancreatic cancer cell lines (PANC-1, BxPC-3) were incubated with ABT-737 (Abbott) and/or TRAIL and cell viability or DNA fragmentation was measured by the MTS assay (48 h) or Cell Death Detection ELISA kit (4 h), respectively. Caspase activation and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage were determined by Western blotting. In ABT-737-treated cells, immunoprecipitation of Bak or Bim proteins was performed, and Bcl-xL, Bcl-2 or Mcl-1 were probed by Western blotting. Bax activation was determined by a conformation-specific antibody. Results. ABT-737 (10, 20 µM) monotherapy was shown to reduce cell viability. Co-administration of ABT-737 (0-20 µM) and TRAIL (0-10 ng/ml) was found to significantly potentiate a TRAIL-mediated reduction in cell viability and an induction of apoptosis (shown by a DNA fragmentation assay), in BxPC-3 and PANC-1 cell lines. ABT-737 enhanced TRAIL-induced activation of caspase-8, Bid, and downstream caspase-3 and PARP cleavage. ABT-737 enhanced a Bax conformational change induced by TRAIL. Furthermore, ABT-737 released Bak from its sequestration by Bcl-xL in both cell lines. ABT-737 also displaced the pro-apoptotic BH3-only protein Bim from its sequestration by Bcl-xL or Bcl-2. Bim shRNA was shown to attenuate caspase-3 cleavage and to reduce the cytotoxic effects of ABT-737 plus TRAIL, compared to shRNA control cells. Finally, Mcl-1 shRNA potentiated caspase-3 cleavage by ABT-737 and enhanced its cytotoxic effects. Conclusion. ABT-737 can potentiate TRAIL-mediated apoptosis by displacing Bim and Bak from Bcl-xL and/or Bcl-2, and can enhance Bax activation by TRAIL. These findings suggest a novel strategy to enhance cross-talk between the extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways to improve therapeutic efficacy against pancreatic cancer.
Hedging, Hedge Accounting, and Earnings Predictability

Studies suggest that, pursuant to the implementation of SFAS 133, even sophisticated users of financial statements find it difficult to comprehend earnings implications of hedging derivatives. Moreover, due to stringent hedge accounting requirements under these standards, many economic hedges do not qualify for hedge accounting and are deemed “ineffective” for financial reporting purposes. Motivated by these considerations, we investigate the impact of hedging on earnings predictability by analyzing hand-collected hedging data from two industries that extensively use derivatives to manage price risks: the oil-and-gas exploration and production industry and the airline industry. In contrast to extant evidence, we find that overall hedging derivatives improve income predictability and increase (decrease) analysts’ forecast accuracy (dispersion). We also show hedges deemed ineffective for hedge accounting can increase earnings volatility and significantly impair earnings predictability. This finding lends support to concerns expressed by some corporate managers and industry experts against stringent hedge accounting requirements.
Parallel modular multiplication using 512-bit advanced vector instructions: RSA fault-injection countermeasure via interleaved parallel multiplication

Applications such as public-key cryptography are critically reliant on the speed of modular multiplication for their performance. This paper introduces a new block-based variant of Montgomery multiplication, the Block Product Scanning (BPS) method, which is particularly efficient using new 512-bit advanced vector instructions (AVX-512) on modern Intel processor families. Our parallel-multiplication approach also allows for squaring and sub-quadratic Karatsuba enhancements. We demonstrate $$1.9\,\times $$ improvement in decryption throughput in comparison with OpenSSL and $$1.5\,\times $$ improvement in modular exponentiation throughput compared to GMP-6.1.2 on an Intel Xeon CPU. In addition, we show $$1.4\,\times $$ improvement in decryption throughput in comparison with state-of-the-art vector implementations on many-core Knights Landing Xeon Phi hardware. Finally, we show how interleaving Chinese remainder theorem-based RSA calculations within our parallel BPS technique halves decryption latency while providing protection against fault-injection attacks.
Gacha Game: When Prospect Theory Meets Optimal Pricing

This paper considers the design problem of selling a unit good to a prospect theory buyer, with non-negative constraints on the realized price. When the value is private and the reservation value is 0, it is optimal for the seller to use a post binary random price mechanism, where he charges a large price that may exceed the buyer's actual value and gives a full refund with some probability. When the reservation value is positive, the seller may provide infinite menus to different types of buyers. Each menu consists of a binary random price and a (potentially) interior probability of getting the good. If the buyer is naive about her dynamic inconsistent preference caused by probability weighting, the seller can potentially gain more profit from a dynamic pricing process. When the buyer's value is public, the generically unique optimal dynamic pricing strategy is to sell a ``lucky chest'' that delivers the good with some constant probability in each period. Until she finally gets the good, the buyer always naively believes she will try her luck just one last time.
Training for Emergency Psychiatry: An analysis of Five Years’ Experience

The authors reappraise the current literature on emergency psychiatry reviewing those concepts pertinent to resident education. Twenty-four psychiatric residents responded to a 20 item questionnaire surveying their attitudes about the training program’s full-time emergency psychiatry rotation. The majority of residents displayed a good understanding of the major principles of emergency psychiatry and indicated that the experience was rewarding. The results of the survey suggest that supervision is particularly necessary in teaching residents about the management of difficult cases, involvement with interdisciplinary consultation and assessment of dispositional resources.
Consideration of an upper-bound continuous maximum drinks measure for adolescent binge and high-intensity drinking prevalence.

Background The degree to which binge and high-intensity drinking prevalence estimates vary from fixed threshold frequency and continuous maximum drinks measures is unknown. The current study compared prevalence estimates for adolescent binge and high-intensity drinking (5+ drinks, 10+ drinks, respectively) and sex-specific thresholds using fixed threshold frequency and continuous maximum drinks measures. Methods Data were obtained from 7911 respondents participating in the 2018 and 2019 nationally representative Monitoring the Future 12th-grade surveys. Comparisons of frequency prevalence (e.g., any occasions of 5+ drinking using the frequency measure) versus maximum drinks prevalence (e.g., reporting 5 or more drinks using the maximum number of drinks measure) were made using all respondents and then separately within males and females. Results Among the sample overall and within sex, binge drinking estimates from the 5+ frequency prevalence and 5+ maximum drinks prevalence measures evidenced overlapping confidence intervals (estimates were slightly higher for frequency prevalence); similar results were observed for high-intensity drinking 10+ frequency prevalence and 10+ maximum drinks prevalence. For example, among the sample overall, 5+ frequency prevalence was 11.4% [95% CI 10.3, 12.6]; 5+ maximum drinks prevalence was 10.7% [9.6, 11.8]; 10+ frequency prevalence was 5.1% [4.4, 5.8]; and 10+ maximum drinks prevalence was 4.1% [3.5, 4.7]. Using sex-specific thresholds (i.e., 4+ drinks for females and 5+ drinks for males), binge frequency and maximum drinks levels also had overlapping confidence intervals. Binge drinking prevalence estimates for females were approximately 1.5 times higher using sex-specific (4+) versus universal (5+) thresholds. Conclusions In this nationally representative sample of 12th-grade students, prevalence levels for 5+ and 10+ drinking did not differ significantly when using frequency versus maximum drinks measures. Among females, binge drinking prevalence was higher using sex-specific versus universal thresholds. Both the frequency and maximum drinks measures provided comparable estimates of binge and high-intensity drinking prevalence among older adolescents.
A Step-Down Lenth Method for Analyzing Unreplicated Factorial Designs

Industrial experiments frequently use unreplicated factorial designs, and one method of identifying effects from these experiments is the half-normal plot. One testing method that overcomes the subjectivity of using this graphical method is the Lenth me..
Is the Drug-Responsive NADH Oxidase of the Cancer Cell Plasma Membrane a Molecular Target for Adriamycin?

Enhanced growth inhibition and antitumor responses to adriamycin have been observed repeatedly from several laboratories using impermeant forms of adriamycin where entry into the cell was greatly reduced or prevented. Our laboratory has described an NADH oxidase activity at the external surface of plasma membrane vesicles from tumor cells where inhibition by an antitumor sulfonylurea, N-(4-methylphenylsulfonyl)-N′-(4-chlorophenyl)urea (LY181984), and by the vanilloid, capsaicin (8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-noneamide) correlated with inhibition of growth. Here we report that the oxidation of NADH by isolated plasma membrane vesicles was inhibited, as well, by adriamycin. An external site of inhibition was indicated from studies where impermeant adriamycin conjugates were used. The EC50 for inhibition of the oxidase of rat hepatoma plasma membranes by adriamycin was several orders of magnitude less than that for rat liver. Adriamycin cross-linked to diferric transferrin and other impermeant supports also was effective in inhibition of NADH oxidation by isolated plasma membrane vesicles and in inhibition of growth of cultured cells. The findings suggest the NADH oxidase of the plasma membrane as a growth-related adriamycin target at the surface of cancer cells responsive to adriamycin. Whereas DNA intercalation remains clearly one of the principal bases for the cytotoxic action of free adriamycin, this second site, possibly related to a more specific antitumor action, may be helpful in understanding the enhanced efficacy reported previously for immobilized adriamycin forms compared to free adriamycin.
FURTHER STUDIES WITH A HYDROGEN ENGINE

This paper describes the performance and emissions of a hydrogen-fueled, spark-ignited engine. An electronic control device, designed to provide the engine with a timed injection of the fuel, is shown to give high mean effective pressures and high efficiencies. The paper describes an experiment with traces of hydrocarbons added to the hydrogen in an attempt to explain any additional phenomena that may be taking place during the combustion, such as "prompt NO" which is known to occur in hydrocarbon flames only. As it turns out, such additions have a negligible effect on the NOX formation in the region investigated. The extended Zeldovich mechanism is believed to adequately characterize nitric oxide formation in engine combustion processes in the case of hydrogen as well as hydrocarbons in the lean region. The region investigated in this work may well prove to be the most important one in the combustion of H2-air mixtures. For stationary power plants or ground transport, lean operation would provide good fuel economy and low nitric oxide emissions, and is therefore likely to be adopted if the safety aspects of hydrogen are resolved.
Gastrin release in postoperative ulcer patients: evidence for release of duodenal gastrin.

Fasting and postprandial serum gastrin concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay in 9 nonulcer control subjects, 8 subjects with active duodenal ulcer disease, and in 25 subjects who had undergone operations for peptic ulcer disease. The operated patients included 8 with vagotomy, partial gastrectomy, and gastroduodenal anastomosis (Billroth I); 8 with vagotomy, partial gastrectomy, and gastrojejunal anastomosis (Billroth II); and 9 with vagotomy and pyloroplasty. Billroth I subjects had fasting and postprandial serum gastrin concentrations similar to those found in nonulcer and un operated duodenal ulcer subjects. In contrast, Billroth II subjects had basal and postprandial values significantly lower than in any other group tested. Patients with vagotomy and pyloroplasty had significantly higher basal and postprandial gastrin concentrations than any other group. These studies indicate that food entering the duodenum is capable of stimulating gastrin release after the gastric antrum has been resected. Food passing from the stomach directly into the jejunum, after similar gastric resection, results in minimal stimulation of gastrin release. The decrease in gastric acidity which results from vagotomy is not due to decreased gastrin release. Instead, vagotomy in man increases basal and postprandial serum gastrin concentrations.
Structure of a complex between yeast hexokinase A and glucose: II. Detailed comparisons of conformation and active site configuration with the native hexokinase B monomer and dimer

Detailed comparison of the refined crystal structures of the hexokinase A: glucose complex (HKA · G) and native hexokinase B shows that, in addition to the 12 ° rotation of one lobe of the enzyme relative to the other as described previously (Bennett & Steitz, 1978) there are small systematic differences in the conformation of the polypeptide backbones of the two structures adjacent to the glucose binding site and crystal packing contacts. In the HKA · G complex, the cleft between the two lobes of the hexokinase molecule is narrowed, substantially reducing the accessibility of the active site to solvent. The HKA · G structure suggests specific contacts with a bound glucose molecule that cannot form in the more open native structure. The closed conformation of the HKA · G complex can be formed by either subunit in the heterologous dimer configuration of hexokinase B (Anderson et al. 1974); new or different interactions between subunits, or with ligands bound to the intersubunit ATP site, may be made when the upper subunit of the dimer is in the closed conformation and may contribute to the cooperative interactions observed in the crystalline dimer and in solution.
Effects of Alloying with Nb, Re, and Al on Yield Strength of MOSi2

The effects of alloying MoSi 2 with Re, Al, Nb, and their combinations within the solubility limit in C11 b structure on the yield strength were investigated from room temperature to 1600°C. The yield stress behavior shows three distinct regions, solid solution softening, constant yield stress, and solid solution hardening with increasing temperature Solid solution softening was observed below 600°C due to alloying with Al and Nb, constant yield stress with varying temperature and alloying elements occurred at 600-800°C, and anomalously rapid solid solution hardening at 800°C was observed by alloying with Nb and Re. The results are explained by observations on the operative slip systems and their effects on the yield stress.
Spontaneous Ruptured Uterus in an Adolescent With Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Endometrial Hyperplasia

Uterine diverticula and rudimentary horns are rare forms of uterine anomalies that occur during embryogenesis. They can communicate with the endometrial cavity and may have the potential to develop pathology. This case report presents an obese, anovulatory adolescent with polycystic ovarian syndrome who was admitted with acute abdominal pain and found to have radiological findings that were concerning for a ruptured mass contiguous with the uterine cavity, which was likely a uterine horn or diverticulum. Further evaluation revealed simple hyperplasia without atypia on endometrial sampling, supporting the surgical resection and subsequent medical management of this young patient.
Calciphylaxis and the persistence of medical misinformation in the era of Google.

Objectives We illustrate the important and troubling issue of persistent misinformation and false claims in the medical literature using a frequently cited case inaccurately believed by many to be the first case of calciphylaxis. Methods We identified a recurring error in the medical literature in the form of numerous citations of a study from the 1890s of a 6-month-old child with idiopathic infantile arterial calcification that is purported to be the first description of a case of calciphylaxis. We performed searches to determine the frequency of this error. Google Scholar and PubMed were searched for references citing the Bryant and White article. Accuracy of the citations was determined. Results A Google Scholar search identified 33 references that incorrectly cite the Bryant and White article as the first description of a case of calciphylaxis. Of the 100 most recent PubMed publications on calciphylaxis, we identified five studies that incorrectly attribute the Bryant and White article as the first description of calciphylaxis, which accounts for approximately 5% of the contemporary literature on this topic. Conclusions Medical misinformation such as this is frequently perpetuated. We propose that computational resources could be better used to flag erroneous and contradicted claims to update and correct the literature.
The Abandoned Promise of Civil Rights

© 2015 Eastern Sociological Society. Fifty years after the civil rights movement, ethnic and racial disparities persist and have even widened across a number of socioeconomic indicators. When compared against whites, nonwhites today fare about the same or worse than their counterparts of the past in educational and occupational attainment, income and earnings, wealth, unemployment and underemployment. How can we understand the failure of racial and ethnic minority groups to attain socioeconomic parity with non-Hispanic whites following one of the most progressive eras of American race relations? Contemporary economic and political approaches are often considered separately and offer different explanations. What they share in common, however, is a tendency to downplay the salience of race as a significant factor that conditions the life chances of nonwhites in the post-civil rights era. This article introduces a critical race perspective to redirect this conversation. This approach starts from the premise that the social structure of the United States is highly stratified by race, which conditions racially unequal outcomes. In the post-civil rights era, color-blind racism is the hegemonic ideology, discourse, and practice, which justifies persistent racial inequality. The development of a color-blind ideology reflects this historical moment and the larger political and economic context; thus, its development is consistent with the political shift toward neoconservatism and the economic transition to neoliberalism. Taken together, these social forces foster the reproduction of a racialized social system characterized by persistent racial inequality that is observed in the post-civil rights era.
Disruption of CENP antigen function perturbs dynein anchoring to the mitotic kinetochore

Injection of purified autoantibodies against human centromeric proteins into HeLa cells during interphase disrupts the organization of the kinetochore and interferes with chromosomal movements during the subsequent mitosis even though the chromosomes retain the ability to bind microtubules. We have investigated the hypothesis that this phenotype arises from effects on cytoplasmic dynein, the microtubule motor protein. In previous experiments we found that introduction of anticentromere antibodies into cell nuclei during the G1- or S-phases causes a prometaphase-like arrest, while injections during G2-phase cause a metaphase arrest. We show here that, in both cases, the level of detectable cytoplasmic dynein at kinetochores is significantly decreased. In contrast, when injected cells were permitted to enter mitosis in the absence of microtubules (conditions where trilaminar kinetochores could be detected by electron microscopy), the intensity of dynein labeling on the kinetochores was identical to that seen in uninjected control cells exposed to colcemid. Therefore, the loss of dynein label on mitotic kinetochores was correlated both with the injection of anticentromere antibodies and with the presence of intact spindle microtubules. We suggest that the injection of anticentromere antibodies somehow weakens the association of dynein with the kinetochore, so that when microtubules are present, these motor molecules are pulled away from the kinetochores as they generate force. This model offers an explanation for the failure of chromosomes of injected cells to move normally in mitosis even though they have attached microtubules.
Identification and Clinical Significance of Helcococcus species, with Description of Helcococcus seattlensis sp. nov. from a Patient with Urosepsis

Helcococcus spp. are Gram-positive, catalase-negative, facultatively anaerobic cocci that are associated with wound and prosthetic joint infections as well bacteremia and empyema. Five Helcococcus spp. strains were isolated from our patient population, including 2 strains of Helcococcus kunzii from trauma-associated wounds, 2 Helcococcus sueciensis strains from blood and abscess, and a novel Helcococcus spp. strain from blood associated with urosepsis. Based on the phenotypic and phylogenetic evidence, we propose that the unknown bacterium be classified as Helcococcus seattlensis sp. nov. We found that all 5 tested Helcococcus strains grew as satellite colonies around Staphylococcus aureus and, interestingly, both H. kunzii strains were isolated together with S. aureus. In addition to 16S rRNA gene sequencing, conventional methods for leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) and pyrrolidonyl arylamidase (PYR) testing can be cost-effective and efficient for differentiation of Helcococcus spp. from Abiotrophia and Granulicatella species. Using nonstandard methods, we found that all tested Helcococcus spp. had high MICs of >4/76 μg/ml for trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, an antibiotic commonly used to treat urinary tract infections. High MICs for erythromycin, azithromycin, and clindamycin, and intermediate to high MICs for moxifloxacin, levofloxacin, and gentamicin were also observed among the Helcococcus strains.
Development of a radioimmunoassay for human macrophage colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1).

Abstract Purified human urinary CSF-1 was used for production of polyclonal CSF antibodies in rabbits. The purified CSF was iodinated by a modified chloramine-T technique with retention of biologic activity. Dilutions of anti-CSF were reacted with 15,000 cpm of 125I-CSF in EDTA-phosphate buffer for 48 hr. Sheep antirabbit serum was added for 3 hr to precipitate the tracer-anti-CSF complex. A 1:1000 dilution of anti-CSF caused 60-90% precipitation of tracer; optimal conditions were observed with a 1:30,000 dilution. Linear displacement curves were obtained with 2-50 U of pure CSF-1. Related hormones did not cross-react in the assay; no displacement was seen with human GM-CSF, IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, EP, LH or FSH. Reactivity was also not observed with murine GM-CSF or IL-3. Ten normal human sera yielded CSF values of 91-138 U/ml in 5 assays. Urine values were 72-105 U/ml. When 32 U of pure CSF-1 was added to normal serum and urine samples, quantitative recovery was observed. Serial assays revealed a rise in serum and urinary CSF during marrow aplasia in a patient undergoing autologous BMT; CSF values returned to normal during the recovery phase. This sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay should prove useful in the further study of CSF-1 responses in vivo.
Solution structure of human GAIP (Galpha interacting protein): a regulator of G protein signaling.

Abstract The solution structure of the human protein GAIP (Gα interacting protein), a regulator of G protein signaling, has been determined by NMR techniques. Dipolar couplings of the oriented protein in two different liquid crystal media have been used in the structure calculation. The solution structure of GAIP is compared to the crystal structure of an homologous protein from rat (RGS4) complexed to the α-subunit of a G protein. Some of RGS4 residues involved in the Gα-RGS binding interface have similar orientations in GAIP (free form), indicating that upon binding these residues do not suffer conformational rearrangements, and therefore, their role does not seem to be restricted to Gα interaction but also to RGS folding and stability. We suggest that other structural differences between the two proteins may be related to the process of binding as well as to a distinct efficiency in their respective GTPase activating function.
Lipid metabolism during oöcyte growth in the ovoviviparous cockroaches Eublaberus posticus and Nauphoeta cinerea

Abstract Lipid comprises nearly 30% of the fresh weight of newly oviposited oocytes of the cockroaches Eublaberus posticus and Nauphoeta cinerea. It is incorporated rapidly during the first 10 to 12 days of adult life, presumably deriving from fat body triglyceride (TGL) which is depleted at a similar rate. The most rapid stage of ovarian TGL uptake is preceded by a sharp increase in the rate of incorporation and a peak in the total amount of diglyceride (DGL) in the ovaries, indicating that yolk lipid has been sequestered from the DGL-carrying proteins of insect haemolymph.
Respiratory disease in pregnancy

Many physiological and anatomical changes of pregnancy affect the respiratory system. These changes often affect the presentation and management of the various respiratory illnesses in pregnancy. This article focuses on several important respiratory issues in pregnancy. The management of asthma, one of the most common chronic illnesses in pregnancy, remains largely unchanged compared to the nonpregnant state. Infectious respiratory illness, including pneumonia and tuberculosis, are similarly managed in pregnancy with antibiotics, although special attention may be needed for antibiotic choices with more pregnancy safety data. When mechanical ventilation is necessary, consideration should be given to the maternal hemodynamics of pregnancy and fetal oxygenation. Maintaining maternal oxygen saturation above 95% is recommended to sustain optimal fetal oxygenation. Cigarette smoking has known risks in pregnancy, and current practice guidelines recommend offering cognitive and pharmacologic interventions to pregnant women to assist in smoking cessation.
Classifying human motion quality for knee osteoarthritis using accelerometers

In this paper, we describe methods for assessment of exercise quality using body-worn tri-axial accelerometers. We assess exercise quality by building a classifier that labels incorrect exercises. The incorrect performances are divided into a number of classes of errors as defined by a physical therapist. We focus on exercises commonly prescribed for knee osteoarthritis: standing hamstring curl, reverse hip abduction, and lying straight leg raise. The methods presented here will form the basis for an at-home rehabilitation device that will recognize errors in patient exercise performance, provide appropriate feedback on the performance, and motivate the patient to continue the prescribed regimen.
Damage Resistance And Crystal Growth Of KDP

An investigation is reported of the dependence of laser-damage site density on fluence and on various parameters of crystal growth and post-growth treatment. Damage site density (number of defects per unit volume) was found to increase monotonically with fluence (for single 1-ns pulses of 1.06 μm laser light). Site density (at a fluence of 10 J/cm2) was influenced by solution flow rate, seed defect removal prior to growth, quaternary ammonium cations, and thermal cycling following growth. No dependence of damage susceptibility on growth rate was found over the range 3-30 mm/d. A model is presented which postulates the electrostatic adsorption cf organic material onto the growing crystal surface and subsequent inclusion into the crystal. According to the model, damage occurs by absorption of light by inclusions of solution-wetted organic debris, resulting in pressure increase and hydraulic fracture of the surrounding crystal.
Effects of chronic, low concentrations of dietary methylmercury on the behavior of juvenile great egrets

We measured the behavioral effects of methylmercury on 16 great egret chicks (Ardea albus) in a captive dosing experiment. Birds were randomly divided into a control group and groups that received 0.5 or 5 mg methylmercury chloride per kilogram of food at between 12 and 105 d of age. We recorded activity levels, maintenance behavior, and foraging efficiency and determined that mercury affected activity and maintenance behavior. Birds dosed with 5 mg/kg became severely ataxic and were euthanized by 12 weeks of age. We found that, during the postfledging period, there were no differences between low-dose and placebo birds in time required to capture live fish in pools or in efficiency of capture. We did find that low-dose birds were less likely to hunt fish. Our results suggest that, at the 0.5 mg/kg concentration in food, there are significant effects of methylmercury on activity, tendency to seek shade, and motivation to hunt prey.
Phase Ii Trial of Isotretinoin and Recombinant Interferon Alfa-2a in Metastatic Colorectal Carcinoma

Phase II trials of the novel biologic combination isotretinoin (13-cis-retinoic aid) plus recombinant interferon alfa-2a have demonstrated this combination's major activity against advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the skin and cervix. Because this combination has had limited study in other tumors, we initiated a phase II trial of this regimen in patients with metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma. Sixteen patients with measurable metastatic colon carcinoma who had received no previous chemotherapy were entered on the trial. Patients received recombinant interferon alfa-2a, 6 million units a day subcutaneously, and isotretinoin, 1 mg/kg per day orally in two divided doses. Patients were evaluated for response after 8 weeks of treatment and then continued on therapy until progressive disease was documented. We did not observe complete or partial responses. Two patients experienced minor responses in measurable pulmonary metastases lasting 12 and 8 weeks. Grade 3-4 toxic reactions included fatigue (5 patients), granulocytopenia (6 patients), neurotoxicity (2 patients), and elevated serum triglyceride levels (2 patients). Although this combination has demonstrated significant activity in squamous cell carcinomas of the skin and cervix, our results suggest that it has little therapeutic activity against advanced colorectal adenocarcinomas.
SEEPAGE EFFECTS IN SOME RIPRAP REVETMENTS

Seepage can be an important cause of failure in riprap revetments, especially on streambanks consisting of layered alluvium, and on stage-controlled rivers. Revetments can be protected against seepage by filters designed according to widely accepted principles. Nevertheless, numerous widespread failures caused by emergent seepage have been observed in riprap revetments. The factors that most significantly affected the apparent severity and extent of seepage effects on revetments were alluvial layers of protected soil in which gradations varied from layer to layer and the persistence of a source of seepage water. Design and construction of these failed revetments did not prevent or accommodate the effects of seepage through the multilayered soils behind the revetments.
Surface morphology of the inner sulcus and related epithelial cells of the cochlea following acoustic trauma.

Abstract When the organ of Corti is severely traumatized by intense (160 dB) blast waves, such that as much as 7 mm of Corti's organ is torn loose from the basilar membrane, the cells of the inner sulcus respond to the altered biochemical milieu of the endolymph by a prolific elaboration of surface membrane, zeiosis and the development of numerous pseudopodia and microvilli. On the basis of our longitudinal study, this surface reaction appears to peak at approximately 10 days after trauma and may indicate that the inner sulcus cells are extremely active in the endocytosis of cellular debris. Signs of active changes on the surface of the inner sulcus cells occur immediately following trauma, and activity continues for as long as 30 days after exposure. The cells of Claudius, as well as other epithelial cells on the basilar membrane, are also capable of extreme membrane proliferation and mobility. Possible mechanisms for the unusual behavior and the role of the inner sulcus cells in the normal functioning cochlea are discussed. endocytosis, inner sulcus cell, Claudius cell, endolymphatic sac
Pickup Ions and Cosmic Rays from Dust in the Heliosphere

The combination of recent observational and theoretical work has completed the catalog of the sources of heliospheric Pickup Ions (PUIs). These PUIs are the seed population for Anomalous Cosmic Rays (ACRs), which are accelerated to high energies at or beyond the Termination Shock (TS). For elements with high First Ionization Potentials (high-FIP atoms: e.g., H, He, Ne, etc.), the dominant source of PUIs and ACRs is from neutral atoms that drift into the heliosphere from the Local Interstellar Medium (LISM) and, prior to ionization, are influenced primarily by solar gravitation and radiation pressure (for H). After ionization, these interstellar ions are pickup up by the solar wind, swept out, and are either accelerated near the TS or beyond it. Elements with low first ionization potentials (low-FIP atoms: e.g., C, Si, Mg, Fe, etc.) are also observed as PUIs by Ulysses and as ACRs by Wind and Voyager. But the low-FIP composition of this additional component reveals a very different origin. Low-FIP interstellar atoms are predominantly ionized in the LISM and therefore excluded from the heliosphere by the solar wind. Remarkably, a low-FIP component of PUIs was hypothesized by Banks (J. Geophys. Res. 76, 4341, 1971) over twenty years prior to its direct detection by Ulysses/SWICS (Geiss et al., J. Geophys. Res. 100(23), 373, 1995) The leading concept for the generation of Inner Source PUIs involves an effective recycling of solar wind on grains near the Sun, as originally suggested by Banks. Voyager and Wind also observe low-FIP ACRs, and a grain-related source appears likely and necessary. Two concepts have been proposed to explain these low-FIP ACRs: the first concept involves the acceleration of the Inner Source of PUIs, and the second involves a so-called Outer Source of PUIs generated from solar wind interaction with the large population of grains in the Kuiper Belt. We review here the observational and theoretical work over the last decade that shows how solar wind and heliospheric grains interact to produce pickup ions, and, in turn, anomalous cosmic rays. The inner and outer sources of pickup ions and anomalous cosmic rays exemplify dusty plasma interactions that are fundamental throughout the cosmos for the production of energetic particles and the formation of stellar systems.
Dimensional interpolation for nonlinear filters

Dimensional interpolation has been used successfully by physicists and chemists to solve the Schroedinger equation for atoms and complex molecules. The same basic idea can be used to solve the Fokker-Planck equation for nonlinear filters. In particular, it is well known (by physicists) that two Schroedinger equations are equivalent to two Fokker-Planck equations. Moreover, we can avoid the Schroedinger equation altogether and use dimensional interpolation directly on the Fokker-Planck equation. Dimensional interpolation sounds like a crazy idea, but it works. We will attempt to make this paper accessible to normal engineers who do not have quantum mechanics for breakfast.
A preliminary study of action potential propagation in paretic muscle of stroke survivors

Individual motor unit action potential (MUAP) propagation along the muscle fibers was assessed in paretic muscle of stroke survivors. Single motor unit activity was recorded from the biceps brachii muscle on the paretic side of stroke survivors using a surface electrode array. Among the 15 clearly identified low-threshold motor units, six units showed little delay between MUAPs on different electrodes aligned along muscle fibers, resulting in abnormally high values of calculated propagation velocities, while clear action potential delay was observed for the other motor units. Several factors that possibly lead to this observation are discussed.