cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Deweyan Democracy, Fugitive Capital and the Policy Formation Process

With more and more law being made by international organizations there is a gap between democratic control and economic impact.
Supporting Vulnerable Youths Through Community Collaboration.

The author discusses the nature of risk-taking among disadvantaged teenagers and community based programs to help them. She mentions the sense of community that needs to be present in these programs, the focus on relationships starting with one aspect of the teenager's need, and the importance of setting collective goals.
Cytological Responses of Oats to Virulent and Avirulent Isolates of Cochliobolus Victoriae

Cochliobolus victoriae (anamorph: Helminthosporium victoriae) causes Victoria blight of oats only on those cultivars derived from ‘Victoria’ oats and carrying the dominant Pc-2 allele for resistance to crown rust. This pathogen produces host selective toxins that reproduce all of the physiological symptoms of infection.
Local Delivery of Antirestenotic Drugs

In the past several years, percutaneous catheter-based techniques have been used with increasing frequency to relieve symptomatic narrowing of the coronary arteries.1,2Yet, despite advances in catheter technology and surgical technique, initial procedural success is still limited by acute thrombosis in 5% or clinical restenosis within six months in 30–50% of patients.3,4 In vitro and animal studies have identified agents which reduce cellular proliferation following vascular injury; but, applied to human subjects, no reduction in restenosis has been demonstrated. Inherent differences in cellular physiology, pharmacology of drug delivery, and systemic toxicity of medications may, in part, explain the discrepancy between “bench-top” and clinical outcomes. Research in the field of local drug delivery has yielded novel and promising strategies to combat restenosis.
Kant’s Theory of Criminal Punishment

Kant maintains that guilt is a necessary condition for the legitimate infliction of punishment. Punishment of the innocent is a conceptual and moral pathology. It is largely to avoid such punishment that Kant inveighs against private revenge, vigilante activities, war, and any other activity which allows a disputant to judge his own case and punish according to his own biased decision. Criminal punishment is coercive social power in its most brutal domestic form, and thus it is absolutely essential (in order to preserve freedom) that it be administered only under those procedures of due process found in a just Rule of Law. Such procedures, by securing fairness to the individual, interfere with the utilitarian goals of crime control and criminal rehabilitation. But this, Kant argues, is the price we must pay for liberty and justice.
Assessing Variability in Hospital-Level Mortality Among U.S. Medicare Beneficiaries With Hospitalizations for Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock*

Objectives:To assess the variability in short-term sepsis mortality by hospital among Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services beneficiaries in the United States during 2013–2014.Design:A retrospective cohort design.Setting:Hospitalizations from 3,068 acute care hospitals that participated in the
Antibiotic Stewardship and the Diagnosis of UTI in Children With Neurogenic Bladders.

It is with great interest that we read the article by Forster et al,1 entitled “Uropathogens and Pyuria in Children With Neurogenic Bladders.” Children with neurogenic bladders are at increased risk of urinary tract infection (UTI) secondary to a variety of factors, including altered immunity, poor bladder function, anatomic abnormalities, and clean intermittent catheterization (CIC). The diagnosis of UTI in children with neurogenic bladder is challenging because of bladder microbial colonization, altered sensation, concurrent bladder inflammation, and a failure of the medical community to accurately define UTI in this population.2 Therefore, we respectfully disagree with the conclusion that … E-mail: adestmaurice{at}mednet.ucla.edu
Frontiers in Placental Pathology

Placental pathology is an autopsy of the pregnancy and provides useful gross and histopathologic information to help explain why the pregnancy was complicated. Many of the authors of this book met in Amsterdam, The Netherlands in 2014, Portland, OR, USA in 2016, and again in Dublin, Ireland in 2018, to discuss diagnostic criteria and frontiers in placental pathology. Undoubtedly, there will be many other frontiers but a few that we discussed are briefly summarized in this chapter:
Barium Dierbium(III) Tetrasulfide.

Orange needles of BaEr2S4 are obtained during an investigation of the Ba/Er/U/S system by solid state reaction of a mixture of 238U, Er, BaS, and S in the ratio 1:1:3:3 (evacuated C-coated fused silica tube, 1273 K, 8 d, cooling rate 3 K/h) together with black crystals of Sb2S3 and US2.
The Impact of Auditors’ Use of Industry Norms on Management Evaluations of Audit Quality

Interactions between auditors and client management affect audit quality on an engagement because those interactions influence and incentivize auditor behavior and decision-making. I investigate whether an auditor’s use of professional judgment or industry norms to justify proposed adjustments increases client management’s evaluation of the quality of audit work. I find evidence that, although management views industry norms to be a more credible justification method, management disregards the justification method and evaluates audit quality based on underlying accounting attributes when their client reports under an accounting standard that is more precise (i.e., more rules-based). However, when an accounting standard is less precise (i.e., more principles-based), an auditor’s use of industry norms positively influences management perceptions of audit quality. Thus, when standards are less precise, auditors may be incentivized to engage in herding behavior by defaulting to the use of industry norms when determining appropriate accounting treatment for client transactions. This study makes important contributions toward a more complete understanding of the incentives and motivations faced by auditors relative to their interactions with client management and provides insights to regulators about the impact of the level of precision in accounting standards.
Supply Chain Management (Part 1 of 2): Fundamentals

This chapter presents the discipline of Supply Chain Management—both the functions of product moving in the proprietary supply chain from manufacturing to the consumer and also the science of supply chain management. This chapter will introduce the foundational concepts as well as general applications, review key issues such as globalization and an ever more digital supply chain (positives and negatives), and then the role in food fraud prevention.
Global Optimization on the Sphere with Half-space Constraints: A Stochastic Hybrid Systems Approach

This paper develops a stochastic, hybrid optimization algorithm for globally minimizing an arbitrary continuously differentiable (C1) function on the unit sphere intersected with an arbitrary half-space in ℝ3. Hysteresis switching between coordinate charts is used to enable the algorithm to fully explore the sphere by flowing. During flows, the optimization algorithm uses (projected) gradient descent when near the boundary of the half space. It may use an update rule inspired by accelerated gradient methods away from the boundary of the half space. It uses hysteresis switching between the two continuous-time update methods. Periodically, stochastic probing on the sphere is used to attempt to improve the value of the cost function. This stochastic step prevents the algorithm from getting stuck at singularities of the cost function’s gradient that do not correspond to global minima. A stability analysis of the algorithm is provided and the algorithm is demonstrated on a numerical example.
Relative mRNA and protein stability of epigenetic regulators in musculoskeletal cell culture models.

Abstract Control of gene expression by epigenetic regulators is fundamental to tissue development and homeostasis. Loss-of-function (LOF) studies using siRNAs for epigenetic regulators require that RNA interference rapidly reduces the cellular levels of the corresponding mRNAs and/or proteins. The most abundant chromatin structural proteins (i.e., the core histones H2A, H2B, H3 and H4) have relatively long half-lives and do not turn over rapidly, although their mRNAs are labile. The question arises whether epigenetic regulatory enzymes (e.g., Ezh2) or proteins that interact with histones via selective modifications (e.g., Cbx1 to Cbx8, Brd4) are stable or unstable. Therefore, we performed classical α-amanitin and cycloheximide inhibition assays that block, respectively, mRNA transcription and protein translation in mouse MC3T3 osteoblasts, ATDC5 chondrocytes and C2C12 myoblasts. We find that mRNA levels of Cbx proteins and Ezh2 were significantly depleted after 24 hrs, while their corresponding proteins remained relatively stable. As positive control, the half-life of the labile cyclin D1 protein was found to be less than 1 hr. Our study suggests that histone code readers and writers are relatively stable chromatin-related proteins, which is consistent with their long-term activities in maintaining chromatin organization and phenotype identity. These findings have conceptual ramifications for the interpretation of RNAi experiments that reduce the mRNA but not protein levels of epiregulatory proteins. We propose that siRNAs for at least some epigenetic regulatory proteins may exert their biological effects by blocking translation and new protein synthesis rather than by decreasing pre-existing protein pools.
Do Retail Traders Destabilize Financial Markets? An Investigation Surrounding the COVID-19 Pandemic

Economic theory suggests that speculative trading can lead to instability in financial markets. This study extends the literature and investigates the impact of retail (speculative) trading on the volatility of financial markets with a focus on the COVID-19 pandemic. Our tests are based on the data on marketable retail trades identified using the Boehmer et al. (2021) algorithm and supplemented with retail ownership data obtained from the discount brokerage Robinhood, a pioneer of commission free trading in the US. Using a series of novel econometric methods, we document a causal negative impact of speculative trading on the stability of the financial markets that is particularly enhanced during the pandemic. These results shed light on the enhanced role of retail traders as an additional destabilizing force during market stress conditions. To further validate our findings, we study the relation between retail trading activity and volatility surrounding the 2008-09 financial crisis. The results are consistent with the COVID-19 period as we find that retail traders indeed have an enhanced destabilizing role during market stress conditions.
Property Rights in Transition: Effect of Privatization on Farm Efficiency in Ukraine

In 1999 the Ukrainian government reorganized several thousand collective farms. The new arrangement of property rights created two main forms of farm organization. This paper studies the effect of privatization on a system of property rights and farm efficiency, using a rich and original set of data from Ukraine’s agricultural sector. I show that the A farms that resemble sole proprietorships achieve as much as 50 percent higher efficiency than the B farms which resemble employee-owned corporations. The privatization has profound effect on ownership arrangement and agricultural production in Ukraine.
Going it Alone: The Adverse Effect of Executive Term Limits on Bargaining:

It is widely accepted that executive term limits provide a check on executive power. I challenge this assumption by arguing that executive term limits pose an obstacle to inter-branch bargaining be...
The discouragement rate: an index of discouragement-induced hardship

In 1979, the Levitan Commission identified discouragement as one of three main sources of economic hardship, and recommended the development of an index to measure the extent of the problem. Over 4...
Originalism's False Promise (Reviewing Lee Strang's 'Originalism's Promise')

This Review Essay of Professor Lee Strang's Book "Originalism's Promise:A Natural Law Account of the American Constitution" suggests that although the book admirably tries to unify various strands of modern originalism, it fails to persuasively justify its religious-like devotion to originalism or its reverence for the Founding. Strang does not wrestle with slavery, sexism, or segregation nor does he explain how .the worlds of 1789 and 1868 can help today's judges who must apply imprecise text to modern problems. Like most originalists, almost all of Strang's theoretical constructs lead to conservative results that cannot be justified by reliance on the Constitution's original meaning nor does Strang follow through consistently on his formulations for how judges should deal with non-originalist precedent, which makes up the great body of constitutional law. The book is a classic example of originalism as faith.
The Role of The Physical and Social Environment for Physical Activity for College Students During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic created significant disruptions for college students, impacting health and physical activity (PA). Changes to the PA environment presented many challenges for students. Purpose: To examine the influence of the physical and social environment on PA participation for college students during the onset of COVID-19 restrictions. Methods: This cross-sectional, mixed methods survey used an online questionnaire during the onset of COVID-19 restrictions with a volunteer sample of college students at a large university in the United States. Participants self-reported their demographics, PA level and environment for PA, and responded to an open-ended question about their PA participation during the pandemic. Correlations and independent samples t -tests examined relationships between PA and the environment. Qualitative data were scanned to identify overarching themes. Results : Participants ( n = 395) were predominantly Non-Hispanic White and female. The neighborhood environment and access to PA equipment were associated with PA for both men and women. Major qualitative themes highlighted the role of the physical environment and PA. Participating in PA with friends and family was positively associated with PA for both men and women as well. Conclusions: This study provides insight on the importance of the social and built environment for encouraging and supporting PA among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic which may provide insight for distance education as higher education evolves.
Can enteral antibiotics be used to treat pneumonia in the surgical intensive care unit? A clinical outcomes and cost comparison.

Background: Controlling healthcare costs without compromising patient care is a focus given recent healthcare changes in the United States. The purpose of this study was to assess clinical improvement in surgical intensive care unit (SICU) patients initiated on or transitioned to enteral antibiotics compared to those who solely receive intravenous (IV) antibiotic therapy for treatment of bacterial pneumonia. Materials and Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients with a positive quantitative respiratory culture being treated for bacterial pneumonia in a SICU from 1/1/09 to 3/31/11. Two distinct patient groups were identified: Those treated with IV antibiotics exclusively (IV) and those either initiated on or transitioned to enteral antibiotics within 4 days of antibiotic initiation (PO). The primary endpoint of clinical improvement was assessed on day of antibiotic discontinuation. Results: A total of 647 patients were evaluated; 124 met inclusion criteria (30 patients PO group and 94 IV group). There was no difference in clinical improvement (86.7 PO vs 72.3% IV, P = 0.14) or recurrence (10 PO vs. 12.8% IV, P > 0.99) between groups. Secondary outcomes of duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU and hospital length of stay, and all-cause mortality were also similar. Antibiotic and infection-related costs were significantly decreased in the PO group ($1,042 vs $697, P = 0.04; $20,776 vs $17,381, P = 0.012, respectively). Conclusions: SICU patients initiated on or transitioned to PO antibiotics for pneumonia had similar clinical outcomes, but significantly less infection-related and antibiotic costs compared to those receiving IV therapy. Further, prospective studies are warranted.
Acquisition of Ice Thickness and Ice Surface Characteristics in the Seasonal Ice Zone by CULPIS-X During the US Coast Guard's Arctic Domain Awareness Program

Abstract : LONG-TERM GOALS: *Teaming with the SIZRS effort (J. Morrison, Univ. Washington; PI) to: --Investigate new technologies, e.g., sensors, platforms and communications, for sustained operation and observation in the challenging Arctic environment --Improve understanding of the physical environment and processes in the Arctic Ocean OBJECTIVES: *What is the volume of sea ice in the Beaufort Sea SIZ and how does this evolve during summer as the ice edge retreats? Recent observations suggest that the remaining ice in the Beaufort Sea is younger and thinner in recent years in part because even the oldest ice advected into the region does not survive the summer. *How does ice thickness relate to ice surface conditions, such as reflectance and ice surface temperature? During summer, melting ice is covered extensively by melt ponds, which exhibit a reflectance considerably lower than the surrounding ice. Recent analyses have indicated that ponds on thinner ice are often darker, accelerating the ice-albedo feedback over thin ice in summer. During winter, leads and very thin ice are centers for ocean-atmosphere heat flux, so their fractional coverage and contribution to the surface-to-atmosphere heat flux need to be quantified.
Quality of Life in Childhood Pantothenate kinase neurodegeneration treated with Deep Brain Stimulation (P6.249)

OBJECTIVE: Childhood quality of life may be measurably improved by deep brain stimulation in cases of pantothenate kinase associated neurodegeneration. BACKGROUND: Pantothenate kisnase associated neurodegeneration ( PKAN)is due to PANK 2 gene mutations. Brain magnetic imaging shows bilateral T2 hypointensity with a small central area of T2-hyperintensity demonstrating an " eye of the tiger" appearance. Increased brain iron accumulation has been medically approached with an attempt to chelate iron deposition with mild success. The dystonia and spasticity are life disabling features which impact care to the affected patients.DBS has been reported as a technique for treatment of PKAN since 2005.DESIGN/METHODS:An 8 year old child with severe dystonia, dysphagia, and spasticity with documented PANK 2 mutation treated previously with a trial of a chelating agent was considered for DBS after evaluation with both the Ashworth and Burke Fahn Marsden Scales. Bilateral GPi stimulation was placed with careful monitoring of both motoric features and subsequent quality of life. RESULTS: Post operative assessment revealed 40-50[percnt] improvement in dystonia, spasticity,rigidity, and dysphagia within one month of stimulation and subsequent programming.There was no morbidity .Quality of life based upon ability to render care to this markedly formerly disabled patient was assessed by caregivers based upon activities of daily living requiring dependent care.CONCLUSIONS:Childhood PKAN is a devastating illness. DBS has been identified as a potential aid in management.Plaacemnt of stimulation in GPi seems most favorable location.Quality of life is measurable along with functional outcome.This marker has not been emphasized as an outcome measure previously in childhood PKAN.Study Supported by:N/A Disclosure: Dr. Lavenstein has nothing to disclose. Dr. Oluigbo has nothing to disclose.
Work and Career Experiences of Men from Families without College Experience

A dearth of research exists exploring the career and work development of adult men and the influence of family-of-origin on that development. In this qualitative study, the researchers used a phenomenological approach to examine the career and work experiences of men whose parents have no education beyond high school and the influences of family on these experiences. We describe five constituents: (a) what work is like; (b) preparation/education; (c) who or what influenced them; (d) how to act at work; and (e)challenges/opportunities/choices; and one essence: mottos from father, which articulate the meaning of the experience of work and career and the family influence on the experience. In conclusion, we provide implications for counselors working with adult men whose parents lack post-secondary education. Keywords: first-generation, work, career, family influence, men
Splanchnic‐cerebral oxygenation ratio as a marker of preterm infant blood transfusion needs

BACKGROUND: Premature neonates often receive red blood cell (RBC) transfusions to improve tissue perfusion and oxygen delivery. Clinical and laboratory indicators used to guide transfusion therapy are inadequate to determine physiologic need with high predictability and transfusions frequently do not result in clinical improvement. The splanchnic-cerebral oxygenation ratio (SCOR) provides insight into overall tissue oxygen sufficiency and can be determined using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Our aim was to assess the usefulness of SCOR as a marker for transfusion need in preterm infants. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This study was a prospective observational pilot study utilizing NIRS to analyze the SCOR in symptomatic anemic premature neonates receiving RBC transfusions and nontransfused asymptomatic premature neonates with similarly low hemoglobin (Hb) levels. Subject clinical status was determined based on frequency of apnea, bradycardia, pulse-oximetry desaturation events, heart rate, respiratory support, and feeding tolerance. We then assessed for any difference between baseline (pretransfusion) SCOR of 1) symptomatic subjects who improved after transfusion, 2) symptomatic subjects who did not improve, and 3) asymptomatic subjects. RESULTS: The study included 52 subjects (34 transfused, 18 asymptomatic): mean birth weight was 1164 g, mean gestational age was 28.6 weeks, and mean Hb level was 9.0 g/dL. Of 34 transfused subjects, 19 improved (56%). Mean baseline SCOR values were lower in neonates who improved with transfusion, 0.61 ± 0.22, when compared to those without improvement, 0.75 ± 0.17, and asymptomatic neonates, 0.77 ± 0.16 (p = 0.03). Infants with a low baseline SCOR (≤0.73) were more likely to improve after transfusion (likelihood ratio, 2.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-6.7). CONCLUSION: SCOR may help identify premature infants who will benefit from RBC transfusion.
Building Communities for All Ages: Lessons Learned from an Intergenerational Community‐building Initiative

The outcomes of the Communities for All Ages initiative suggest that a lifespan approach to community building helps foster social capital across diverse populations and increase public will among younger generations to address ageing issues. This is crucial as global ageing and immigration trends impact age relations and resource distribution. Although demographic changes create many opportunities for connection and collaboration, decisions about public investments, land use planning and service delivery are becoming increasingly complex. To build support for older adults, we need strategies that foster ‘shared fate’ across age, race and ethnicity and encourage alliances rather than competition. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Antiangiogenic effect of oral 2-methoxyestradiol on choroidal neovascularization in mice.

Abstract We evaluated the efficacy of systemic 2-methoxyestradiol (2ME2) in a laser-induced murine model of choroidal neovascularization (CNV). C57BL/6J mice (8 week old males) were used in this study and divided into four groups. After laser treatment, daily oral treatment with vehicle control, and 30, 50, and 75 mg/kg of 2ME2 was started. Two weeks after laser treatment, digital images of CNV were obtained from fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran (FITC-dextran) angiography and choroidal flat mount after FITC-dextran perfusion. These images were quantified by NIH image software. Analysis of images from both FITC-dextran angiography and choroidal flat mount with FITC-dextran perfusion demonstrated that the 2ME2 treated groups showed a statistically significant, dose-dependent decrease in CNV. No toxicity or weight loss was observed during the treatment. Significant antiangiogenic effects of oral 2ME2 on laser induced CNV were observed. Since 2ME2 (Panzem®) has demonstrated good safety in phase I/II trials for cancer, it has the potential to be used as a novel oral treatment for age-related macular degeneration.
Influence of Temperature on the Spectrum of Water

Measurement of the normal-incidence spectral reflectance of water at 5, 27, and 70 C in the spectral region between 5000 and 350 per cm. From the measured values of spectral reflectance the optical constants n sub r and n sub i are determined by Kramers-Kronig methods. The band strengths and bandwidths have been determined for the absorption bands near 3400, 1640, and 600 per cm at each temperature. A similar study of deuterium oxide at 27 C has been conducted for purposes of comparison.
Library Connections: A Non-Linear Approach to Planning, Marketingand Creating the Positive User Experience

What do recycling, „The Sound of Music‟, Siena, Italy, fair trade coffee, and a college library have in common? If you‟ve ever watched the BBC TV series “Connections” by James Burke and enjoyed his interdisciplinary approach to how events interconnect, you will enjoy this discussion of the interconnectedness of library services and how one library is using it as a basis to fill the “perception gap” between what librarians think our patrons want and need and what they actually do. This presentation will “connect the dots” for one library‟s strategy for planning, marketing and creating the positive user experience and ask the audience to share ways to do the same. The presenter will share how each of the elements above influenced the Guilford College Library‟s own strategy for change. “Connections” was subtitled, “The Alternative View of Change.” The objective of session is to apply this non-linear approach to how libraries are adapting to changing user needs and expectations and how such an approach can help librarians think “outside the box” for how to best meet library needs. Participants will also discuss the “perception gap” and examine ways to identify and respond. Audience participants will be asked to share ways in which they have effectively created or maximized the positive user experience through their own planning, marketing or innovative activities. How does user experience shape services? How do you define a positive user experience and gather data about that experience? Participants will be encouraged to discuss all areas of library services including collections, instruction, facilities design, renovation, and library services. Attendees will benefit from the shared experiences of other attendees and identify tools, strategies, and methods to plan, market, and create services that resonate with users.
Helping more than “a little”: recent books on Kierkegaard and philosophy of religion

In a journal entry written during the “Corsair Affair,” in which he was unfavorably caricatured in part because of the style of his clothes, Soren Kierkegaard writes the following: “What rare luck, for my life acquires exceptional significance; to my contemporaries I acquire significance by means of my trousers, but for a later generation perhaps my writings will help a little” (Pap. VII B 55, qtd. in Barnett, p. 143). While it is clear that Kierkegaard’s writings have had a significant impact on the contemporary philosophical literature, just because something is widely discussed by scholars does
A performance comparison of nodal discontinuous Galerkin methods on triangles and quadrilaterals

This work presents a study on the performance of nodal bases on triangles and on quadrilaterals for discontinuous Galerkin solutions of hyperbolic conservation laws. A nodal basis on triangles and two tensor product nodal bases on quadrilaterals are considered. The quadrilateral element bases are constructed from the Lagrange interpolating polynomials associated with the Legendre-Gauss-Lobatto points and from those associated with the classical Legendre-Gauss points. Settings of interest concern the situation in which a mesh of triangular elements is obtained by dividing each quadrilateral element into two triangular elements or vice versa, the mesh of quadrilateral elements is obtained by merging two adjacent triangular elements. To assess performance, we use a linear advecting rotating plume transport problem as a test case. For cases where the order of the basis is low to moderate, the computing time used to reach a given final time for the quadrilateral elements is shorter than that for the triangular elements. The numerical results also show that the quadrilateral elements yield higher computational efficiency in terms of cost to achieve similar accuracy.
A randomized clinical trial to evaluate optimal treatment for unexplained infertility: the fast track and standard treatment (FASTT) trial

Objective To determine the value of gonadotropin/intrauterine insemination (FSH/IUI) therapy for infertile women aged 21–39 years. Design Randomized controlled trial. Setting Academic medical center associated with a private infertility center. Patient(s) Couples with unexplained infertility. Intervention(s) Couples were randomized to receive either conventional treatment (n = 247) with three cycles of clomiphene citrate (CC)/IUI, three cycles of FSH/IUI, and up to six cycles of IVF or an accelerated treatment (n = 256) that omitted the three cycles of FSH/IUI. Main Outcome Measure(s) The time it took to establish a pregnancy that led to a live birth and cost-effectiveness, defined as the ratio of the sum of all health insurance charges between randomization and delivery divided by the number of couples delivering at least one live-born baby. Result(s) An increased rate of pregnancy was observed in the accelerated arm (hazard ratio [HR], 1.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00–1.56) compared with the conventional arm. Median time to pregnancy was 8 and 11 months in the accelerated and conventional arms, respectively. Per cycle pregnancy rates for CC/IUI, FSH/IUI, and IVF were 7.6%, 9.8%, and 30.7%, respectively. Average charges per delivery were $9,800 lower (95% CI, $25,100 lower to $3,900 higher) in the accelerated arm compared to conventional treatment. The observed incremental difference was a savings of $2,624 per couple for accelerated treatment and 0.06 more deliveries. Conclusion(s) A randomized clinical trial demonstrated that FSH/IUI treatment was of no added value.
Effect of a combined estrogen and progesterone oral contraceptive on circulating adipocytokines adiponectin, resistin and DLK-1 in normal and obese female rhesus monkeys.

Background Hormonal contraception is the most common medication used by reproductive aged women but there is little understanding of the impact of hormonal contraception on obesity and metabolism. Adipokine levels (adiponectin, resistin) and markers of adipocyte development (DLK-1) are altered in obese animals and humans and are associated with increased cardiovascular risk. We sought to determine the effect of combined hormonal oral contraceptive pills (COCs) on circulating adiponectin, resistin and DLK-1 levels in obese and normal-weight rhesus macaque monkeys.
The Metagenomics RAST Server: A Public Resource for the Automatic Phylogenetic and Functional Analysis of Metagenomes

Random community genomes (metagenomes) are now commonly used to study microbes in different environments. Over the past few years, the major challenge associated with metagenomics shifted from generating to analyzing sequences. High-throughput, low-cost next-generation sequencing has provided access to metagenomics to a wide range of researchers. A high-throughput pipeline has been constructed to provide high-performance computing to all researchers interested in using metagenomics. The pipeline produces automated functional assignments of sequences in the metagenome by comparing both protein and nucleotide databases. Phylogenetic and functional summaries of the metagenomes are generated, and tools for comparative metagenomics are incorporated into the standard views. User access is controlled to ensure data privacy, but the collaborative environment underpinning the service provides a framework for sharing datasets between multiple users. In the metagenomics RAST, all users retain full control of their data, and everything is available for download in a variety of formats. The open-source metagenomics RAST service provides a new paradigm for the annotation and analysis of metagenomes. With built-in support for multiple data sources and a back end that houses abstract data types, the metagenomics RAST is stable, extensible, and freely available to all researchers. This service has removed one of the primary bottlenecks in metagenome sequence analysis – the availability of high-performance computing for annotating the data. http://metagenomics.nmpdr.org
A Spontaneous Flow: The Geological Contributions of Mary Griffith, 1772-1846

Mary Griffith (1772-1846) was among America's earliest practicing women scientists. Beginning just before her move to an estate, Charlieshope, near New Brunswick, N.J., Mrs. Griffith conducted a wide variety of experiments in horticulture, natural history, economic entomology, the earth sciences, epidemiology, and optics and vision, publishing her results in scientific and literary journals, newspapers, and as chapters in her novels. Her unique approach to science can be seen as a coherent part of a complex fabric of progressivist, strongly feminist beliefs. Griffith's theory for the origin of springs began with observations made on artesian well bored on her estate. She asserted that the then-dominant theory for the origin of springs was inadequate, suggesting as it did that all springs originate from the topographically higher sources. In her lengthiest exposition of her theory, An Essay on the Art of Boring the Earth, 1826, she argued that waters would be raised to the surface independently of atmosphe...
Multilevel systems and concepts in process control

The overall objective of the paper is to point out how multilevel concepts and techniques can be applied in the process control field. The approach provides a framework for the structuring and design of a control and management information system for achieving a totally integrated plant automation. The multilevel concepts are classified in terms of strata, layers, and echelons and the use of these concepts in the systems engineering process is discussed. Available techniques and theoretical results are briefly reviewed and the advantages of the multilevel approach in application to large scale systems are enumerated. A number of existing hierarchical installations in industry are briefly described in order to put into practical context the ideas and concepts presented here.
An Empirical Analysis of No-Fault Insurance:

A cross-sectional study of state loss experiences in 1977 were analyzed to test whether or not states that adopted no-fault automobile insurance laws experienced a reduction in deterrence. The results showed that pure no-fault states, mandatory no-fault states, and compulsory no-fault states experienced increases in their loss ratios of 7.449%, 6.308%, and 3.955%. respectively. Further analysis found that states that adopted no-fault insurance did not have significantly higher loss experiences before the adoption of such laws. Estimates of the cost savings from the adoption of no-fault insurance suggest annual benefits in the range of $28.8 million to $67 million. Employing these estimates to construct a benefit-cost ratio implies a ratio between 1.17 and 1.31. However, such estimates are subject to important qualifications and the conclusion that no-fault automobile insurance is economically efficient is tenuous, at best.
Simulation of Pedestrian Behavior in Intermodal Facilities

Planning pedestrian environments requires that designers understand how pedestrians interact with their environment and one another. With improved knowledge, the design and planning of pedestrian areas can provide improvements in safety, throughput, and utility. This paper provides an overview of the Intermodal Simulator for the Analysis of Pedestrian Traffic ISAPT. It focuses on the methodologies used in simulation of the pedestrian traffic, including route planning and navigation. Several illustrations of the system's ability to reproduce observed crowd behavior are provided.
HDL, lipid peroxidation, and atherosclerosis.

Genetic, clinical, and pharmacological studies implicate elevated levels of LDL in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic vascular disease, the leading cause of death in industrialized societies (1). Paradoxically, native LDL fails to exert potentially atherogenic effects in vitro, suggesting that it must be modified to promote vascular disease. Indeed, many lines of evidence support the LDL oxidation hypothesis, which suggests that oxidative damage to LDL is one important mechanism for rendering lipoproteins atherogenic (as reviewed in Refs. 2, 3).
Simulation model for wide-area multi-service passive radar coverage predictions

This paper describes the simulation approach and model for a software tool used to analyze passive radar scenarios. A database of known transmitters includes more than 250,000 sources from FM radio, digital television, cellular, and aeronautical radio-navigation aids. Terrain is considered using digital elevation maps and the Irregular Terrain Model. The tool calculates the expected detection and localization performance for PBR receivers, and can be used to guide receiver design.
Age-Related Response of Anastrepha suspensa (Diptera: Tephritidae) to Protein Hydrolysate and Sucrose

Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew), males and females were given the choice Nu-Lure + sugar and water + sugar. The most active visitation periods were 0800-0830, 1300-1330, and 1600-1630 hours for Nu-Lure + sugar, and 0800-0830 hours for water + sugar. Female visits to food lures were ≈1.5 times male activity overall, but on only a few days could those female visits be statistically validated. Starved males visited water + sugar more than Nu-Lure + sugar at age 5 d. Fed flies displayed little or no pattern of feeding activity from 3-16 d old. Starved flies had peaks of visits to water + sugar for males on days 5. 6. 13, and 14, and females visits to Nu-Lure + sugar on days 8 and 9. Visitations to food lures by starved and fed females were mirrored by egg production. We conclude that A. suspensa has an absolute protein requirement for egg production.
Genetic variation in the eel: a critique

A number of papers have dealt with protein variation in samples of eels of the genus Anguilla from throughout the North Atlantic Ocean. Examination of these published data from the standpoint of observed electrophoretic variations as well as statistical comparisons with genetic models, suggests that most genetic inferences concerning eels have been unjustified.
A semiparametric panel data model for markets in disequilibrium

Previously proposed semiparametric disequilibrium models do not allow endogenous prices and cannot accommodate panel data. Here, I demonstrate identification of a disequilibrium model under semiparametric assumptions that allow unknown sample separation, endogenous prices, and panel data with fixed or random effects.
Balmer Line Emission Profiles from Cataclysmic Variable Accretion Disk Chromospheres

Stark-broadened, emisson-line profiles are computed for physical conditions extant in the chromospheres of cataclysmic variable accretion disks. These calculations follow the methods of Lin, Williams, & Stover, except that our results span the lower electron number density range of 12 ≤ log ne (cm-3) ≤ 14. The rationale for high Balmer line optical depths at accretion disk faces caused by photoionization from a source in the vicinity of the white dwarf is outlined; then a series of models based on accurate absorption line coefficients is computed. Stark-broadened line widths of up to several Doppler widths are found. These pressure-broadened profiles are enough to smear the classic double-cusped line profile significantly for chromosphere temperatures of ~10,000 K, which are at the high end of those considered by Lin and coworkers. Emission-line profiles with greatly smoothed cusps result in all cases except in nearly edge-on systems, where the mass accretion rate drops below 10-10 M☉ yr-1 or where the accretion disk outer radii are less than 1010.5 cm. These results are insensitive to the shape of the boundary layer energy distribution.
Markov chain correlation based clustering of gene expression data

An efficient Markov chain correlation based clustering method (MCC) has been proposed for clustering gene expression data. The gene expression data is first normalized and Markov chains (MC) are constructed from the dynamics of the gene expressions, in which the behavior of the genes at each step of the experiment can be taken into account. Based on the correlation of one-step Markov chain transition probabilities, an agglomerative method is employed to group the series that have similar behavior at each point. The proposed MCC clustering method has been applied to four gene expression datasets to obtain a number of clusters. The results show that the MCC method outperforms the commonly used K-means method and produces clusters that are more meaningful in terms of the similarity of the grouped genes. Another advantage of the proposed method over the existing clustering methods is that the knowledge of the group number is not required.
Adaptive null-steered interference-rejection for a mobile satellite receiver

One of the most useful applications of antenna arrays is interference rejection. This paper describes an antenna array that was designed for the sole purpose of rejecting interference of a satellite receiver from a close-proximity jamming source. Since this jammer can move relative the satellite antenna, the antenna array must adaptively adjust its null direction accordingly. The system consists of a six-element array of circular fractal patch antennas in conjunction with a receiver channel that is dedicated to interference detection and tracking.
Protest in America: Univariate Arima Models of the Postwar Era:

T WO COMPETING views of the outbreaks of protest over time coexist in conflict studies. One tradition maintains that protest activity occurs randomly over time. The alternative position is that protect activity occurs systematically over time in that "protest breeds protest." The different expectations are rooted in competing views of the conflict process within nations. This paper will attempt to address this controversy about the behavior of protest over time by modeling protest in the United States during the postwar period with univariate Box-Jenkins (ARIMA) procedures. Theories of protest that are consistent with both the contagion and randomness arguments are discussed next. The following section explores previous research on the contagion of protest. We then show how univariate BoxJenkins (ARIMA) models formalize many of the verbal expectations about the over time contagion and randomness of protest by specifying the form that these contagion and randomness effects take. The data for the test, which consist of a time series of the number of day/locales of protest events in the United States, is then discussed. The next section applies univariate ARIMA models to a time series of protest in the United States. In other words, an autocorrelation function which specifies the degree of dependence of incidents of protest at any time point on incidents of protest at previous time points is used to examine the pattern of protest in the postwar United States. Yearly, quarterly, and monthly models, using raw and per capitized data for two separate eras in the postwar period, are successively fit to the data. The final model, which disaggregates to months, per capitizes the data, and is fit to the post-1960 period, shows that protest appears to be a "white noise" or random process over time. The final section of the paper discusses the implications of our findings for theories of protest.
Incidence of major pulmonary morbidity after pneumonectomy: association with timing of smoking cessation.

Abstract Background . The prevention of major pulmonary events (MPEs) after pneumonectomy may minimize postoperative mortality rates. The purpose of this study was to identify preoperative and perioperative factors associated with the development of MPEs after pneumonectomy to help predict which patients are at increased risk for MPEs. Methods . We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all patients (n = 261) who underwent pneumonectomies between January 1990 and May 1999. We analyzed preoperative and perioperative risk factors, the primary end point of an MPE and the secondary end points of mortality (in-hospital or 30 days postprocedure), length of stay, and hospital charges. A postoperative MPE included only pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and the American and European Consensus Conference's established criteria. Simple atelectasis that did not progress to pneumonia or a documented aspiration was not included. Results . Four patients died within 12 hours of operation; the records of the remaining 257 patients were analyzed. An MPE occurred in 33 (12.8%) of 257 patients; 16 (6.2%) of 257 patients died. A multivariate analysis performed on relevant variables showed that only the timing of smoking cessation (1 month or sooner before operation) was a significant predictor of an MPE. Age, side of pneumonectomy, and the use of preoperative chemotherapy or combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy were not significant predictors of an MPE. An MPE significantly increased the mortality rate 2.1% versus 39.3%, p Conclusions . Mortality after pneumonectomy increased significantly with the development of an MPE. Patients who continue to smoke within 1 month of operation are at an increased risk for developing an MPE. Interventions to minimize MPEs may minimize the mortality rate after pneumonectomy.
The Pseudoactive Site of ILK Is Essential for Its Binding to α-Parvin and Localization to Focal Adhesions

Integrin-linked kinase (ILK) plays a pivotal role in connecting transmembrane receptor integrin to the actin cytoskeleton and thereby regulating diverse cell-adhesion-dependent processes. The kinase domain (KD) of ILK is indispensable for its function, but the underlying molecular basis remains enigmatic. Here we present the crystal structure of the ILK KD bound to its cytoskeletal regulator, the C-terminal calponin homology domain of alpha-parvin. While maintaining a canonical kinase fold, the ILK KD displays a striking pseudoactive site conformation. We show that rather than performing the kinase function, this conformation specifically recognizes alpha-parvin for promoting effective assembly of ILK into focal adhesions. The alpha-parvin-bound ILK KD can simultaneously engage integrin beta cytoplasmic tails. These results thus define ILK as a distinct pseudokinase that mechanically couples integrin and alpha-parvin for mediating cell adhesion. They also highlight functional diversity of the kinase fold and its "active" site in mediating many biological processes.