cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Plasticity of Myeloma Plasma Cells as Expressed by Dedifferentiation into an Immature, Resilient, Apoptosis-Resistant Phenotype.

Abstract Progression of myeloma (MM) is considered to be a multistage and dynamic process of cell differentiation, survival, proliferation and dissemination. We have previously demonstrated the proliferative potential of purified CD45lowCD38high mature MM cells in SCID-hu mice (Yaccoby & Epstein, Blood, 1999), the ability of CD138-selected MM cells to produce myeloma in our novel SCID-rabbit model (Yata et al., ASH, 2003), and the interdependence of MM bone disease and tumor growth whereby MM cells induce osteoclast activity and are dependent on osteoclasts in vivo (Yaccoby et al., BJH, 2002) and ex vivo (Yaccoby et al., Cancer Res., 2004). The aim of this study was to determine the osteoclast-induced phenotypic changes associated with survival of MM cells in long term co-culture. CD138-selected (>95% purity) MM cells from 16 patients were co-cultured with human osteoclasts for up to 20 weeks. The pre-cultured baseline cells were typically CD45low/inermediateCD38high, CD19−CD34−. At the end of long term co-culture (>6 weeks) MM cells had BrdU labeling index (LI) of 2.5±2.0 and their viability was 97%±1%. The phenotype of co-cultured MM cells consistently shifted to a less mature phenotype, with CD45 expression increasing from CD45low to CD45intermmediata/high and reduced expression of CD38 from CD38high to subpopulations with CD38intermediate levels, as determined by flow cytometry and confirmed by qRT-PCR. Further flow analysis revealed that co cultured MM cells also expressed low levels of CD19 and CD34, and identified a small subpopulation of CD138lowCD45high MM cells. Morphologically, the co-cultured MM cells uniformly gained plasmablastic characteristics when compared to pre-cultured cells. Previous reports suggested that IL-6 was important for maintaining subpopulation of CD45-expressing MM cells. However, blocking IL-6 activity in co-cultures with anti-IL6 and anti-IL6R neutralizing antibodies (5 μg/ml, each) did not affect the immature phenotype of MM cells. Intriguingly, long term co-culture of normal CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) with osteoclasts results in loss of CD34 expression, suggesting a common mechanism for osteoclast-induced MM PC and HSC plasticity. To investigate if the observed phonotypic changes are associated with apoptosis resistance, we determined the effects of 3 days exposure to the pro-apoptotic agent dexamethasone (DEX, 10−7 M) on MM cells cultured alone or in co-cultures (n=5), at initiation (baseline) and after 6 weeks of co-cultures. The percent apoptotic cells was determined by trypan blue exclusion and annexin V flow cytometry. When baseline MM cells were cultured alone, DEX significantly increased the percent of apoptotic cells over that spontaneous rate (p
Targeting EGFR improves the chemoprevention effects of HDAC inhibitors for pancreatic cancer.

A112 Pancreatic cancer is a lethal disease because it is difficult to detect and treat. However, pancreatic cancer progresses over many years, which offers the opportunity for prevention. Over 90% of pancreatic tumors have a point mutation in K-Ras at codon, which leads to activation of the Ras, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and vascular endothelial cell growth factor receptor (VEGFR) signaling pathways. Pancreatic cancer is an epigenetic disease with profound alterations in gene methylation. In contrast, histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) can restore epigenetic alterations in gene functioning. This study investigated whether the combination of the EGFR/ VEGFR inhibitor ZD6474 and the HDACi, Trichostatin A (TSA) was more protective in human pancreatic cancer cells than higher doses of these agents alone. PK-9 and BxPC-3 cells were treated with IC50 concentrations of ZD6474 and TSA for 72 hours for measurement of cell survival and apoptosis. Treating the pancreatic cancer cells with ZD6474 in combination with TSA decreased survival and induced apoptosis in a synergistic manner. The combination was associated with decreased activation of EGFR, ERK1/2, and Akt survival signaling. The synergistic apoptotic effect was associated with an increased in cleaved poly (ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP). These findings with HDACi combined with agents that target EGFR may represent a novel strategy for preventing pancreatic cancer in a high-risk population.
Take Me “Home”: Determinants of Return Migration Among Germany’s Elderly Immigrants

This paper examines the determinants of return migration as foreign-born individuals approach old age in Germany. Return migration in later life engages a different set of conditions than return migration earlier on, including framing return as a possible retirement strategy. Using data from the German Socioeconomic Panel, results suggest that later-life emigrants are “negatively selected” on the basis of economic resources. However, family resources such as spousal characteristics and ties to kin in “home” and “host” countries also shape decisions to return. Results from this paper highlight the broader importance of framing return migration within the processes of international migration and immigrant incorporation.
Metamaterial waveguides with low distributed backscattering in production O-band Si photonics

We report on the first measurement of distributed backscattering in metamaterial (subwavelength grating) waveguides. We find distributed backscattering to be < −50 dB/mm in samples fabricated using a CMOS-integrated Si photonic production process.
De Novo Gene Expression Reconstruction in Space

The biological function of a gene often depends on spatial context, and an atlas of transcriptional regulation could be instrumental in defining functional elements across the genome. Despite recent advances in single-cell RNA sequencing and in situ RNA imaging, fundamental barriers limit the speed, genome-wide coverage, and resolution of de novo transcriptome assembly in space. Here, I discuss potential next-generation approaches for the de novo assembly of the transcriptome in space, and propose more efficient methods of detecting long-range spatial variations in gene expression. Finally, I discuss future in situ sequencing chemistries for visualizing biological pathways and processes in tissues so that genomics technologies might be more easily applied to conditions of human health and disease.
Perspectives on Psychological Science: Right Way/Wrong Way Symposium

In unpredictable times, it is perhaps even more important to contemplate the direction different fields of science are headed. In this article, I contemplate two directions of psychological science: the increasing integration of the study of psychology with other sciences and the concern of many sciences, including ours, with improving the reproducibility of our findings. Both of these are argued to be "right ways," but these directions also have challenges that, unless carefully addressed, could detract from our ability to move the science of psychology forward. I detail these challenges along with a consideration of how to chart our science through the unpredictable waters we face at this point in history.
Investigation of the Radio-Frequency Discharge in a High Current Negative Hydrogen Ion Source With a Global Enhanced Vibrational Kinetic Model

A numerical investigation of the radio-frequency hydrogen discharge in the high current negative hydrogen ion source (HCNHIS) is presented using a global enhanced vibrational kinetic model (GEVKM). The HCNHIS consists of a high-pressure (2–65 torr) radio-frequency discharge chamber where the main production of high-lying vibrational states of the hydrogen molecules occurs. The hydrogen plasma flow in the discharge chamber is reduced by a series of bypass tubes and enters through a nozzle into a low-pressure (1–15 mtorr) negative hydrogen ion production chamber where H− are generated mainly by the dissociative attachment of low-energy electrons to rovibrationally excited hydrogen molecules. The GEVKM is applied to the HCNHIS discharge and involves volume-averaged equations for 21 hydrogen species (atoms, ions, and molecules in excited states) and electrons. The GEVKM is supplemented with outlet boundary conditions for the nozzle and bypass tubes of the HCNHIS and accounts for compressibility, viscous, and rarefaction effects. GEVKM simulations of the RF discharge are performed with inlet flow rates of 5–1000 sccm and absorbed powers of 200–1000 W using the HCNHIS-2 design which is configured with an extractor grid attached to a short negative ion production region. These simulations investigate the effects of the absorbed power and the inlet flow rate on the chemical composition, electron and heavy particles temperature, wall temperature, the maximum extractable H− current in the discharge chamber, as well as optimum operational parameters of HCNHIS-2. GEVKM simulations of the HCNHIS-2 discharge are used to obtain estimates of the H− current and compared with Faraday cup measurements taken at the extraction grid.
Sex-Specific Association Between High Traumatic Stress Exposure and Social Cognitive Functioning in Youths

Abstract Background Traumatic stressful events (TSEs) during childhood and adolescence are associated with increased risk for psychopathology and cognitive impairment. Aberrations in social cognition may contribute to the psychopathology risk. We examined performance differences on social cognitive measures between youths with high TSE exposure and no TSE exposure and how these effects vary in female and male individuals. Methods The Philadelphia Neurodevelopmental Cohort investigates clinical and cognitive phenotypes in a U.S. youth (aged 8–21 years) community population. Here we compared performance in social cognition tasks between youths with high exposure (≥3 TSEs, n = 830) and youths with no exposure (n = 5202). Three social cognition tasks were analyzed: 1) age differentiation, 2) emotion identification (happy, sad, angry, fearful, or neutral), and 3) emotion intensity differentiation (happy, sad, angry, and fearful). Results A significant TSE group by sex interaction was observed in all social cognitive tasks. In the emotion identification task, male subjects with high traumatic stress exposure outperformed nonexposed male subjects; exposure did not affect performance in female subjects. In the emotion intensity differentiation task, female subjects with high traumatic stress exposure performed worse than nonexposed female subjects, with no difference in male subjects between exposure groups. Exploratory analyses revealed that sex differences were driven by improved identification of angry expressions in stress-exposed male subjects and poorer performance in differentiating intensity of happy expressions in stress-exposed female subjects. Conclusions Exposure to high levels of early life traumatic stress was associated with sex-specific differences in social cognition. These findings might be related to the sex-specific patterns of psychopathology emerging during adolescence.
Embedding Intervention Strategies within Everyday Family Routines

Legislative mandates and professional consensus support the use of daily routines and activities as contexts for embedding social communicative interventions for young children with autism. This chapter outlines research-based and systematic procedures for therapists to collaborate with families to address social communication goals for children with autism in naturally occurring and preferred routines and activities. We will describe information-gathering strategies that are family-centered and culturally responsive. We will also share tools for collaborative planning to assist families in identifying and prioritizing goals. Evidence-based consultative strategies will be shared which facilitate parents’ implementation of naturalistic intervention strategies with their young children with autism.
Imaging Children with CNS Tumors

Though many pediatric brain tumors are diagnosed by head computed tomography (CT) performed for emergent indications such as vomiting, ataxia, or altered mental status, CT, even with intravenous contrast, is insufficient for tumor characterization or metastasis detection. CT also carries a low risk of radiation-induced secondary cancers; this risk increases with cumulative dose without a threshold effect (Miglioretti et al. 2013). Furthermore, the eye lens, which may be exposed to radiation with head CT, is sensitive to radiation-induced cataract formation at doses as low as 0.5 Sv (Fish et al. 2011). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers far superior tissue contrast without radiation, and is therefore the gold-standard for diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) tumors and metastases. As technology advances, MRI becomes increasingly important in diagnosing metastasis, since it detects leptomeningeal metastatic disease in up to 50% of those with false-negative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination and better correlates with survival than CSF results (Maroldi et al. 2005; Terterov et al. 2010; Pang et al. 2008). MRI is particularly important in children with ependymomas, in whom CSF may be negative despite the presence of extensive leptomeningeal involvement (Poltinnikov and Merchant 2006). It is therefore critical to optimize imaging for initial diagnosis and for detection of postsurgical resection residual tumor and leptomeningeal metastasis.
Xiphodynia Surgical Management

Objectives: The objective of this study was to study the results of the largest prospective series to date of xiphodynia patients treated by surgical xiphoidectomy. Summary of Background Data: Xiph...
Pulsed dye laser repurposed: Treatment of refractory molluscum contagiosum in renal transplant patient

We present a case of a 15-year-old girl with an allogenic renal transplant secondary to chronic glomerulonephritis of unknown etiology who presented with treatment refractory molluscum contagiosum of the lower extremities and perineum. Treatment of mollusca with pulsed dye laser resulted in a clinically significant and sustained response. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a successful treatment of molluscum contagiosum with pulsed dye laser in the setting of a renal transplant.
Kant: constitutivism as capacities-first philosophy

Over the last two decades, Kant’s name has become closely associated with the “constitutivist” program within metaethics.1 But is Kant best read as pursuing a constitutivist approach to meta-normat...
Understanding Neurogenic Communication Disorders in a Collaborative Context: A Team-Based Interprofessional Education Approach for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Students

Purpose Hearing loss is underidentified and undertreated in individuals with neurogenic communication disorders. Interprofessional collaborative practice between audiologists and speech-language pa...
A Quantitative Explanation of the Dynamics Underlying the Franck-Condon Principle: A Mostly Classical Viewpoint.

The Franck–Condon Principle (FCP), the key concept for describing vibronic spectra, results from the large disparity between the time scales of electrons and nuclei in molecules. Yet in an undergra...
Foldy-Wouthuysen transformations in an indefinite-metric space. IV. Exact, closed-form expressions for first-order wave equations

We use a powerful matrix theorem to derive the closed-form, finite-polynomial, matrix expression of a Lorentz transformation for the class of relativistic, first-order wave equations described in the preceding paper. Combined with the method developed there, this theorem allows the exact, closed-form expression to be given for a Foldy-Wouthuysen (FW) transformation. An algorithm is given which is a simple procedural prescription for writing down the FW transformation results we have obtained. We discuss two specific examples which illustrate our results, and in a third example show that our method must be modified if the wave equation is not first-order in space. (AIP)
Inhaled nitric oxide to control platelet hyper-reactivity in patients with acute submassive pulmonary embolism.

Abstract Background We test if inhaled nitric oxide (NO) attenuates platelet functional and metabolic hyper-reactivity in subjects with submassive pulmonary embolism (PE). Methods Participants with PE were randomized to either 50 ppm NO + O2 or O2 only for 24 h with blood sampling at enrollment and after treatment; results were compared with healthy controls. Platelet metabolic activity was assessed by oxygen consumption (basal and uncoupled) and reactivity was assessed with agonist-stimulated thromboelastography (TEG) and fluorometric measurement of agonist-stimulated cytosolic [Ca++] without and with pharmacological soluble guanylate (sGC) modulation. Results Participants (N = 38 per group) were well-matched at enrollment for PE severity, comorbidities as well as TEG parameters and platelet O2 consumption. NO treatment doubled the mean plasma [NO3-] (P Conclusions In patients with acute submassive PE, despite evidence of adequate drug delivery, inhaled NO had no major effect on platelet O2 consumption or agonist-stimulated parameters on TEG. Pharmacological activation, but not stimulation, of sGC effectively decreased platelet cytosolic [Ca++], and platelet sGC activity was increased with PE, confirming the viability of sGC as a therapeutic target.
A test of oscillation in the human secondary sex ratio.

Author(s): Catalano, Ralph; Casey, Joan A; Bruckner, Tim A | Abstract: Background and objectivesThe sex ratio of human birth cohorts predicts the health and longevity of their members. Most literature invokes natural selection in support of the argument that heritable tendencies to produce male or female offspring induce oscillation in the sex ratio and its sequelae. Tests of the argument remain exceedingly rare because they require vital statistics describing many generations of a population both unaffected by migration and exposed to an exogenous stressor virulent enough to change the sex ratio at birth. We contribute to the literature by using time-series modeling to detect oscillation in the best data currently available for such a test.MethodologyWe apply rigorous time-series methods to data describing Sweden from 1751 through 1830, a period when the population not only aged in place without migration, but also exhibited the effects of an Icelandic volcanic eruption including a historically low secondary sex ratio. That very low sex ratio should have induced oscillation if heritable mechanisms appear in humans.ResultsWe detected oscillation in the ratio but not that predicted by heritable tendencies to produce males or females. We found peak-to-trough oscillation at 14 rather than the approximately 32 years expected from the heritable tendencies argument.Conclusions and implicationsOur findings suggest that mechanisms other than perturbation of heritable tendencies to produce males or females induce oscillation in the human secondary sex ratio. These other mechanisms may include reproductive suppression and selection in utero.Lay summaryThe male to female ratio in human birth cohorts predicts longevity but its variation over time remains unexplained. We test the long-held theory that the ratio oscillates due to heritable tendencies to produce males or females. We find oscillation, but it appears due to social processes rather than heritable mechanisms.
Sparse Array Design for Transmit Beamforming

Sparse arrays are favored due to their inherent capability of optimizing the hardware and computational resources in executing the prescribed performance. The main emphasis on sparse array design thus far has been from the perspective of sparse receiver optimization. In this paper, we examine sparse array design for transmit beamforming. The main task is to design the beamformer to direct the bulk of the transmitted power to target locations. This, in turn, enables improved receiver performance which strives to maximize the signal-to-interference plus noise ratio (MaxSINR) of the radar returns. In order to realize an environmental-dependent adaptive design, it is incumbent that the directed signals towards different targets are maximally mutually independent. The optimum sparse active array design problem is formulated as quadratically constraint quadratic program (QCQP) alongside the regularization term. The semidefinite relaxation (SDR) of QCQP is used to enhance the sparsity of the beamformer through iterative re-weighting based on prior iterations. It is shown that the proposed approach can efficiently utilize the available array aperture to achieve the desired transmitted beampattern characteristics.
α-In2Se3 based ferroelectric-semiconductor metal junction for non-volatile memories

In this work, we theoretically and experimentally investigate the working principle and nonvolatile memory (NVM) functionality of a 2D α-In2Se3-based ferroelectric-semiconductor-metal-junction (FeSMJ). First, we analyze the semiconducting and ferroelectric properties of the α-In2Se3 van der Waals (vdW) stack via experimental characterization and first-principles simulations. Then, we develop a FeSMJ device simulation framework by self-consistently solving the Landau–Ginzburg–Devonshire equation, Poisson's equation, and charge-transport equations. Based on the extracted Fe-semiconductor (FeS) parameters, our simulation results show good agreement with the experimental characteristics of our fabricated α-In2Se3-based FeSMJ. Our analysis suggests that the FeS polarization-dependent modulation of Schottky barrier heights of FeSMJ plays a key role in providing the NVM functionality. Besides, the appearance of mobile carriers in FeS due to its semiconducting properties leads to a non-uniform electric field. This further induces partial polarization switching in the FeS layers, resulting in asymmetry in the FeSMJ characteristics for positive and negative voltages. Moreover, we show that the thickness scaling of FeS leads to a reduction in read/write voltage and an increase in distinguishability. Array-level analysis of FeSMJ NVM suggests a lower read-time and read-write energy with respect to the HfO2-based ferroelectric insulator tunnel junction.
Quality management of ovarian cancer serum profiles using functionalizied magnetic beads, AnchorChipTM technology, MALDI-TOF MS and, MALDI-TOF/TOF MS

5225 Proteomics fingerprinting using mass spectrometry (MS) to discover multivariate cancer biomarkers from biological fluids has become increasingly important in elucidating the disease mechanism as well as developing diagnostic assays. Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time Of Flight (MALDI-TOF) MS is a powerful tool for the analysis of such complex samples because of its sample throughtput and ability to couple with different off-line sample fractionation techniques. However, in order to generate reliable and reproducible proteomics fingerprint, stringent quality controls are required in all the experimental steps from sample collection, sample fractionation, MALDI target preparation, instrumentation, and pattern recognition analysis. All these steps affect whether the resulting spectrum has well defined, resolved, and reproducible peaks with good signal-to-noise ratio for comparison. The goal of this study was to understand where are the variabilities during the profiling experiments and how to manage and reduce them in order to generate high quality proteomics fingerprints. We used serum and other biological samples from ovarian cancer as an example. We profiled serum samples by using functionalized magnetic beads that could enrich a specific subset of serum proteins and peptides based on their absorption to the beads. This step was then followed by elution, transferring onto AnchorChip™ target and analyzing in either a MALDI-TOF or a MALDI-TOF/TOF MS equipped with automated data acquisition. The resulting spectra were visualized and analyzed by ClinProTools™ software for pattern recognition. Our results showed that magnetic beads were able to fractionate human serum samples and other biological fluids and reproducible profiles could be obtained. In addition, the AnchorChip technology provided high sensitivity in MS detection by concentrating the matrix/fractionated serum samples to a 600um spot. For sample storage, we borrowed the concept from cryogenic preservation of cultured cells and established seed stocks and working stocks so that samples used for quality controls could last for at least 4 to 5 years to avoid frequent freezing and thawing of samples. We also showed that proper data acquistion parameters, for example, method settings, laser energy, matrix blaster shots, and the number of shots, also dramatically affected the quality of the spectrum. The results of this study suggest that good quality control of each experimental step during profiling experiment and good understanding of what causes these variations will result in better profiling data, in turn, more reliable proteomic fingerprints.
THE ROLE OF FOREIGN TRADE IN THE KUWAITI ECONOMY

The research dealt with exports and imports and their role in the components of the national economy, as it was found that oil contributes about 93.3% of the state’s public revenues, which are used in spending on various development processes. It was found that public revenues contribute to increasing the domestic product at an annual statistically significant rate, and that the expenditures are realized. Of foreign trade, about 17.18% of it is spent on production requirements, 53.6% on the imports necessary to satisfy the needs of the population and for the various sectors during the study period, and that exports lead to an increase in the domestic product at a statistically significant annual rate, and as oil exports also contribute to an increase in the domestic product, it recommends Study by increasing the role of exports due to their importance in development. Research problem: The research problem is that due to the dependence of foreign trade on oil, fluctuations occur in the domestic product, and it explains the imbalance in imports, as about 17% of them are commodity requirements for production, and about 54% are non-commodity imports, and spending on imports represents about 70.78% of the volume State spending, therefore, reducing dependence on abroad by developing the industrial and agricultural sectors reduces imports and saves the state's public spending on imports, and what was saved is directed to development and production processes. Research objective:to measure the effect of total foreign trade represented in oil and non-oil exports, as well as imports on GDP, the effect of exports, the impact of imports, the impact of oil and the impact of non-oil exports. Research method: The study relied in this research on descriptive and quantitative economic analysis and analysis of research data, where simple linear regression models were used in studying the development of research variables, and arithmetic averages were used to describe the research changes. The conduct and implementation of the research required the use of secondary statistical data issued by the official authorities in the state. Conclusively, foreign trade contributes to generating income from the domestic product and achieving the targeted development rates in providing foreign labor
Bi-allelic amplification of ATM gene in blastoid variant of mantle cell lymphoma: a novel mechanism of inactivation due to chromoanagenesis?

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is derived from naive CD5+ B-cells with the cytogenetic hallmark translocation 11;14. The presence of additional abnormalities is associated with blastoid variants in MCL (BMCL) and confers a poor prognosis. Many of these tumors also show deletion or loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of the ATM gene and biallelic ATM inactivation show significantly higher chromosomal imbalances. Here we report a 52 year-old male who presented to the clinic with worsening dyspnea, fever, chills, diffuse lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly and leukocytosis with blastoid cells circulating in blood. The bone marrow aspirate showed about 40% abnormal blast-looking cells and biopsy revealed a remarkable lymphoid infiltrate. The patient was diagnosed with blastoid variant mantle cell lymphoma (BMCL). Chromosome analysis on bone marrow showed a complex karyotype. FISH analysis from B-cell lymphoma panel showed bi-allelic amplification of ATM gene. Other abnormalities were present including CCND1/IGH fusion, confirming the MCL diagnosis, in addition to RB1 and p53 deletion. High resolution SNP-microarray studies showed complex copy number changes, especially on chromosomes 7 and 11, consistent with chromoanagenesis. Microarray studies also showed LOH at the ATM locus indicating the amplification seen on FISH is not biallelic. To the best of our knowledge, ATM gene amplification is not previously reported in BMCL and our case suggests a novel mechanism of ATM inactivation caused by chromoanagenesis resulting in mutant allele specific imbalance with copy number gain.
Dividends, Values and Agency Costs in REITs

This study examines the market value of REIT dividends conditional on transparency of operating structure and effectiveness of boards. Results suggest that total, mandatory and discretionary dividends are valued by the market. Consistent with agency cost theory, results provide some evidence that discretionary dividends paid by REITs with greater principal-agent conflicts have greater market value. Specific results suggest an increased value of excess dividends paid by firms with more complex organizational structures (UPREITs) and, to some degree, less independent boards. This evidence implies the equity market recognizes REITs’ substitution of discretionary dividends for stronger governance.
Physical disorder and crime revisited: New evidence from intensive longitudinal data

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the often-debated association between physical disorder and crime exists longitudinally and operates through a specific spatial process. Methods We combine four administrative and official databases to analyze patterns of crime occurring each month in New Orleans, LA, between 2012 and 2018 at the block group level. We adopt a generalized additive model (GAM) framework to efficiently account for potential spatial, temporal, and spatiotemporal autocorrelation to investigate this association. Results The resident-driven self-report measure of physical disorder (i.e., 311 calls) consistently predicts neighborhood criminal activities in New Orleans. The spatial effects of 311 calls in adjacent areas on drug violations, property crime, and violence in a focal neighborhood are also observed. In contrast, official reports of physical disorder, captured with code violation, is either weakly related to crime or lacking an empirical relationship. Conclusion Overall, our findings suggest that the association between physical disorder and neighborhood crimes is robust over time. In addition, this association is conditioned by how physical disorder is operationalized, with dimensions such as residential report and official report of physical disorder playing a unique, and occasionally important role in understanding overall patterns of neighborhood criminal activity.
Application of the Digital Computer to an Accelerated Fatigue Model

This paper presents the application of a sensor-based digital computer for data acquisition and control in the study of the generalized Prot accelerated fatigue model. The usefulness of this model is greatly enhanced by the existence of modern-day facilities such as the closed-loop electrohydraulic fatigue testing system and the sensor-based computer for data acquisition and control. A brief overview of the entire laboratory automation system and a particular emphasis on the fatigue testing system are presented.
Ethics in Health Research

That medical research with human subjects presents ethical issues and problems is well known. I will talk about some of these in what follows. But it is worth emphasizing beforehand that if there is one overwhelming problem involving research that is of great of ethical importance, it is that there is not enough research. So the purpose of this presentation is not to point to ethical problems in research in order to discourage research. It is exactly the opposite: it is because of the importance of research that we want to make sure that our purpose is not blocked by ethical problems which we could have avoided if we thought about these things well before hand.
Crustal-scale pure shear foreland deformation of western Argentina

[1] New analyses of teleseismic body waves from moderate earthquakes in western Argentina demonstrate that active shortening of the Andean foreland occurs on reverse faults extending to 40–50 km depth. Existing crustal-scale models of foreland deformation invoke thin-skinned fault geometries, which root into an east-dipping mid-crustal decollement. Whereas thin-skinned thrust sheets dominate shallow-crustal structure, seismological and geological data illustrate that planar reverse faults and pure-shear deformation involving more than 75% of the crust characterizes this thick-skinned structural province.
Shelf resonance and impact of near‐field tsunami generated by the 2010 Chile earthquake

[1] The 2010 Chile earthquake of Mw 8.8 generated a destructive tsunami in the near field that resulted in warnings across the Pacific. Numerical modeling shows trapping and amplification of the energy over the continental shelf and slope. A spectral analysis of the computed surface elevation reveals resonance oscillations with periods up to 129 min along the central Chile coast. The temporal and spectral data provides an explanation for the long-period waves recorded by DART buoys and the prolonged wave activities and belated impacts reported by residents and survey teams. The present study of the 2010 Chile tsunami together with those of the 2006 Kuril and 2009 Samoa tsunamis has directly associated shelf resonance with impacts on insular and continental coasts and provided a tool to identify at-risk localities in tsunami hazard assessment.
U.S. Criminal Code: Offenses Against Persons and Property

This chapter presents several case studies related to offenses against persons and property. The cases presented are: United States of America v. Sean Ryan Fowler, United States of America v. Jan P. Helder, United States of America v. William Nathaniel Cobb, and United States of America v. Autumn Jackson, Jose Medina, and Boris Sabas.
Catalysts and magnets: Built environment and bicycle commuting

What effects do bicycle infrastructure and the built environment have on people's decisions to commute by bicycle? While many studies have considered this question, commonly employed methodologies fail to address the unique statistical challenge of modeling modes with small mode shares. Additionally, personal characteristics that are not adequately accounted for may lead to overestimation of built environment impacts. This study addresses these two key issues by using an ordered probit Heckman selection model to jointly estimate participation in and frequency of commuting by bicycle, controlling for demographics, residential preferences, and travel attitudes. The findings suggest a strong influence of attitudinal factors, with modest contributions of bicycle accessibility. Bicycle lanes act as "magnets" to attract bicyclists to a neighborhood, rather than being the "catalyst" that encourages non-bikers to shift modes. The results have implications for planners and policymakers attempting to increase bicycling mode share via the strategic infrastructure development. Language: en
Chapter 9 Theory of public goods

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the class of goods that has come to be known as “public goods” or “collective goods.” A distinctive characteristic of such goods is that they are not used up in the process of being consumed or utilized as an input in a production process. To be considered public, a good must also be of interest to more than one consumer or firm. Otherwise, the fact that the consumption possibilities of others are undiminished is irrelevant. The chapter presents the derivation and interpretation of the efficiency conditions for pure public goods. The positive issues of the way the private market arrangements provide for public goods are discussed in the chapter. The chapter describes alternative mechanisms for making public goods decisions within the public sector. Public goods are of particular relevance to public policy, because they tend to be inefficiently provided by private arrangements, such as the market mechanism. The category of public “goods” is considered as opposed to public “bads.” Because they are not used up in the act of consumption of production, the marginal cost of extending service to additional users is zero. Private provision of the good, however, necessitates revenues from users to defray the cost of producing the good. Such charges usually lead some potential users to forgo consumption, creating a deadweight efficiency loss.
Evaluating a stock market timing strategy: the case of RTE Asset Management

Abstract Market timing is a popular active investment strategy that promises to beat the market. However, the evidence on the ability of timers to outperform the market is mixed. This paper provides strong supporting evidence of the timing ability of RTE Asset Management by investigating the implemented buy and sell recommendations derived from its proprietary computerized model over the 1979–1999 period and several subperiods. We use various performance-evaluation methodologies that investors can easily implement. The evidence obtained on market timing skills is essentially invariant to the evaluation method used if the analysis is performed over a long time period.
Patient Knowledge and Clinic Attendance in Adolescent Patients with Cystic Fibrosis

Background: With the rising age of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), strategies to improve adolescents' adherence to care are needed. This study investigates the association between knowledge of disease and objective markers of clinic attendance in an adolescent CF population. Methods: Patients with CF aged 13–20 years completed a CF knowledge survey (n=38). Associations of knowledge scores with attendance measures and health status data were assessed. Results: Higher overall knowledge scores were associated with regular evaluations by dietitians (OR 1.08, p=0.045) and timely completion of pulmonary function testing (PFTs; OR 1.13, p=0.009) and routine cultures (OR 1.12, p=0.012). Higher nutrition health and treatment knowledge scores were also associated with timely completion of routine PFTs (OR 1.14, p=0.005 and OR 1.09, p=0.012) and cultures (OR 1.10, p=0.022 and OR 1.08, p=0.019). Conclusions: This is the first study demonstrating an association between adolescent disease knowledge and objectively ...
Effects of dietary fat type and iron level on in vivo lipid peroxidation in rat colon

The effects of dietary fat type and iron level on colonic lipid peroxidation were studied in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Sixty rats were fed a basal diet for 1 week, weighed, and randomly assigned to 1 of 6 diet groups. Each group was fed for 6 weeks 1 of 6 AIN-based diets formulated to contain either 15% (ww) corn oil (C), 1% corn oil + 14% beef tallow (B), or 1% corn oil + 14% menhaden oil (M), and 35 or 880 mg iron/kg diet as ferrous fumarate. Feces were sampled at both the start and end of the trial and thiobarbituric reactive substances (TBARS) were measured. Rats were weighed, then sacrificed, at the end of the trial. Samples of mucosa were taken for TBARS measurement and for immunohistochemical staining to detect proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Dietary fat type affected (P<0.05) TBARS in both the feces and mucosa (B<C<M) in the same order expected for unsaturation of the fat types. Greater dietary iron increased fecal and mucosal TBARS only in rats fed diets containing menhadden oil. Body weights did not differ throughout the experiment among rats fed the different diets, nor were any changes observed in mucosal sections stained for PCNA. Previous evidence which lipid peroxidation causes cellular damage resulting in increased cellular proliferation, and possibly cancer, and results of this research suggest that supplementation of iron in high unsaturated fat diet is unfavorable for health because of extensive lipid peroxidation.
Estimation of expectation values formed with Jastrow wave functions.

A method for estimating expectation values formed with Jastrow wave functions for quantum solids is developed on the basis of the correlated-particles expansion (CPE), which follows from an exact relationship for canonical thermodynamic averages. As a test of the CPE, we obtain estimates for the ground-state energy of fcc solid /sup 4/He with a van der Waals interatomic potential and a 1/r/sup 5/ effective potential. When the CPE is used through second order, the differences between the kinetic and potential energies obtained and the Monte Carlo values range from 0.2% to 21%. For comparison, the differences between the cluster expansion estimates and the Monte Carlo values range from 18% to 42%.
Lack of Interaction Between Glipizide and Co‐Trimoxazole

To identify the effects of co-trimoxazole on the elimination and disposition kinetics of glipizide, eight healthy male volunteers were studied in an unblinded, randomized, cross-over trial with two phases (no treatment or co-trimoxazole 160/800 mg twice a day). During each phase, subjects were treated at home for 7 days with one of the treatment regimens, followed by a 24-hour hospitalization for a single-dose challenge with 10-mg oral glipizide and detailed blood studies. A 7-day washout period was interspersed between the phases. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters were determined and compared using the Student's t-test for paired observations. Glipizide area under the curve (AUC), clearance, and half life for treatment and control phases were 5758 +/- 1874 versus 5176 +/- 1505 micrograms/L/hour (P = .21), 0.41 +/- 0.15 versus 0.45 +/- 0.14 mL/min/kg (P = .27), and 5.13 +/- 2.10 versus 3.95 +/- 1.37 hours (P = .04), respectively. Twenty-four-hour glucose AUCs for treatment and control phases were 112.24 +/- 8.76 versus 114.86 +/- 11.98 mmol/L/hour (P = .55), respectively. The only parameter reaching statistical significance was glipizide half life, but the difference is of doubtful clinical significance because of difficulty in identifying a clear elimination phase in several subjects. It is concluded that co-trimoxazole administration did not significantly alter glipizide disposition and elimination kinetics in this study population.
Repression of ARG mRNA synthesis by L-arginine in cell-free extracts of escherichia coli

Summary Cell-free synthesis of specific messenger RNA for the arg-ECBH gene cluster of E. coli was demonstrated with crude extracts, λ d arg DNA as template, and by DNA-RNA hybridization of 3H-RNA to 80 d arg DNA. L-Arginine repressed the synthesis of arg -m RNA about 60% in extracts prepared from arg R+ strains but had no effect in extracts from an arg R strain.
QCD analysis of the mass structure of the nucleon.

From the deep-inelastic momentum sum rule and the trace anomaly of the QCD energy-momentum tensor, I derive a separation of the nucleon mass into contributions of the quark and gluon kinetic and potential energies, quark masses, and the trace anomaly. The separation is done in the rest frame of the nucleon and at the [modified minimal subtraction scheme ($\stackrel{-}{\mathrm{MS}}$)] renormalization scale 1 Ge${\mathrm{V}}^{2}$.
Effects of applied DC/AC fields in electrical fixing process with SBN:60

We present experimental investigations of electrical fixing techniques in Ce:SBN:60. The effect of crystal fatigue on the diffraction efficiency of electrically fixed photorefractive gratings is studied. We observed that applying an ac field to the crystal eliminated crystal fatigue and improved diffraction efficiency. A controllable diffraction efficiency of a photorefractive grating is presented. A reproducible diffraction efficiency of up to 75% is obtained using a write-reveal grating technique with high-voltage pulses of opposite polarity. We also show that the diffraction efficiency can be controlled by varying the intensity of the writing beams incident to the crystal during the recording process. A method of determining the hysteresis loop using the domain-fixing technique is proposed. The dependence of the diffraction efficiency on the direction of the applied electric field while writing the hologram is studied. Our experiments show that, during writing, when the electric field is applied opposite to the c axis the grating can be successfully revealed with both positive and negative dc voltages. However, when the grating is written with a field parallel to the c axis, the grating can be revealed only with a field applied in the opposite direction.
Development of intrastate inspection selection system for Wisconsin

Roadside safety inspections have been an important component of federally supported programs to improve motor carrier safety. The inspection selection system (ISS) and its successor, ISS-2, were designed to help roadside inspectors target the vehicles of Interstate carriers with the worst past safety performance. ISS was used as a starting point for developing an intrastate ISS for Wisconsin. Logistics regression was used to identify the relevant independent variables. The logit model estimates the probability that a vehicle will be found to have an out-of-service (OOS) safety violation. An alternative to the logit model, a simple direct-estimation technique that uses the total OOS rate for a motor carrier, was found to produce the highest success rates in predicting inspections that result in an OOS violation. The model can be implemented as a field inspection tool and as a means to generate a list of intrastate carriers ranked by their historical OOS violation record.
Influence of bacterial inoculant and substrate addition to lucerne ensiled at different dry matter contents

Field-wilted lucerne was chopped with a forage harvester at 33 ± 1·5, 43 ± 2·0 and 54 ± 1·8% dry matter, treated and ensiled in laboratory silos during four cuttings in each of two years. Treatments were control (C), sugar addition at 2% of fresh weight (S), inoculum applied at 3 × 105 bacteria g−1 herbage (I), and sugar and inoculum combined (IS). Duplicate silos were opened and analysed after 1, 2, 3, (4 or 5), 7, 14 and 60 d of fermentation. The initial rate of proteolysis of lucerne protein decreased with increasing dry matter (DM) content of the lucerne, and was not influenced by the year, cutting or silage treatment. Inoculation increased (P<0·05) the rate of pH decline for all silage dry matters, and shortened the lag time prior to pH decline with 33 and 43% dry matter silages. Sugar addition had no effect on rate of pH decline or lag time. Inoculation and sugar addition both lowered final pH, acetic acid, ammonia (NH3), free amino acids (FAA) and soluble non-protein N (NPN) in silages (P<0·01) and increased lactic acid content with 33 and 43% dry matter silages. Only inoculation was beneficial at 54% DM with no difference between I and IS. The influence of forage characteristics (epiphytic lactic acid bacteria, buffer capacity and sugar:buffer capacity ratio) on treatment effectiveness varied with dry matter content.