cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of endothelin-1 on arterial response to Bay K 8644. A comparison of ischemic and nonischemic arteries.

Abstract Endothelin-1 (ET-1) has been proposed as one of the possible mediators of the vasoconstriction seen following ischemia and reperfusion. We investigated the effect of ischemia and reperfusion on the contractile response of canine renal and iliac arteries to the dihydropyridine-type calcium channel agonist (±)Bay K 8644, following subthreshold doses of ET-1. No significant difference in the maximum tension was observed betweeen the ischemic and nonischemic arteries in response to Bay K 8644 in the absence of ET-1. The addition of subthreshold dose of ET-1 (10−10M) resulted in a significant increase in sensitivity to Bay K 8644 in both the ischemic-reperfused and non-ischemic-reperfused arteries, with a 38 fold increase in iliac arteries and about 8 fold increase in the renal arteries. However, the ET-1 potentiated response was enhanced in the ischemic-reperfused in comparison to the non-ischemic-reperfused vessels in the iliac artery. These data suggest that the potentiating mechanism of ET-1 is not only intact, but enhanced in ischemicreperfused vessels. Since the enhanced release of ET-1 in vivo is preceded by ischemia and reperfusion, the vasospastic phenomenon observed following these events could well be mediated by ET-1.
Sexual Selection, Theory of

Many species possess weapons and ornaments that appear to be useful only to fight over or attract potential mates. An enduring challenge since the beginning of evolutionary biology has been to explain the origin and maintenance of these sorts of traits. Charles Darwin proposed an answer, and it was that ornaments and weapons allowed some individuals to compete better for mates, at the expense of their rivals. Darwin called this type of selection ‘sexual selection,’ an idea that remained controversial and poorly understood for at least a hundred years after Darwin proposed it. Substantial, rapid progress in the study of sexual selection occurred in the twentieth century, especially from the 1970s onward, spurred by developments in sexual selection theory. This article reviews the ideas that have directed sexual selection research over the past few decades, with a particular focus on factors affecting the strength of sexual selection and the evolution of weapons, ornaments, and mating preferences.
Recoupling the singlet- and triplet-pairing channels in single-reference coupled cluster theory.

It is well known that single-reference coupled cluster theory truncated to low orders of excitations gives the right answer for the right reason when systems are dominated by dynamical or weak correlation. Static or strong correlation is more problematic, causing often catastrophic breakdown of restricted coupled cluster. This failure can be remedied, e.g., by allowing symmetry breaking in the reference or taking a multi-reference approach, but poses an interesting theoretical problem, especially since many groups have found that simplifying the T2 operator or the doubles amplitude equations gives better results. In singlet-paired coupled cluster, eliminating the triplet-pairing channel recovers reasonable qualitative behavior for strong correlation at the cost of a decreased description of dynamical correlation in weakly correlated situations. This behavior seems to hold for both closed- and open-shell systems. In this work, we explore the coupling of the singlet- and triplet-pairing channels of T2 and a...
Pleistocene and Early Holocene Glaciations

An overview of the geomorphic evidence of former glacial events is presented here based on a survey of the pertinent literature, evaluation of air photographs and topographic maps (Appendix 1), and my own field observations in the course of the 1970s. The separate discussion of conditions in the various mountain massifs will be complemented by an attempt at a synopsis. Correlation of moraine complexes at different mountains is suggested, as seems plausible from their elevation, spatial arrangement, and appearance. The paucity of absolute dating forestalls an ultimate chronology and a coherent largescale picture. Interpretation in terms of spatial patterns of climate and the relation to the modern glaciation are of particular interest here.
Fusion, transfer, and elastic scattering at sub-barrier energies for 16 , 18 O ions on Pb 208 and N 15 and O 16 ions on Bi 209

The fusion of the heavy asymmetric systems of $^{16}$O,${\mathrm{}}^{18}$O${+\mathrm{}}^{208}$Pb and $^{15}$N,${\mathrm{}}^{16}$O${+\mathrm{}}^{209}$Bi was studied at bombarding energies near and below the Coulomb barrier. The fusion-fission, transfer, and elastic angular distributions were measured for all four systems. The evaporation residue component of the fusion was measured for only the $^{16}$O${+\mathrm{}}^{208}$Pb\ensuremath{\rightarrow}${\mathrm{}}^{224}$Th reaction; in agreement with statistical model calculations, the cross section for the evaporation residues was found to be negligible compared to the fission, and hence can be ignored in all the systems. The shapes of the fission fragment angular distributions are then a direct measure of the entrance channel spins which lead to fusion. The experimental sub-barrier fusion cross sections are underpredicted by the one-dimensional barrier penetration model in all cases. However, if the zero point motion of the targets is included in the barrier penetration model, the energy dependence of both the total fusion and the fission angular distributions can be explained for the $^{15}$N${+\mathrm{}}^{209}$Bi system alone. To fit the low-energy fusion of the oxygen reactions requires considerably more zero point motion---this being inconsistent with the fact that this effect should be the same in all the reactions. Also, the cross sections measured for the transfer channels were found to exhibit the same trend as the fusion at the lower energies. This correlation suggests that some of the sub-barrier fusion in the oxygen-induced reactions may be due to transfer-related processes.
Powder XRD and TEM study on crystal structure and interstratification of Zn-chlorite (baileychlore)

Baileychlore is Zn-end member trioctahedral chlorite, named by Audrey C. Rule and Frank Radke in 1988 for the honor of Professor Sturges W. Bailey of the University of Wisconsin – Madison, USA. Baileychlore occurs as dark green chlorite on calcite veins from garnet-vesuvianite skarn clasts at Red Dome ore deposit, Chillagoe, Queensland, Australia. The baileychlore has been studied by using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray energy-dispersive analytical electron microscopy analyses to determine crystal structure and interstratified layers. Baileychlore with stacking disorder displays streaking reflections of 0k0 (≠6n) hhl (h ≠ 3n). Unit-cell parameters for baileychlore (type I polytype) with a space group of C are: a = 5.351(3), b = 9.266(5), c = 14.418(8) A, α = 89.741(3)°, β = 96.741(4)°, and γ = 90.122(2)°. The strong lines of the measured XRD pattern [d(A)(I)(hkl)] are: 14.331(7.151)(90.5)(002); 4.574(23.2)(1 0, 11 ); 3.572(38.5)(004); 2.653(31.4)( 31, 200, 13 ); 2.406(49.4)(202, 33, 13 ); 1.543(27.6)( 31, 060, 33 ), respectively. Reitveld refinement provides a composition (Zn2.49Al0.09Fe2+ 0.09□0.33)0.61− for the octahedral sheet and (Si3.53Al0.47)0.47− for the tetrahedral sheets within the 2:1 layer with (Al1.08Fe1.08Mg0.84)1.08+ for the interlayer sheet. The refinement results indicate that baileychlore is an intergrowth of type I and II polytypes. High-resolution TEM images show stacking disorder of baileychlore with small amount of isolated smectite layers.
Pre-metastatic cancer exosomes induce immune surveillance by patrolling monocytes at the metastatic niche

Metastatic cancers produce exosomes that condition pre-metastatic niches in remote microenvironments to favor metastasis. In contrast, here we show that exosomes from poorly metastatic melanoma cells can potently inhibit metastasis to the lung. These "non-metastatic" exosomes stimulate an innate immune response through the expansion of Ly6Clow patrolling monocytes (PMo) in the bone marrow, which then cause cancer cell clearance at the pre-metastatic niche, via the recruitment of NK cells and TRAIL-dependent killing of melanoma cells by macrophages. These events require the induction of the Nr4a1 transcription factor and are dependent on pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) on the outer surface of exosomes. Importantly, exosomes isolated from patients with non-metastatic primary melanomas have a similar ability to suppress lung metastasis. This study thus demonstrates that pre-metastatic tumors produce exosomes, which elicit a broad range of PMo-reliant innate immune responses via trigger(s) of immune surveillance, causing cancer cell clearance at the pre-metastatic niche.
Introduction to the Special Section on F-16XL Flight Aerodynamics Predictions at a High Angle-of-Attack

A third and final international project has been completed for the assessment of state-of-the-art computational fluid dynamics (CFD) capabilities to predict flight data obtained with an F-16XL aircraft. This work built upon two prior campaigns associated with the Cranked Arrow-Wing Aerodynamics Project International (CAWAPI). The second CAWAPI project, CAWAPI-2, focused on predictions for low-speed/high-angle-of-attack and transonic/low-to-moderate angle-of-attack conditions, and eight papers from this effort were published in Volume 54, Issue 2, of the Journal of Aircraft.
Teaching high-performance computing in the undergraduate college CS curriculum

This paper discusses the impact a Distributed Systems course has made to students in the liberal arts undergraduate computer science setting at SUNY Geneseo. Taking the traditional computer science curriculum, a distributed systems course builds on top of existing knowledge, allowing students to venture into a rapidly growing realm of computing and research. The philosophy, history, and some of the projects presented in the course are described.
Applying a Constructivist-Developmental Practice-Based Learning Framework to the Recreation Internship Experience.

AbstractThe recreation internship is one of the most critical components of professional preparation education, yet educators have done little to explore the experience from a constructivist-develo...
Why Japan Needs India as a Defence Partner

In this chapter, the author explores Japan–India defence ties from the Japanese perspective and highlights the reasons that have drawn Japan closer to India in this regard. This chapter examines the positive and negative sides of China’s rise and recommends that India and Japan cooperate within a framework that addresses their mutual concerns—be it the India–China border dispute or Chinese actions in the East China Sea. Nagao suggests Japan and India share the burden of ensuring stability in the Indian Ocean Region and collaborate to strengthen the defence capacity of countries in the South China Sea. Japan is also willing to contribute towards India’s defence capabilities in the form of warships, amphibious aircraft carriers and sea-based missile defence. At the systemic level, Nagao notes a shift from the US-led hub-and-spoke alliance system to an emerging security cooperation network revolving around cooperation between the Japan, India, United States, and Australia among others. Such cooperation, the author observes, could persuade certain assertive states to become more responsible stakeholders in the system.
Assessing Pericardial Disease by CMR

The pericardium consists of the parietal and visceral layers separated by 15–30 mL of serous fluid. The serous visceral layer envelops the heart and several centimeters of the proximal great vessels, where it reflects to form the fibrotic, outer parietal layer. The normal pericardium serves such functions as reducing motion friction between the heart and surrounding structures, maintaining diastolic pressures by confining diastolic expansion of thin-walled cardiac chambers, constraining the bulk cardiac motion in the middle mediastinum, and limiting the spread of infection from the mediastinal structures. However, it is not necessary for normal cardiac function, as shown by patients with a surgically or congenitally absent pericardium.
Failed Detection of Egregious Errors in Clinical Case Scenarios

The notion that human error should not be tolerated is prevalent in both the public and personal perception of the performance of clinicians. However, researchers in other safety-critical domains have long since abandoned the quest for zero defects as an impractical goal, choosing to focus instead on the development of strategies to enhance the ability to recover from error. This holistic perspective motivated the studies of error detection and recovery described in this chapter. As we have argued in Chap. 2, the expectation of flawless performance is misguided, as it fails to take into account the systemic factors that promote error [1], the role of error in the acquisition of expertise [2], and the characterization of cognitive mechanisms of error at all levels of expertise (for example [3]). So while the elimination of error is a laudable goal, we elected to focus instead on the goal of promoting error recovery, following both the lead of researchers in other domains and the evidence of error recovery observed in our prior ethnographic studies [4].
Evaluation of ASTM D5764 Dowel Connection Tests for Laminated Veneer Bamboo (LVB)

The ASTM D5764 standard, Standard Test Method for Evaluating Dowel-Bearing Strength of Wood and Wood-Based Products, for testing dowel connections provides a procedure for measuring the dowel bearing strength of wood and wood-based products. Laminated veneer bamboo (LVB) is a new building product that is employed in similar sizes and applications as dimensional lumber. Being new, more research is needed to understand the key factors and fundamental failure mechanisms that occur in LVB dowel connections to help ensure safe standards for further LVB product adoption and design. This study develops three-dimensional bilinear finite element models for half- and full-hole specimens in accordance with ASTM D5764 when loaded in compression parallel to the grain. The models simulate LVB fracture initiation due to shear stresses in the dowel joint by incorporating frictional stresses in the contact region between a steel bolt and LVB. The model also predicts displacement at failure, which is validated through comparison with experimental results: the material fails at 1 and 1.18 mm displacement loading parallel to the grain for half- and full-hole specimens, respectively. It is found that, despite the higher load-bearing capacity (strength) of the half-hole specimen, both specimens fail at approximately the same displacement because of in-plane shear stresses. This article clarifies the complex interactive state of in-plane shear, tension perpendicular to the grain, and compression parallel-to-grain stresses using the Tsai–Wu failure criterion in the critical zone beneath the bolt hole for half- and full-hole specimens. These findings suggest that care should be taken to select a test method that captures the performance of LVB dowel joints because of different failure mechanisms that occur for full- and half-hole specimens.
Evaluation of drying methods by nitrogen adsorption

Abstract When cementitious materials are subjected to drying, the microstructure is significantly altered by high capillary forces established in the fine pores. To avoid drying stresses when preparing samples for microstructural characterization, our previous studies developed the supercritical drying method (SCD) (Zhang and Scherer, 2017) which showed rather good preservation for the microstructure of hydration products compared with the other conventional methods (Zhang et al., 2018) . In this study, various drying methods, including SCD, are evaluated by using the nitrogen adsorption (NAD) technique in terms of BET surface area, sorption isotherms, pore size distribution and pore volume. Results show that the isopropanol (IPA) replacement method can better preserve the microstructure than the other methods with a slight chemical effect of IPA on the calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H). Contrary to the previous studies, IPA was not found to have a greater influence on calcium hydroxide (CH) than the other drying methods. SCD shows slightly lower microstructural preservation than IPA replacement due to pore blockage. The fluid used for SCD (trifluoromethane) also chemically interacts with both CH and C-S-H, which may result from the pressurization during drying. Freeze-drying is suggested if one wants to avoid chemical effects on the hydration products, at the expense of damage to the microstructure.
Thermal Decoherence and Laser Cooling of Kerr Solitons

We explore the regime of strong thermal-noise correlations between a Kerr soliton and its environment, including a thermal-noise-limited carrier-envelope phase. By passive photothermal backaction, we effectively laser cool the soliton to 84 K.
Monoclonal antibody therapy against YKL-40 delays growth in glioblastoma xenografts

4099 YKL-40 is a phylogenetically conserved secreted protein with strong heparin binding properties. Although the exact function of YKL-40 is not known, in vitro and in vivo observations suggest involvement of YKL-40 in cell proliferation, differentiation, angiogenesis, and extracellular matrix remodelling. Several clinical studies have shown that high serum YKL-40 is a biomarker of poor prognosis in cancer patients, suggesting that YKL-40 contributes to the growth or invasiveness of cancer. In the U87 glioblastoma cell line we have previously demonstrated a high expression of YKL-40. Microenvironmental and genotoxic stress such as serum depletion and ionizing radiation further increased YKL-40 expression. Here we have investigated whether treatment with three different monoclonal antibodies against human YKL-40 affects the growth of U87 glioblastoma cells in culture and as xenografts on nude mice. In vitro cultures of U87 cells were treated with 0.2-10 µg/ml monoclonal anti-YKL-40 antibody or a control antibody for 72 hrs with 10% and 0.1% serum in the media, and the effect of treatment on proliferation was determined by the MTT assay.Cell growth in culture was not affected by treatment with any of the three monoclonal antibodies against YKL-40. In vivo 4 x 106 U87 cells were injected subcutaneously in nude mice and monoclonal antibody treatment was initiated when tumors reached approximately 100 mm3. The mice were randomized in groups of ten and treated twice weekly with 28 mg/kg or 40 mg/kg monoclonal antibody by tail vein injection. Control animals were treated with saline. Tumor size was measured daily and the mice were sacrificed when tumor size reached 1000 mm3. Survival benefit was illustrated by Kaplan-Meier curves and statistical significance was evaluated with a log rank test. One of the three monoclonal antibodies against YKL-40 significantly delayed growth of U87 tumors when compared to saline treated mice (p=0.041). The other two antibodies did not affect tumor growth. In a similar experimental setup the effective antibody was combined with 8 Gy of ionizing radiation given as a single dose to the tumor at treatment start. Antibody treatment significantly delayed growth of U87 tumors, but did not add to the effect of the ionizing irradiation. These results demonstrate that in vivo tumor growth can be delayed by treatment with monoclonal antibodies against YKL-40. Since in vitro cell growth was not affected by antibody treatment, we propose that YKL-40 promotes tumor growth by affecting the stromal compartment rather than by a direct effect on the cancer cells.
Omitted Level Bias in Multilevel Research: An Empirical Test Distinguishing Block Group, Tract, and City Effects of Disadvantage on Crime

AbstractMost research on communities and crime measures constructs at only one level of aggregation, but this tendency for a singular unit of analysis makes this research susceptible to omitted lev...
Responsible Scoring Mechanisms Through Function Sampling.

Human decision-makers often receive assistance from data-driven algorithmic systems that provide a score for evaluating objects, including individuals. The scores are generated by a function (mechanism) that takes a set of features as input and generates a score.The scoring functions are either machine-learned or human-designed and can be used for different decision purposes such as ranking or classification. Given the potential impact of these scoring mechanisms on individuals' lives and on society, it is important to make sure these scores are computed responsibly. Hence we need tools for responsible scoring mechanism design. In this paper, focusing on linear scoring functions, we highlight the importance of unbiased function sampling and perturbation in the function space for devising such tools. We provide unbiased samplers for the entire function space, as well as a $\theta$-vicinity around a given function. We then illustrate the value of these samplers for designing effective algorithms in three diverse problem scenarios in the context of ranking. Finally, as a fundamental method for designing responsible scoring mechanisms, we propose a novel approach for approximating the construction of the arrangement of hyperplanes. Despite the exponential complexity of an arrangement in the number of dimensions, using function sampling, our algorithm is linear in the number of samples and hyperplanes, and independent of the number of dimensions.
Ablation of atrial fibrillation during coronary artery bypass grafting: Late outcomes in a Medicare population

Abstract Background This study compares outcomes of patients with preoperative atrial fibrillation undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with or without concomitant atrial fibrillation ablation in a nationally representative Medicare cohort. Objectives This study examined early and late outcomes in CABG patients with a preoperative history of atrial fibrillation to determine the correlation between surgical atrial fibrillation ablation to mortality and stroke or systemic embolization. Methods In the Medicare-linked Society of Thoracic Surgeons database, 361,138 patients underwent isolated CABG from 2006 to 2013; 34,600 (9.6%) had preoperative atrial fibrillation; 10,541 (30.5%) were treated with surgical ablation (ablation group), and 23,059 were not (no ablation group). Propensity score matching was performed using a hierarchical mixed model. Long-term survival was summarized using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression models with robust variance estimation. The stroke or systemic embolization incidence was modeled using the Fine-Gray model. Median follow-up was 4 years. Results Long-term mortality in propensity score-matched CABG patients (mean age 74 years; Society of Thoracic Surgeons risk score, 2.25) receiving ablation versus no ablation was similar (log-rank P = .30). Stroke or systemic embolization occurred in 2.2% versus 2.1% at 30 days and 9.9% versus 12.0% at 5 years (Gray P = .0091). Landmark analysis from 2 to 5 years showed lower mortality (hazard ratio, 0.89; 95% confidence interval 0.82-0.97; P = .0358) and lower risk of stroke or systemic embolization (hazard ratio, 0.73; 95% confidence interval, 0.61-0.87; P = .0006) in the ablation group. Conclusions Concomitant ablation in CABG patients with preoperative atrial fibrillation is associated with lower stroke or systemic embolization and mortality in patients who survive more than 2 years.
Stress and depression in the context of migration among Haitians in the United States

Our global communities are becoming increasingly more diverse and interwoven; thus, research that enhances our understanding of the multidimensional relationship between depression and migration among distinct ethnic groups is imperative. This study examined the relationship between migration-related stress and depression and the extent to which that relationship is modified by other factors, through the lens of the stress process model. This cross-sectional pilot study used purposive sampling methods to recruit 76 first-generation Haitian immigrants living in South and West Florida from February 2018-May 2018. Descriptive statistics, bivariate and multiple regressions were utilized to assess associations among migration-related stress (Demands of Immigration Scale), depression (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CESD), Zanmi Lasante Depression Symptom Inventory (ZLDSI)), and key demographic variables. Findings showed a strong positive correlation between migration-related stress and depression (CESD (β =.606, 95% CI [.296, .556]) and ZLDSI (β = .624, 95% CI [.242, .440]). Relative to the standardized coefficient, migration-related stress was the strongest predictor of depression after controlling for other predictors. Presence at the 2010 earthquake was the only significant moderator, showing an amplifying effect between migration-related stress and depression (ZLDSI) for those in Haiti during the 2010 earthquake. Consideration of pre-migration factors and the degree of migration-related stress encountered while adapting to life post-migration is critical because they play a significant role in shaping immigrants' depression realities. Community-based services that incorporate or partner with established immigrants to strengthen support for the most vulnerable immigrants early on after migration could serve to mitigate migration-related stressors and facilitate mental health promotion and prevention.
cBIN1 Score (CS) Identifies Ambulatory HFrEF Patients and Predicts Cardiovascular Events.

Background Cardiac Bridging Integrator 1 (cBIN1) is a membrane deformation protein that generates calcium microdomains at cardiomyocyte t-tubules, whose transcription is reduced in heart failure, and is released into blood. cBIN1 score (CS), an inverse index of plasma cBIN1, measures cellular myocardial remodeling. In patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), CS diagnoses ambulatory heart failure and prognosticates hospitalization. The performance of CS has not been tested in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Methods and results CS was determined from plasma of patients recruited in a prospective study. Two comparative cohorts consisted of 158 ambulatory HFrEF patients (left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 40%, 57 ± 10 years, 80% men) and 115 age and sex matched volunteers with no known history of HF. N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentrations were also analyzed for comparison. CS follows a normal distribution with a median of 0 in the controls, which increases to a median of 1.9 (p 400 pg/ml. Conclusion CS, which is mechanistically distinct from NT-proBNP, successfully differentiates myocardial health between patients with HFrEF and matched controls. A high CS reflects advanced NYHA stage, pathologic cardiac muscle remodeling, and predicts 1-year risk of cardiovascular events in ambulatory HFrEF patients. CS is a marker of myocardial remodeling in HFrEF patients, independent of volume status.
Intermolecular cyclotrimerization of haloketoalkynes and internal alkynes: facile access to arenes and phthalides.

A highly chemo- and regioselective cyclo(co)trimerization between 3-halopropiolamides and symmetrical internal alkynes is reported. The reaction is catalyzed by CpRuCl(COD) and proceeds under air at ambient temperature in ethanol with no additional precautions. Iodo-, bromo-, and chloropropiolamides, esters, and ketones are viable coupling partners and, in a 2 : 1 stoichiometry relative to internal alkyne, yield fully-substituted arenes in a single step. The highest regioselectivities (96% single isomer) were observed when employing 2° and 3°-halopropiolamides. A mechanistic hypothesis accounting for this selectivity is proposed. Notably, by using 1,4-butynediol as the internal alkyne, in situ lactonization following [2+2+2]-cycloaddition generates therapeutically-relevant phthalide pharmacophores directly.
Spanish-Speaking Parents’ Experiences Accessing Academic Medical Center Care: Barriers, Facilitators and Technology Use

Abstract Background and Objective Children of Spanish-speaking caregivers face multiple barriers to care in academic medical centers. This study identified barriers and facilitators of health care and described use of health information technology in order to guide interventions and optimize services. Methods In-depth, audiotaped interviews were conducted with monolingual Spanish-speaking caregivers (N = 28) of children receiving care in academic medical center clinics using a structured interview guide. Interviews were transcribed in Spanish, and key themes were identified using thematic analysis. Illustrative quotes for each theme were translated into English. Results Language-specific barriers included arrival/registration occurring in English, lack of bilingual personnel, heavy reliance on interpreters, long wait times, and challenging phone communication. Non–language-specific barriers included medical center size and complexity, distance to services, lack of convenient and coordinated appointments, missing work/school, and financial barriers including insurance coverage or lack of citizenship. Caregivers identified interpreters, bilingual physicians and staff, and written materials in Spanish as facilitators of care. Most caregivers had internet access and expressed interest in health information technology, including patient portals, to communicate about their children's health. Conclusions Caregivers of Spanish-speaking children encounter many language-specific barriers, which are compounded by non–language-specific barriers arising from complex health systems and social needs. Caregivers with limited resources described working hard to meet children's complex health care needs despite these barriers. Most caregivers had internet access and interest in patient portals. Academic medical centers may need multifaceted interventions that improve the availability of bilingual staff and interpreters and also address caregivers' social and informational needs.
Local Religious Beliefs and Hedge Fund Risk-Taking Behaviors

Using hedge fund returns and county-level religiosity data during 1996-2013, we examine the effects of local religious beliefs on hedge fund risk-taking behaviors. We find that local religiosity is significantly negatively related to both total and idiosyncratic volatilities of hedge funds, even after controlling for endogeneity using managers’ college-location religiosity. Further analyses show that funds located in counties with higher religiosity ratios tend to hold less risky stocks and diversify their stock portfolios across industries, thus contributing to lower risk-taking of these funds. Overall, our evidence suggests that local religiosity may motivate hedge fund managers to reduce excessive idiosyncratic risk.
A Novel Experimental Equipment and Methods Using an Online Video Conference Tool to Collect Human Subjects Data Without Physical Interaction

There have been suggestions of remote usability test and experiment methods to collect human performance data while interacting with prototypes. The pandemic caused by COVID-19 has increased the necessity of remote testing methods due to constraints on interacting with participants in the same location with physical contacts. The present study introduces a convenient and effective remote experiment method using a commercial video conference application. While an experimental prototype is running in an experimenter’s computer, a participant in another place can access and manipulate the prototype to complete given experimental tasks using the remote-control functions in conference application. A case study to investigate the effects of text features in vehicle infotainment systems on driver’s performance validated the utility of the suggesting method. Even though the method includes limitations compared to conventional lab experiments, the advantage seems overwhelming to the disadvantages when the remote data collection experiment is inevitably required. It is expected that the suggested method can be used with some modifications based on context of each experiment.
Problems of the Parliamentary System in Developing Democracies

Summary The proposed constitutional changes inGeorgiaenvision a transition from the current semi-residential system to that of a parliamentary republic. It appears that the Georgian ruling party is being guided by formal principles of associated with the parliamentary system, and not by the historical and social experience ofGeorgia. It is also likely that the parliamentary system is sought for parochial interests, not for the general well-being of the country. The paper argues that the parliamentary system of government is more likely to damage the nascent democratic institutions inGeorgia, create conditions for future instability, and reverse democratic development in the country.
Correlates of Attendance in a Peer-Led Healthy Lifestyle Intervention for People with Serious Mental Illness Living in Supportive Housing.

Healthy lifestyle interventions can improve the physical health of people with serious mental illness (SMI; e.g., schizophrenia). Yet, people with SMI report challenges participating in these interventions, thus limiting their potential benefits. This study examined attendance of participants (N = 155), largely comprised of racial and ethnic minorities, in a peer-led healthy lifestyle intervention living in supportive housing. A logistic regression model was used to identify correlates associated with attendance. Results indicated that females, those with at least a high school education, and a diagnosis of schizophrenia were more likely to attend. In contrast, the odds of attending at least one session were significantly lower for those who reported any drug use and for those who rated their health as good or excellent. Our findings indicate certain subgroups of people with SMI could benefit from tailored motivational strategies and supports to improve their participation in healthy lifestyle interventions. clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02175641).
An Enemy of the Novel

For a man who has loved all kinds of prose-writing for as long as he can re member, I find myself in the strange role of villain at the age of 49. Literary villain, I should say. People regard me as an enemy of the novel as a viable art form for this time and place. In order to sleep better tonight, I feel I should explain what brought all of this about and what I really feel. I was raised on fiction, the US realistic and neo-realistic novel in particular. It gave me my strongest sense of reality and I was eager to Uve my life, through words, under its banner. But somewhere along the line, in approximately 1955, it seemed to me that the truth of the realistic novel was leaking out of the vessel of the form.
PROMOTION, TURNOVER, AND COMPENSATION IN THE EXECUTIVE LABOR MARKET

This paper develops a generalized Roy model with human capital accumulation, moral hazard, and career concerns. We identify and estimate the model with a large panel that matches data on publicly listed firms to information on their executives. The structural estimates obtained are used to decompose the firm-size pay gap. We find that although total compensation and incentive pay increase with firm size, certainty-equivalent pay decreases with firm size. In larger firms, and for more highly ranked executives, weaker signal quality about effort results in higher risk premiums. This risk premium accounts for roughly 80 percent of the firm-size gap in total compensation. Larger firms are also willing to pay more than smaller ones to attract executives. Finally, the estimated coefficients on human capital accumulation from formal education and experience gained from different firms are individually significant, but their collective effect on firm-size pay differentials nets out.
Lifeblood, liquidity, and cash transfusions: beyond metaphor in the cultural study of finance

During the global financial crisis of 2008, descriptions of the crisis and remedies advanced to address it were suffused with references to blood. Metaphors such as lifeblood, liquidity, blood pressure, cardiac arrest, and transfusion were linked and elaborated into organic analogies of cash/credit ‘flow’ predicated on the conception of a body animated by a closed circulatory system. Attention to the once controversial claims associated with William Harvey's seventeenth-century ‘discovery’ of blood circulation can help denaturalize this usage of circulation and demonstrate how organic economic analogies have informed policy recommendations, not always to best effect. The essay concludes by introducing the concept of meta-materiality to explain why the anthropology of finance must go beyond metaphorical readings of economic discourse if it hopes to understand phenomena such as the literal uses of blood in political protest and the accelerated commodification of blood donation in response to the crisis.
Intraseptal galanin potentiates scopolamine impairment of delayed nonmatching to sample

Galanin coexists with ACh in the basal forebrain and medial septal region. The present study investigated the interactions of the muscarinic receptor antagonist scopolamine and the neuropeptide galanin on an operant spatial delayed non-matching to sample task (DNMTS) in rats. Scopolamine administered both intraperitoneally and microinjected into the medial septum impaired performance on DNMTS. Galanin administered alone into the medial septum did not disrupt DNMTS, but potentiated the disruptive effects of intraperitoneal administered scopolamine. These findings raise the possibility that endogenous galanin may exacerbate cognitive impairments associated with forebrain cholinergic deficits.
The Trp-59 fluorescence of ferricytochrome c as a sensitive measure of the over-all protein conformation

Abstract The Trp-59 fluorescence of ferricytochrome c is extremely sensitive to the over-all protein conformation. Equilibrium unfolding monitored by the Trp-59 fluorescence reveals several points of interest. (a) The protein retains certain residual structures in solutions of guanidine HCl after a major conformational transition is over. These structures continue to disintegrate at higher guanidine HCl concentrations. (b) Iron-binding ligands which displace the Met-80 coordination to the heme completely abolish the 695-nm absorption band but have no significant effect on the tryptophan fluorescence and the stability of the protein toward guanidine HCl denaturation. (c) Acidification of the protein in 4 m guanidine HCl detects a spin state transformation of the heme group around pH 5.2. This reaction appears to have little effect on the over-all protein conformation and is not observable by the tryptophan fluorescence.
Efficient Computation of Parameterized Pointer Information for Interprocedural Analyses

This paper presents a modular algorithm that efficiently computes parameterized pointer information, in which symbolic names are introduced to identify memory locations whose addresses may be passed into a procedure. Parameterized pointer information can be used by a client program analysis to compute parameterized summary information for a procedure.T he client can then instantiate such information at each specific callsite by binding the symbolic names.Comp ared to non-parameterized pointer information, in which memory locations are identified using the same name throughout a program, parameterized pointer information lets the client reduce the spurious information that is propagated across procedure boundaries.Suc h reduction will improve not only the precision, but also the efficiency of the client.T he paper also presents a set of empirical studies.Th e studies show that (1) the algorithm is efficient; and (2) using parameterized pointer information may significantly improve the precision and efficiency of program analyses.
A comparison of trauma profiles among individuals with prescription opioid, nicotine, or cocaine dependence.

Background and Objectives Exposure to traumatic events is common among individuals with substance use disorders. Little is known, however, about the trauma histories among individuals with various types of addiction. Methods The present study compared the trauma histories (general, sexual, physical and emotional) of non-treatment seeking outpatients dependent on prescription opioids (n = 41), nicotine (n = 87) or cocaine (n = 73). The Life Stressor Checklist—Revised (LSC-R) was completed by participants to assess childhood and adult trauma. Results The findings revealed that all three groups endorsed high levels of trauma exposure, with 96.5% of the entire sample experiencing at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. The prescription opiate group experienced a greater number of general and total traumas than the nicotine group. However, no group differences in the number of emotional, physical, or sexual traumas were revealed. The prescription opiate group reported a younger age of first traumatic event than the cocaine group, and was significantly more likely to report childhood traumatic events than both the cocaine and nicotine groups. Conclusions and Scientific Significance The findings provide clinically relevant information that may help improve screening, interventions, and preventative efforts. (Am J Addict 2013;22:127-131)
Evaluation of a Fault Localization Job-Aid for a Navy Transceiver

The assessment of corrective maintenance performance of Navy technicians has revealed that they have difficulty with the problem-solving aspects of this task. This difficulty is due partly to the large amount of information concerning the relationships between symptoms and malfunctions (S-M relations) that must be available for efficient problem-solving behavior. The sheer bulk of this information almost precludes memorization, especially if the technician is responsible for the maintenance of several different types of equipment. A job-aid which contains S-M relations in an accessible form, should greatly assist the electronics technician in fault localization.A fault locater (XFL) was developed for the AN/URC-32 transceiver. The XFL contains S-M relations for AN-URC-32 circuits and front-panel indications. It accomplishes three things: I) it leads the electronics technician through an appropriate sequence of front-panel tests, 2) it indexes the technician to the smallest possible fault area, and 3) it d...
Peer Review in a Social Policy Course: Lessons Learned

Peer review is a tool that provides students with a sense of how their work is perceived by others. Built on refection and feedback, peer review assesses the quality of academic processes and products based on well-understood criteria. Peer review was implemented in a baccalaureate social work policy course to enhance writing and critical thinking skills. Students were surveyed on their experiences and indicated that peer review activities provided beneficial learning exercises. The information gathered suggests methods for future implementation of peer review in social work education.
Improving balanced scheduling with compiler optimizations that increase instruction-level parallelism

Traditional list schedulers order instructions based on an optimistic estimate of the load latency imposed by the hardware and therefore cannot respond to variations in memory latency caused by cache hits and misses on non-blocking architectures. In contrast, balanced scheduling schedules instructions based on an estimate of the amount of instruction-level parallelism in the program. By scheduling independent instructions behind loads based on what the program can provide, rather than what the implementation stipulates in the best case (i.e., a cache hit), balanced scheduling can hide variations in memory latencies more effectively.Since its success depends on the amount of instruction-level parallelism in the code, balanced scheduling should perform even better when more parallelism is available. In this study, we combine balanced scheduling with three compiler optimizations that increase instruction-level parallelism: loop unrolling, trace scheduling and cache locality analysis. Using code generated for the DEC Alpha by the Multiflow compiler, we simulated a non-blocking processor architecture that closely models the Alpha 21164. Our results show that balanced scheduling benefits from all three optimizations, producing average speedups that range from 1.15 to 1.40, across the optimizations. More importantly, because of its ability to tolerate variations in load interlocks, it improves its advantage over traditional scheduling. Without the optimizations, balanced scheduled code is, on average, 1.05 times faster than that generated by a traditional scheduler; with them, its lead increases to 1.18.
The CpG Motif

The immune system appears to have evolved a mechanism to detect prokaryotic nucleic acids based on their content of unmethylated CpG dinucleotides in particular base contexts. This response promotes the activation of antigen-specific B cells and the secretion of Thelper-1-like cytokines. Preliminary animal studies indicate the potential therapeutic utility of CpG DNA as a vaccine adjuvant, and for the immunotherapy of cancer and allergic diseases. On the other hand, CpG DNA can also serve as a trigger for the sepsis syndrome and may have a pathogenic role in certain inflammatory immune-mediated diseases.
COLLISIONAL EXCITATION AND IONIZATION OF K ATOMS BY DIATOMIC MOLECULES: ROLE OF ION-PAIR STATES.

Abstract Cross sections for excitation of potassium atoms to K * (4 2 P) and for ionization to K + have been measured as a function of collision energy (1 − 20 eV, center-of-mass system) for HCl, Cl 2 , N 2 , CO, NO, and O 2 . The results are correlated with potential curve-crossings involving electron transfer to the target molecule.
SU‐EE‐A1‐03: A Novel Three‐Dimensional Radiochromic Film Phantom for Use with Stereotactic Radiosurgery Units

Purpose: To create a three‐dimensional (3D) film dosimeter capable of simultaneously measuring the entire relative dose distribution of the volume fields of an Elekta Gamma Knife (GK) unit. Methods and Materials: A spherical head phantom was constructed out of Virtual Water™ (VW™). This phantom was constructed with a bored hole allowing the insertion of a stack of film 2.5cm in thickness and 5cm in diameter. The hole is fitted with two unique fiducial rods that prevent both rotation and inversion of the film. Radiochromic film with a thickness of 105 microns is used, allowing approximately 240 layers of film to be inserted into the phantom. One layer of film is assumed to be water/tissue equivalent; however, the water/tissue equivalency of a thick stack of film has not been determined. Monte Carlo MCNP5 methods were used to determine the water/tissue equivalency of a thick stack of radiochromic film. Results: Using MCNP5 simulations, the water/tissue equivalency of a stack of film 2.5cm thick was determined. For a simplified model of the film phantom, the dose distribution in the active layer of the pieces of film was found to be within −1.7% of the dose distribution in similar layers of VW™, demonstrating that a stack of radiochromic film may be used as 3D dosimeter. Conclusion: Using a stack of film as a 3D dosimeter limits the resolution of the determination of the relative dose distribution only by the resolution of the scanner and by the thickness of the film layers. This allows resolutions of 50×50×105 microns3 to be achieved. Most 3D dosimeters require advanced imaging equipment to read out the data but a 3D film dosimeter allows any institution which has a flat bed scanner to obtain 3D dose distribution information.