cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using Claims Data to Contain Health Care Costs

The costs of an employee health benefit are like an iceberg: administrative service costs are the tip above the water, and paid claims the far more critical bulk hidden below the surface. In recent years, benefits managers have begun to reorient their attention from the administrative costs to the less obvious but much larger cost-saving potential represented in incurred claims. This shift is occurring because of the variable but shrinking and inevitably limited amounts of money remaining to be saved in the realm of administration of the benefit package, as discussed above, and because there are legions of recognized experts on whom a firm can call for advice—carriers, brokers, fee-paid consultants, third-party administrators, and other kinds of advisers.27 Most large corporations now have in-house managers with the expertise needed to protect the corporation’s interests and weigh the relative merits and risks of alternative funding arrangements. Having made such an assessment, implementation is relatively straightforward; it is a matter of locating the carrier or administrator offering the best package and entering into a contract. The effector arms are easy to identify.
Gene Function Prediction and Functional Network: The Role of Gene Ontology

Almost every cellular process requires the interactions of pairs or larger complexes of proteins. The organization of genes into networks has played an important role in characterizing the functions of individual genes and the interplay between various cellular processes. The Gene Ontology (GO) project has integrated information from multiple data sources to annotate genes to specific biological process. Recently, the semantic similarity (SS) between GO terms has been investigated and used to derive semantic similarity between genes. Such semantic similarity provides us with a new perspective to predict protein functions and to generate functional gene networks. In this chapter, we focus on investigating the semantic similarity between genes and its applications. We have proposed a novel method to evaluate the support for PPI data based on gene ontology information. If the semantic similarity between genes is computed using gene ontology information and using Resniks formula, then our results show that we can model the PPI data as a mixture model predicated on the assumption that true protein-protein interactions will have higher support than the false positives in the data. Thus semantic similarity between genes serves as a metric of support for PPI data. Taking it one step further, new function prediction approaches are also being proposed with the help of the proposed metric of the support for the PPI data. These new function prediction approaches outperform their conventional counterparts. New evaluation methods are also proposed. In another application, we present a novel approach to automatically generate a functional network of yeast genes using Gene Ontology (GO) annotations. An semantic similarity (SS) is calculated between pairs of genes. This SS score is then used to predict linkages between genes, to generate a functional network. Functional networks predicted by SS and other methods are compared. The network predicted by SS scores outperforms those generated by other methods in the following aspects: automatic removal of a functional bias in network training reference sets, improved precision and recall across the network, and higher correlation between a genes lethality and centrality in the network. We illustrate that the resulting network can be applied to generate coherent function modules and their associations. We conclude that determination of semantic similarity between genes based upon GO information can be used to generate a functional network of yeast genes that is comparable or improved with respect to those that are directly based on integrated heterogeneous genomic and proteomic data.
Nurses' use of global information systems for provision of outreach reproductive health services to internally displaced persons.

Introduction: A long and protracted civil war compounded by the occurrence of nature-related disasters have forced thousands of Somalis to take refuge in camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) to escape violence and seek shelter. Dwellers of these camps have limited accessibility to and affordability of the fractured healthcare facilities located in nearby towns. A free, outreach, mobile, reproductive healthcare delivery system staffed with nurses and using an ambulance guided by a global information systems (GIS) map was established to address the accessibility and affordability issues hindering provision of quality reproductive healthcare to the women in the IDP camps and in the outskirts of Baidoa City, Somalia. Methods: All 14 IDP camps in Baidoa City were visited to determine the number of families/huts, and to acquire their global positioning system (GPS) central point locations. Global information systems (GIS) shape files containing major roads, river, and dwellings, and straight-line distances from the base clinic to each IDP camp were computed. The objective of creating and using this specially designed map was to help nurses in determining which camps realistically could be visited on a given day, and how best to access them considering the security situation and the condition of rain-affected areas in the city. Results: Use of the GIS map was instrumental in facilitating the delivery of healthcare services to IDPs and ensuring that resources were adequately utilized. Free healthcare services were provided each work day for the month long duration of the project; 3,095 consultations were provided, inclusive of 948 consultations for children under the age of 16 years, and delivery of three babies. Conclusions: Creation and use of a simple, need-specific GIS map in this pilot project effectively aided the logistical planning and delivery of mobile, outreach reproductive health services by directing the ambulance and nurses safely to accessible IDP camps in an area marred with long and protracted disasters from both natural and human causes.
Abstract 5902: RNA sequencing analysis of taxane-resistant prostate cancer cells reveals potential candidate genes for therapeutic targeting

There is no cure for metastatic prostate cancer (PCa), the most commonly diagnosed cancer and third leading cause of cancer mortality among U.S. men. Patients with advanced PCa often develop resistance to conventional therapies resulting in metastatic castration-resistant PCa (mCRPC). Docetaxel (DTX) chemotherapy is the standard-of-care for mCRPC, followed by secondary chemotherapy with cabazitaxel (CBZ), yet chemoresistance and death inevitably occurs. While pharmacological agents targeting single survival pathways have shown promise at the bench side, clinical trials have failed. This is mostly due to the presence of redundant pathways utilized by PCa tumor cells to maintain chemoresistance. Therefore, we are interested in further defining molecular pathways associated with DTX-resistance in order to identify novel therapeutic targets to overcome this resistance. We hypothesized that RNA sequencing (RNAseq) analysis comparing the transcriptomes of chemosensitive and chemoresistant mCRPC cells will reveal potential targets for combinatorial therapies. RNAseq analysis of DTX-sensitive and -resistant PC3 and DU145 cells revealed a number of differentially regulated genes that were either unique to each cell line or common to both. We found that dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4), fatty acid binding protein 5 (FABP5), nestin (NES), and tetraspanin 8 (TSPAN8) were among the top most robustly and significantly upregulated genes in both DTX-resistant PC3 and DU145 cell lines. In-house qPCR studies validated the RNAseq results for these genes, and Western blotting analysis showed increased expression of these proteins in DTX-resistant cells, which correlated with increased mRNA expression. Interestingly, NES, TSPAN8, DPP4 are genes associated with development of the cancer stem-cell (CSC) phenotype. Other genes associated with CSCs were also upregulated in the DTX-resistant cells, suggesting that in vitro selection of mCRPC cells for DTX resistance may enrich for CSCs. This novel finding is consistent with recent studies implicating CSCs in PCa chemoresistance. Further analysis and validation of our RNAseq data will increase our understanding of DTX-resistance mechanisms in PCa cells, including the yet undefined functional role of CSC-related genes. These studies also reveal potential therapeutic targets to circumvent DTX resistance in PCa. Citation Format: Christina K. Cajigas-Du Ross, Leanne Woods-Burnham, Joshua Ramirez, Xin Chen, Charles Wang, Carlos A. Casiano. RNA sequencing analysis of taxane-resistant prostate cancer cells reveals potential candidate genes for therapeutic targeting [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5902.
Crowd-AI Camera Sensing in the Real World

Smart appliances with built-in cameras, such as the Nest Cam and Amazon Echo Look, are becoming pervasive. They hold the promise of bringing high fidelity, contextually rich sensing into our homes, workplaces and other environments. Despite recent and impressive advances, computer vision systems are still limited in the types of sensing questions they can answer, and more importantly, do not easily generalize across diverse human environments. In response, researchers have investigated hybrid crowd- and AI-powered methods that collect human labels to bootstrap automatic processes. However, deployments have been small and mostly confined to institutional settings, leaving open questions about the scalability and generality of the approach. In this work, we describe our iterative development of Zensors++, a full-stack crowd-AI camera-based sensing system that moves significantly beyond prior work in terms of scale, question diversity, accuracy, latency, and economic feasibility. We deployed Zensors++ in the wild, with real users, over many months and environments, generating 1.6 million answers for nearly 200 questions created by our participants, costing roughly 6/10ths of a cent per answer delivered. We share lessons learned, insights gleaned, and implications for future crowd-AI vision systems.
Once FITS, Always FITS? Astronomical Infrastructure in Transition

The flexible interchange transport system (FITS) file format has become the de facto standard for sharing, analyzing, and archiving astronomical data over the last four decades. FITS was adopted by astronomers in the early 1980s to overcome incompatibilities between operating systems. On the back of FITS’ success, astronomical data became both backward compatible and easily shareable. However, new advances in the astronomical instrumentation, computational technologies, and analytic techniques have resulted in new data that do not work well within the traditional FITS format. Tensions have arisen between the desire to update the format to meet new analytic challenges and adherence to the original edict for the FITS file format to be backward compatible. We examine three inflection points in the governance of FITS: first, initial development and success, second, widespread acceptance and governance by the working group, and third, the challenges to FITS in a new era of increasing data and computational complexity within astronomy.
Non-linear glacier response to calving events, Jakobshavn Isbræ, Greenland

Jakobshavn Isbrae, a tidewater glacier that produces some of Greenland's largest icebergs and highest speeds, reached record-high flow rates in 2012 (Joughin and others, 2014). We use terrestrial radar interferometric observations from August 2012 to characterize the events that led to record-high flow. We find that the highest speeds occurred in response to a small calving retreat, while several larger calving events produced negligible changes in glacier speed. This non-linear response to calving events suggests the terminus was close to flotation and therefore highly sensitive to terminus position. Our observations indicate that a glacier's response to calving is a consequence of two competing feedbacks: (1) an increase in strain rates that leads to dynamic thinning and faster flow, thereby promoting destabilization, and (2) an increase in flow rates that advects thick ice toward the terminus and promotes restabilization. The competition between these feedbacks depends on temporal and spatial variations in the glacier's proximity to flotation. This study highlights the importance of dynamic thinning and advective processes on tidewater glacier stability, and further suggests the latter may be limiting the current retreat due to the thick ice that occupies Jakobshavn Isbrae’s retrograde bed.
Antitrust As Allocator of Coordination Rights

It is conventionally understood that the purpose of antitrust law is to promote competition. Much more fundamentally, however, antitrust law allocates coordination rights. In particular, our current antitrust framework authorizes large, powerful firms as the primary mechanisms of economic and market coordination. Still, the notion that antitrust exists to promote competition has been critical for maintaining its particular allocation of coordination rights. The pro-competition norm has been deployed to purge other normative benchmarks from antitrust analysis, which would if revived pose challenges to the status quo allocation. And of course, the pro-competition norm has served to undermine other coordination mechanisms—such as workers’ organizations, "cartels," and the public coordination of markets. Yet for its preferred coordination mechanism—the business firm—the current antitrust framework relies upon reasons that have nothing to do with promoting competition, even as it bars the consideration of similarly extrinsic reasons for any other form of economic coordination. This paper traces the appearance of this legal preference, reveals its logical content, and argues that its justification is far less certain than assumed. In particular, I explain why antitrust’s “firm exemption” is a specific policy choice that cannot be derived from corporate law, nor from contracts, nor even from property. Indeed, because antitrust has effectively established a state monopoly on the allocation of coordination rights, we ought to view coordination rights as a public resource, to be allocated and regulated in the public interest rather than for the pursuit of only private ends. Intra-firm coordination is conventionally viewed as entirely private, buoyed up by the contractarian theory of the firm. But the contractarian view of the firm cannot explain antitrust’s firm exemption, and is indeed inconsistent with the conventional justifications for it. The paper also briefly sketches some of the policy directions that will flow from the recognition that coordination rights are a public resource, focusing upon expanding the right to engage in horizontal coordination beyond firm boundaries.
The Growth-Regulatory Role of p21 (WAF1/CIP1)

Cyclin kinase inhibitors (CKIs) are proteins that bind to and inhibit the activity of cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks). One of the first of these to be identified was p21, which binds and inhibits G, cyclin/Cdk complexes (Harper et al. 1993; Xiong et al. 1993). The p21 cDNA was cloned independently by several groups using a number of different screening strategies. It was identified as the product of a gene activated by wild-type p53, and it was named WAF1 (wild-type p53-activated factor (E1-Deiry et al. 1993). Microsequencing of a protein that interacted with Cdks led to its cloning using PCR (Xiong et al. 1993). Using a yeast two-hybrid screen, it was also identified as a Cdk-binding protein, and was subsequently named CIP1, for Cdk-interacting protein 1 (Harper et al. 1993). p21 was cloned using an expression screen designed to identify inhibitors of DNA synthesis from senescent fibroblasts, and it was named SDI1 (senescent cell-derived inhibitor (Noda et al. 1994). Using subtractive hybridization, the p21 cDNA was also isolated based on its increased expression in human melanoma cells that were induced to differentiate, and it was termed MDA-6, for melanoma differentiation associated protein (Jiang et al. 1994).
Cybercrime and Cybersecurity in Africa

Africa has been among the fastest growing regions in terms of cybercrime activities. The continent is also a source of significant cyberattacks targeting the rest of the world. However, a number of...
Dangerous Exposures: Visualizing Work and Waste in the Victorian Chemical Trades

Cheshire, Britain, and the towns of Widnes and St. Helens, where many of the world's first chemical factories and towns were created in the nineteenth century, is an especially important place to study historical responses to industrial pollution and its social costs. This paper, based on newly recovered archival sources about the Victorian alkali industry, explores the role of visual imagery, particularly drawings and lantern slides, in materializing the connection between labor in chemical trades, the disposal of waste, and poor health outcomes for diverse communities in the late nineteenth century. The paper will focus on the writer Robert Sherard's article “White Slaves of England” (1897), a work that, more than many of its time, drew national attention to the plight of nineteenth-century chemical workers by pictorializing the ways that work in heavy chemical industries, many of them involving waste and its disposal, affected individual workers and their lives. The paper concludes with critical reflections on the current state of scholarship on images, waste, and labor, areas for more needed work, and paths forward.
FP3 Outcomes from the Colorado Team Nutrition Cooking Up Healthy Options with Plants (CHOP) Program

Objective To provide training, technical assistance and subgrant funding for the creation and maintenance of healthier child care environments through Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE) activities. Description To improve the healthfulness of the child care environment in Colorado child care centers and homes and increase the offering and consumption of fresh, seasonal, or local fruits and vegetables and/or on-site garden produce by children in care, Colorado Team Nutrition created the CHOP program. Colorado Team Nutrition contracted with LiveWell chefs to provide culinary trainings featuring key food service practices targeted to improve fresh fruit and vegetable offerings. Grant participants were given funding to plant gardens and teach the Grow it, Try it, Like It! Team Nutrition curriculum to children in care. Sites received technical assistance from their county Master Gardeners to plant their garden. Additionally, sites received technical assistance and support from the Team Nutrition Grant Educator. Evaluation The CHOP evaluation was organized around seven evaluation questions, each answered through a quasi-experimental pre/post study design. The evaluation protocol was introduced in year one, and methods for year two were revised based on lessons learned. The evaluation results will refine program implementation for future years, and a final report produced in October 2019. Conclusions and Implications Distribution of funds through a competitive subgrant program is an effective method for promoting Farm to ECE activities in child care homes and centers. Data collected in year two indicates in-person culinary trainings increase knowledge of key food service practices. The CHOP grant activities were associated with improved “healthfulness” of the food environment and had a positive impact on the number of seasonal, fresh or garden produce prepared for children in participating centers and homes. The program did not appear to influence knowledge of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines or CACFP new meal patterns. Grant Year 2016
Study of the N−H···H−B Dihydrogen Bond Including the Crystal Structure of BH3NH3 by Neutron Diffraction

Boraneamines tend to have close N−Hδ+···δ-H−B contacts as a result of the intermolecular interaction of the NH proton with the BH bond by a novel type of hydrogen bond (the dihydrogen bond). A CSD structural search provides characteristic metric data for the interaction: the H···H distance is in the range 1.7−2.2 A, and the N−H···H group tends to be linear while B−H···H tends to be bent. The reported X-ray structure of BH3NH3 seemed to provide a singular exception in having bent N−H···H and linear B−H···H. Our neutron diffraction structure of BH3NH3 now shows that the B and N atoms must be reversed from the assignment previously published. With the correct assignment we find the expected bent B−H···H and linear N−H···H arrangement in the closest intermolecular N−H···H−B interaction (dHH = 2.02 A).
Robust Attitude Control for a Rigid Body Spacecraft

Just as with other electronics and terrestrial technologies, satellites have become increasingly compact and more capable. A class of satellites called cubesats, or more specifically nanosatellites, have arisen as an emerging prominent standard for small satellites, in particular in low-Earth orbit (LEO). With projections of increased data downlink requirements as well as higher frequency up to even infrared and optical bands, the need for very precise and robust pointing control becomes paramount [1]. In the past few years, cubesats have become increasingly more capable and can accumulate vast amounts of data and thus must leverage higher frequencies to downlink the data at a sufficient rate [2]. In order to achieve pointing at higher frequencies, accurate control that can account for even minor disturbances must be employed. In this paper, we compare a robust feedback linearization controller (RFLC) method to provide stabilization as compared to a PID and a non robust FLC. Additionally, we assess performance of the RFLC using a second-order linear actuator model and saturation block to better emulate a realistic system.
Practical considerations in prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

Purpose There are increasing reports in the literature of high rates of coagulopathy and venous thromboembolism (VTE) among hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Understanding of these abnormalities is continually evolving, but these conditions may pose a risk to patients with COVID-19 beyond the risk typically seen in critically ill patients. Summary There are currently no widely accepted evidence-based guidelines regarding specifics related to treatment and prevention of COVID-19-related coagulopathies. Areas of management requiring clinical equipoise include agent selection and dosing, continuation vs interruption of home oral anticoagulant therapy during hospital admission, and postdischarge VTE prophylaxis. Clinicians may wish to consider use of a stratified, 3-tiered approach of low-intensity anticoagulation, intermediate-intensity anticoagulation, and therapeutic-dose anticoagulation. Patients can be categorized by tier depending on their risk factors for VTE, acuity of illness, and laboratory values such as D-dimer level. Conclusion Practical guidance on anticoagulation considerations and dosing suggestions are provided to assist clinicians faced with challenging anticoagulation-related situations in caring for hospitalized patients with COVID-19 until formal evidence-based guidelines become available.
Health conditions and victimization among incarcerated individuals in U.S. jails

Abstract Purpose Individuals incarcerated in jails across the U.S. suffer from poorer health compared to the general population. This study examines how mental, physical, and disability-related health conditions correspond to theft and assault victimization in jails. Methods We analyze a cross-sectional sample of 3650 jail inmates from the 2011–2012 National Inmate Survey (NIS-3) – Jails Alternative Survey. We assess the relationship between chronic conditions, serious mental illness, anxiety disorders, physical disabilities and two types of victimization in a series of logistic regressions. Results Having a physical disability and serious mental illness significantly heighten the risk of theft victimization by another inmate, net of all covariates. Health conditions are not associated with risk of assault by another inmate. The number of co-occurring conditions is associated with an increase in the risk of theft victimization, but not violent assault by another jail inmate. Conclusions Jail inmates suffering from various health conditions are at increased risk for theft victimization. Despite relatively short stays, many of those in jail suffer from mental, physical, or disability-related health issues that appear to heighten their risk for victimization. It is crucial to develop effective policies to protect the particularly vulnerable from victimization while in custody.
Long-Term Controlled Release of Simvastatin from Photoprinted Triple-Networked Hydrogels Composed of Modified Chitosan and PLA–PEG Micelles

Local delivery of active agents using injectable or implantable hydrogels for tissue and bone regeneration is a promising therapy, but it remains challenging for controlling dose and duration of release. Simvastatin (SMV), a hydrophobic drug, has shown potential for osteogenic stimulation. Secure loading of hydrophobic drugs by physical interactions is particularly difficult to establish in hydrophilic polymer matrices, and their sustained release over several months for long-term regeneration has rarely been reported. Additionally, mechanical properties of hydrogels must be improved for a sufficient support while maintaining eventual biodegradability. This study assesses the effect of controlled SMV release from 3D-printed triple-network hydrogels for osteogenic stimulation and characterizes their mechanical and biological properties as an implant. SMV is loaded into polymeric micelles of polylactide/poly(ethylene glycol) triblock copolymers (PLA-PEG-PLA) and mixed with N-methacryloyl chitosan and PEG dimethacrylate to fabricate hydrogels by photo-cross-linked 3D printing. The hydrogel properties and drug release profiles have shown significant dependance on the polymer compositions. The SMV release from the triple-polymer-network hydrogel has continued for 17 weeks of observation. Cytocompatibility of hydrogels with various formulations is confirmed. The tunable triple-network hydrogels loaded with SMV provide a potential therapeutic value for bone regeneration.
The effect of natural substances on the radicle development of certain plant seeds during the early germination stage

Successful seed germination is crucial in many plants. Natural substances and chemicals have been used as growth enhancement tools. In the meantime, natural substances are considered environmentally friendly and cost-effective. Hence, the present study was focused on the effects of natural substances such as red rice, white rice washed water, orange coconut, green coconut, and matured coconut water on radicle development of black gram, pumpkin, rice, and maize. Twenty-five healthy sterilized seeds (85%germination rate) of the above plants were pre-soaked in 30 ml of the natural suspension for 24 hours separately at room temperature and repeated twice. Then seeds were transferred to the sterilized petri dish with moistened filter paper and mean values of length of the radicle were measured. Data were subjected to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) (P<0.05) followed by Tukey test. Natural substances have not affected radicle development of the tested seeds, except pumpkin, and maize after 24hours whereas in the control radicle length of these two species was 5.48 and 0.68mm, respectively. However, interestingly after 48hours, radicle formation of most tested seeds was highly accelerated by red rice and white rice washed water, except for black gram. Hence, orange coconut, green coconut, and matured coconut water have showed an inhibitory effect on root length development, except for maize at 48 hours. On the other hand, among the selected natural substances red rice and white rice washed water revealed better effects on radicle development. So, they can be used as an environmentally friendly method to stimulate the radicle development.
Factors Associated With Unplanned Admission in Patients Intended for Same Day Discharge After Minimally Invasive Hysterectomy for Endometrial Cancer.

Objectives. To identify factors that lead to successful same-day discharge compared with unplanned and planned admission after minimally invasive hysterectomy for endometrial cancer. Methods. Patients undergoing laparoscopic or robotic hysterectomy for endometrial cancer between 2016 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. 3 groups were created: same-day discarge (SDD), unplanned admission (UA), and planned admission(PA). Demographic/perioperative factors and encounters after discharge were compared. A multivariable logistic regression was performed. Results. 262 patients were included. By year, the success of SDD increased from 59.1% to 82.5%. Patients who underwent SDD compared with admission were younger (62.2 vs 66.2, P = .003) and had a lower Charlson Comorbidity Index (4 vs 5, P < .001). BMI was not significant. Comparing SDD and UA, shorter operative time (100.3 min vs 130.6 min, P = .037) was associated with SDD. Postoperative pain scores were not significant (3.8 vs 4.7, P = .086). The rate of unscheduled encounters within 30 days of discharge was not significantly different. On multivariable analysis, the odds of SDD decreased by 4% with each 1-year increase in age (OR .96, P = .017). Each 1-minute increase in operative time decreased the odds of SDD by 2% (OR .98, P < .001). Intraoperative acetaminophen (OR 2.78, P = .003) and ketorolac (OR 2.27, P = .031) were predictive of SDD. Conclusion. SDD can be safely incorporated into clinical practice in gynecologic oncology patients undergoing minimally invasive hysterectomy, even for patients older than previously reported. Shorter operative time was associated with SDD. The role of perioperative acetaminophen and ketorolac should be further investigated.
Endoscopy: Nitinol self-expanding metal stents--safe and effective?

Endoscopic palliation of malignant biliary obstruction or gastric outlet obstruction can be technically challenging and might require other interventions in some patients. Results from two recent studies suggest that nitinol self-expanding metal stents are safe and effective for both indications and might decrease the need for other interventions in these patients.
An empirical-stochastic, event-based program for simulating inflow from a tributary network: Framework and application to the Sacramento River basin, California

A stochastic streamflow program was developed to simulate inflow to a large river from a network of gauged tributaries. The program uses historical streamflow data from major tributary gauges near their confluence with the main stem and combines them stochastically to represent spatial and temporal patterns in flood events. It incorporates seasonality, event basis, and correlation in flood occurrence and flood peak magnitude between basins. The program produces synchronous tributary inflow hydrographs, which when combined and routed, reproduce observed main stem hydrograph characteristics, including peak, volume, shape, duration, and timing. Verification of the program is demonstrated using daily streamflow data from primary tributary and main stem gauges in the Sacramento River basin, California. The program is applied to simulating flow at ungauged main stem locations, assessing risk in fluvial systems, and detecting bed level change.
Neural network with local memory for nuclear reactor power level control

A methodology is introduced for a neural network with local memory called a multilayered local output gamma feedback (LOGF) neural network within the paradigm of locally-recurrent globally-feedforw...
Using data mining to improve supplier release stability

Communications of material requirements between a manufacturer and its supply base is fraught with inefficiencies. Suppliers complain that variation in material quantity requires them to keep extra capacity on hand, as well as preventing optimization of their labor and equipment. The manufacturer experiences issues with instability, also preventing optimization of labor and equipment. This paper proposes using data mining, a series of statistical and artificial intelligence techniques for extracting knowledge from large databases, to identify opportunities for reducing material requirement variation.
Stock Prices, Output and the Monetary Regime

Should monetary policy react to stock prices? The answer depends on whether stock prices are good predictors of future economic activity. Using long annual time-series data for the G-7 countries, data going back over 150 years for some countries, we find that stock prices do not systematically predict output growth regardless of the monetary regime in effect. We also find no evidence of a nonlinear relationship between stock prices and output except during the gold standard, when stock price booms and busts had some predictive power for output growth volatility.
Beliefs about arguing as predictors of trait argumentativeness : Implications for training in argument and conflict management

Previous research suggests that altering predispositions toward communication may be an effective prerequisite in training efforts that emphasize communication skill development. Utilizing a theoretical framework that maintains that a predisposition is controlled by a set of beliefs, this study sought to (a) identify beliefs about arguing that could explain variance in argumentativeness, and (b) determine beliefs that discriminate individuals who vary in the trait. Five composite beliefs about arguing (enjoyment, self‐concept, pragmatic outcomes, dysfunctional outcomes, and ego‐involvement) were found to explain significant variance in underlying motivation to argue and to discriminate between individuals who vary in the predisposition. Implications of the identification and use of these beliefs for communication pedagogy and curriculum design in argumentation and conflict management courses are discussed.
A method for studying glyoxylic acid induced fluorescence and ultrastructure of monoamine neurons

Inasmuch as precise correlations of light- and electronmicroscopy are crucial for understanding biostructure, it seemed necessary to bring together the advantages of the glyoxylic acid (GA) method (for inducing monoamine fluorescence) and electron microscopy.
Comment on “An asymptotic analysis of composite beams with kinematically corrected end effects” by Jun-Sik Kim, Maenghyo Cho and Edward C. Smith [Int. J. Solids Struct. 45 (2008) 1954–1977]

Abstract In their paper Kim et al. (2008), Kim, Cho and Smith presented predictions that exhibited significant differences in bending-shear coupling for the CUS box beam from their own analysis (FAMBA) vis-a-vis from VABS (Yu et al., 2002, 2012). The actual differences between results obtained from VABS (Yu et al., 2002, 2012) and FAMBA, when executed properly, are shown herein to be very minor. Indeed, both stiffness models yield very acceptable results for a static analysis. Specifically, VABS does not significantly deviate, qualitatively or quantitatively, from 3D FEM predictions, in contrast to results presented in Kim et al. (2008).
Ferromagnetism and heavy electron behavior in URu2−xMxSi2(M = Re, Tc and Mn)

Abstract The ferromagnetic state in URu 2−x Re x Si 2 has been confirmed with low field magnetization measurements and the Curie temperature found to be pressure independent up to 6.4 kbar. Substitution of Mn atoms for Ru in URu 2 Si 2 also leads to a ferromagnetic transition with a small saturation moment appearing at x ≳0.2. The ferromagnetism in URu 2− x M x Si 2 (M = Re, Tc or Mn) is apparently due to a sharp feature in the density of states of a band of strongly correlated electrons.
A distributed 3D Navier-Stokes solver in express

The Navier-Stokes equations are central to applied scientific research. The complete set of three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations is very complex and thus requires a substantial amount of computer time as well as memory in order to obtain an accurate solution. The scalability in both processing power and memory space of distributed-memory parallel computers give promise of solving large scale three-dimensional scientific problems based on these equations. In this paper, we describe the implementation and performance of a distributed three-dimensional Navier-Stokes solver in Parasoft's Express. We have run the solver on both the IBM Victor Computer (a 256-node transputer based system) and a token ring networked IBM RS/6000-520 workstation
On the use of demonstrative pronouns and determiners as cohesive devices: A focus on sentence-initial this/these in academic prose

Abstract A key concern for writers is the creation of cohesion in a text, and writers are told by style manuals to avoid the use of demonstratives ( this, that, these, those ) as pronouns in order to maintain cohesion. However, previous corpus-based investigations have already revealed that authors of academic texts use demonstratives as both determiners and pronouns. Using a corpus of academic research articles in Education and Sociology, I investigate the extended linguistic environments in which the demonstratives this and these are used with the goal of understanding how expert writers employ demonstratives as pronouns and determiners to create cohesion. The results of the study indicate that pronominal uses of this/these most overwhelmingly refer to antecedents that are complete clauses (but not extended discourse that spans sentence boundaries). When the demonstratives are followed by a noun, shell nouns and abstract nouns are used most of the time. Shell nouns, in contrast to other abstract nouns, most often refer to antecedents that are complete clauses or that are extended , meaning that the antecedent spans sentence boundaries. The implications of these results for teaching academic writing are discussed.
Microbial oceanography: Killers of the winners.

Viruses that infect the SAR11 group of oceanic bacteria have finally been found and sequenced. Because SAR11 is ubiquitous, these viruses may be the most abundant in the oceans — and perhaps in the entire biosphere. See Letter p.357 Bacteria of the SAR11 clade — named originally following their discovery in the Sargasso Sea — are by far the most abundant microbes in the world's oceans, and as such are an important factor in carbon cycling. This study describes the isolation and subsequent culture of several viruses that infect SAR11 from water samples taken on the Oregon coast and off Bermuda. Metagenomic analysis reveals that these 'pelagiphages' are abundant in the Pacific Ocean. These findings argue against a recent hypothesis developed to explain the success of SAR11 — that they might be immune to viral predation. Rather, the authors suggest, SAR1's dominance may reflect successfully evolved adaptation to resource competition.
Genetic modifiers affecting severity of epilepsy caused by mutation of sodium channel Scn2a.

Mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channels SCN1A and SCN2A are responsible for several types of human epilepsy. Variable expressivity among family members is a common feature of these inherited epilepsies, suggesting that genetic modifiers may influence the clinical manifestation of epilepsy. The transgenic mouse model Scn2a Q54 has an epilepsy phenotype as a result of a mutation in Scn2a that slows channel inactivation. The mice display progressive epilepsy that begins with short-duration partial seizures that appear to originate in the hippocampus. The partial seizures become more frequent and of longer duration with age and often induce secondary generalized seizures. Clinical severity of the Scn2a Q54 phenotype is influenced by genetic background. Congenic C57BL/6J.Q54 mice exhibit decreased incidence of spontaneous seizures, delayed seizure onset, and longer survival in comparison with [C57BL/6J × SJL/J]F1.Q54 mice. This observation indicates that strain SJL/J carries dominant modifier alleles at one or more loci that determine the severity of the epilepsy phenotype. Genome-wide interval mapping in an N2 backcross revealed two modifier loci on Chromosomes 11 and 19 that influence the clinical severity of of this sodium channel-induced epilepsy. Modifier genes affecting clinical severity in the Scn2a Q54 mouse model may contribute to the variable expressivity seen in epilepsy patients with sodium channel mutations.
4D-QSPR Analysis and Virtual Screening of Calcite Growth Inhibitor Libraries

A training set of 35 compounds whose calcite growth inhibition potencies were measured was used to construct a 4D-QSPR model. A site-specific binding pattern of atom types in space, that is a pharmacophore, consisting of six interaction sites between the inhibitors and the surface to which they bind was identified and represented by the 4D-QSPR model. Three of these pharmacophore sites dominate the 4D-QSPR model. One pharmacophore site indicates that its occupancy by any inhibitor atom decreases inhibition potency, suggesting this region of space is occupied by the binding surface. A second pharmacophore site involves an oxygen of a PO3H2 group, which is common to all compounds of the training set, hydrogen bonding to the surface. The third major pharmacophore site identifies a nonpolar region of space as being favorable to inhibition potency. A virtual library of 20 analogues to the training set was evaluated by using the 4D-QSPR model as a virtual high throughput screen, VHTS. Seven of the compounds in ...
Porphyromonas gingivalis fimbriae binds to neoglycoproteins: evidence for a lectin-like interaction.

Abstract Porphyromonas gingivalis is a likely major pathogen in adult periodontitis. Fimbriae in particular have been suggested as playing an important role in facilitating the initial interaction between the bacteria and the host and triggers host responses. Murakami et al. [Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 192 (1993) 826] have shown that fimbriae of P. gingivalis strongly induced TNF-α gene expression in macrophages and expression of TNF-α was inhibited by N -acetyl- d -galactosamine, but not inhibited by other sugars. Studies by Sojar et al. [FEBS Lett. 422 (1998) 205] suggested that the oligosaccharide moiety of lactoferrin is involved in the interaction of P. gingivalis fimbriae and human lactoferrin. In the present study, purified fimbriae from P. gingivalis and neoglycoproteins were used to assess lectin-like interaction of fimbriae. In dot blot and overlay assays, iodinated purified P. gingivalis fimbriae as well as biotinylated purified P. gingivalis fimbriae bound strongly to albumin-fucosylamide (albumin-1-amido-1-deoxy- l -fucose) and by lesser extent to albumin- N -acetyl- d -galactosamine (albumin- p -aminophenyl- N -acetyl-β- d -galactosaminide). However, fimbriae failed to bind carbohydrate free bovine serum albumin, which was used in preparation of the neoglycoproteins. These results suggests that P. gingivalis fimbriae bind to glycoconjugates through lectin-like interaction with carbohydrate. This protein–carbohydrate interactions may be important for triggering events in these cells, which mediate the host response of this pathogen.
Random exchange effects in antiferromagnetic quantum spin chains: A Monte Carlo study.

We have carried out Monte Carlo studies of a random-exchange antiferromagnetic spin-(1/2) chain. For systems with XY-like (anisotropic) and with Heisenberg (isotropic) coupling, our results confirm the existence of a disorder-induced low-temperature (T) divergence in the long-wavelength ${S}^{z}$-${S}^{z}$ susceptibility \ensuremath{\chi} which was previously predicted by real-space renormalization-group (RSRG) treatments. Over the finite temperature range studied, these results are consistent with a 1/(T ${\mathrm{ln}}^{2}$T) behavior of \ensuremath{\chi}, and hence in qualitative agreement with the RSRG results. As in the XY-Heisenberg regime, we also find a disorder-induced enhancement of the low-T susceptibility for a system with Ising-like exchange coupling which, over the finite temperature range studied, is again consistent with RSRG results. However, there are inconsistencies between the RSRG predictions in the Ising-like regime at very low temperatures, and the exact results for the random-exchange Ising chain and the low-temperature behavior of \ensuremath{\chi} in the Ising-like regime may in fact be more complicated than predicted by RSRG. Finally, we also present results for the antiferromagnetic susceptibility and structure factor. For both Heisenberg and Ising-like systems, we find that disorder suppresses the long-range antiferromagnetic correlations at low T.
KnightShift: Scaling the Energy Proportionality Wall through Server-Level Heterogeneity

Server energy proportionality has been improving over the past several years. Many components in a system, such as CPU, memory and disk, have been achieving good energy proportionality behavior. Using a wide range of server power data from the published SPEC power data we show that the overall system energy proportionality has reached 80%. We present two novel metrics, linear deviation and proportionality gap, that provide insights into accurately quantifying energy proportionality. Using these metrics we show that energy proportionality improvements are not uniform across various server utilization levels. In particular, the energy proportionality of even a highly proportional server suffers significantly at non-zero but low utilizations. We propose to tackle the lack of energy proportionality at low utilization using server-level heterogeneity. We present Knight Shift, a server-level heterogenous server architecture that introduces an active low power mode, through the addition of a tightly-coupled compute node called the Knight, enabling two energy-efficient operating regions. We evaluated Knight Shift against a variety of real-world data center workloads using a combination of prototyping and simulation, showing up to 75% energy savings with tail latency bounded by the latency of the Knight and up to 14% improvement to Performance per TCO dollar spent.
Tumour necrosis factor‐α depletes histone deacetylase 1 protein through IKK2

Class I histone deacetylases (HDACs) are ubiquitous enzymes that repress gene expression by deacetylating histone tails and promoting chromatin compaction. Pro-inflammatory agents activate programmes of gene expression through transcription factors such as nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), even in the context of ubiquitous HDAC activity. How this is accomplished remains unknown. We found that cells treated with the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor-α rapidly and substantially reduced HDAC1 protein levels without affecting other class I HDACs. In addition, HDAC1 depletion occurred through protein degradation, required IKK2 activity and resulted in increased transcription from both NF-κB-associated and unassociated gene promoters. Our study suggests that the activation of programmes of gene expression by pro-inflammatory agents requires global changes in specific critical epigenetic regulators such as HDAC1.
“Natives” as dialogic partners: Some thoughts on native anthropology

L'A. propose quelques reflexions a propos de l'anthropologie autochtone et discute les differents problemes impliques dans la representation culturelle du point de vue des groupes decrits. Illustrant son propos a partir de la museographie - a propos d'une exposition permanente sur la culture des Ainu au Musee national d'ethnologie du Japon (Minpaku) -, il suggere notamment que l'anthropologie autochtone ne se reduit pas a un simple probleme methodologique (de dialogue avec les informateurs), mais qu'il s'agit bien d'un probleme epistemologique susceptible d'affecter plus fondamentalement l'anthropologie. Mettant en lumiere les questions de pouvoir dans le systeme monde que represente l'anthropologie en tant que discipline academique, il plaide notamment pour une anthropologie renouvelee qui considere les autochtones comme des partenaires dialogiques, dans un dialogue qui integre l'ensemble de la triade ethnographique : celui qui decrit, celui qui est decrit, et celui qui lira la description ethnographique.