cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Projective dimensions and extensions of modules from tilted to cluster-tilted algebras

Abstract We study the module categories of a tilted algebra C and the corresponding cluster-tilted algebra B = C ⋉ E where E is the C-C-bimodule Ext C 2 ( D C , C ) . We investigate how various properties of a C-module are affected when considered in the module category of B. We give a complete characterization of the projective dimension of a C-module inside mod B . If a C-module M satisfies Ext C 1 ( M , M ) = 0 , we show two sufficient conditions for M to satisfy Ext B 1 ( M , M ) = 0 . In particular, if M C is indecomposable and Ext C 1 ( M , M ) = 0 , we prove M B always satisfies Ext B 1 ( M , M ) = 0 .
Globally optimal score-based learning of directed acyclic graphs in high-dimensions

We prove that $\Omega(s\log p)$ samples suffice to learn a sparse Gaussian directed acyclic graph (DAG) from data, where $s$ is the maximum Markov blanket size. This improves upon recent results that require $\Omega(s^{4}\log p)$ samples in the equal variance case. To prove this, we analyze a popular score-based estimator that has been the subject of extensive empirical inquiry in recent years and is known to achieve state-of-the-art results. Furthermore, the approach we study does not require strong assumptions such as faithfulness that existing theory for score-based learning crucially relies on. The resulting estimator is based around a difficult nonconvex optimization problem, and its analysis may be of independent interest given recent interest in nonconvex optimization in machine learning. Our analysis overcomes the drawbacks of existing theoretical analyses, which either fail to guarantee structure consistency in high-dimensions (i.e. learning the correct graph with high probability), or rely on restrictive assumptions. In contrast, we give explicit finite-sample bounds that are valid in the important $p\gg n$ regime.
Ensuring Success Among First-Generation, Low-Income, and Underserved Minority Students: Developing a Unified Community of Support:

Recent research has demonstrated the value of comprehensive, integrated programs that combine and align several interventions to create a seamless learning environment for undergraduate students in...
Advancing educational quality in Rwanda: Improving teachers’ literacy pedagogy and print environments

Abstract This study investigates the impact of a teacher professional development (PD) program in rural Rwanda, part of a randomized controlled trial of Save the Children’s early literacy intervention, “Literacy Boost.” We focus on the impact of training on teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge (PCK), classroom practices, and classroom print environment. Teachers in sectors assigned to receive PD had significantly higher levels of early literacy PCK than teachers in control sectors, and they reported using significantly more research-based literacy pedagogical practices. Classroom observations also suggested increases in desired pedagogical practices, but differences were not statistically significant. The impact on classroom print environments was large and significant. We discuss implications for improving the quality of early literacy instruction in the least developed countries.
Drought and food security in the middle east: An analytical framework

Abstract Natural disasters may act as harmful causes of food insecurity in the Middle East. Frequent drought events, water scarcity, and unsustainable intensive agricultural practices may impact food security in the region. This paper investigates a causal relationship between drought and food security across the Middle East. Meteorological, agricultural, and hydrological droughts are analyzed at multiple timescales over the region for seven decades during the period of 1948–2017. We simulate food security in the Middle East as a function of drought (representing a water stress factor) as well as several other socio-economic drivers. A Bayesian approach is implemented to integrate these drivers in order to accurately predict food security in the region. Results reveal that hydrological drought is the most intensified drought type over the region, especially in Egypt, during the study period. Moreover, the results demonstrate the significant impacts of livestock, population growth, agricultural products, and drought on food security in the Middle East. Our findings further indicate that the agricultural products decreased in the Middle East following the recent drought event that happened in 2010.
Geometry and dynamics of lipid membranes: The Scriven-Love number.

The equations governing lipid membrane dynamics in planar, spherical, and cylindrical geometries are presented here. Unperturbed and first-order perturbed equations are determined and nondimensionalized. In membrane systems with a nonzero base flow, perturbed in-plane and out-of-plane quantities are found to vary over different length scales. A new dimensionless number, named the Scriven-Love number, and the well-known Foppl-von Karman number result from a scaling analysis. The Scriven-Love number compares out-of-plane forces arising from the in-plane, intramembrane viscous stresses to the familiar elastic bending forces, while the Foppl-von Karman number compares tension to bending forces. Both numbers are calculated in past experimental works, and span a wide range of values in various biological processes across different geometries. In situations with large Scriven-Love and Foppl-von Karman numbers, the dynamical response of a perturbed membrane is dominated by out-of-plane viscous and surface tension forces-with bending forces playing a negligible role. Calculations of non-negligible Scriven-Love numbers in various biological processes and in vitro experiments show in-plane intramembrane viscous flows cannot generally be ignored when analyzing lipid membrane behavior.
55 year-old Female with Hematuria.

Author(s): Long, Drew A.; Long, Brit | Abstract: Case Presentation: A 55 year-old female presented to the emergency department with left sided abdominal pain and hematuria. Computed tomography scan of her abdomen and pelvis demonstrated a large left renal mass with extension into the left ureter, left renal vein, and inferior vena cava. She was admitted and treated for presumed renal cell carcinoma (RCC).Discussion: RCC may present with abdominal or flank pain and hematuria, but more commonly presents with vague symptoms. RCC should be suspected in a patient presenting with hematuria and abdominal or flank pain, especially if vague symptoms such as fatigue or anorexia are also present.
Portending Influence of Racial Disparities on Extended Length of Stay after Elective Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Interbody Fusion for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy.

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate whether race is an independent predictor of extended length of stay (LOS) after elective anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). Methods A retrospective cohort study was performed using the National Inpatient Sample database from 2016 to 2017. All adult patients undergoing ACDF for CSM were identified using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification coding system. Results A total of 15,400 patients were identified, of whom 13,250 (86.0%) were Caucasian (C) and 2150 (14.0%) were African American (AA). The C cohort tended to be older, whereas the AA cohort had 2 times as many patients in the 0–25th income quartile. The prevalence of comorbidities was greater in the AA cohort. Intraoperative fusion levels were similar between the cohorts, whereas the AA cohort had a higher rate of cerebrospinal fluid leak/dural tear. In relation to the number of complications, the C cohort had a lower rate compared with the AA cohort (P = 0.006), including no complication (89.4% vs. 85.3%), 1 complication (9.9% vs. 12.8%), and >1 complication (0.7% vs. 1.9%). The AA cohort experienced significantly longer hospital stays (C, 1.9 ± 2.3 days vs. AA, 2.7 ± 3.5; P Conclusions Our study suggests that AA patients have a significantly higher risk of prolonged LOS after elective ACDF for CSM compared with C patients.
Cardiovascular Medical Devices: Stents, Grafts, Stent-Grafts and Other Endovascular Devices

Abstract The top two causes of death worldwide, are ischemic heart disease and stroke; in essence, both are manifestations of vascular pathology. Additionally, aortic aneurysms and related pathologies are associated with significant mortality and morbidity. Biomaterials and devices for the heart are discussed in the previous chapter. This chapter focuses on the biomaterials and devices used to manage vascular disease. Vascular pathology results in disease primarily via one of two principal mechanisms: (1) Narrowing (stenosis) or complete obstruction of vessel lumens, either progressively (e.g., by intimal hyperplasia or atherosclerosis, see below) or precipitously (e.g., by either thrombosis directly or fragmentation of thrombus with downstream vessel blockage, called embolism); and (2) weakening of vessel walls, leading to dilation or rupture. Thus, the vasculature has been a longstanding and important target for both open surgical procedures and endovascular interventions using biomaterials and associated devices to open blood vessels that are clogged and to strengthen or otherwise repair weak or defective vessels. The devices that have facilitated these procedures are highly specialized to the anatomic site and functional role of the segment of vascular bed targeted, and the specific pathological processes the procedures and devices are intended to manage. In this chapter, we discuss devices used for vascular repair and replacement (including vascular grafts and endovascular stents and stent grafts), filters to prevent pulmonary embolism, catheters and other vascular devices.
Lamin C regulates genome organization after mitosis

Abstract The dynamic 3D organization of the genome is central to the regulation of gene expression and developmental progression, with its disruption being implicated in various diseases. The nuclear lamina, a proteinaceous meshwork underlying the nuclear envelope (NE), provides both structural and regulatory influences on genome organization through the tethering of large inactive genomic regions, called Lamina Associated Domains (LADs), to the nuclear periphery. Evidence suggests that the A type lamins, lamins A and C, are the predominant lamins involved in the peripheral association of LADs, with these two isotypes forming distinct networks and potentially involved in different cellular processes. Here we tested whether lamins A and C have distinct roles in genome organization by examining chromosome architecture in cells in which lamin C or lamin A are specifically down-regulated. We find that lamin C (not lamin A) is required for the 3D organization of LADs and overall chromosome organization in the cell nucleus. Striking differences in the localization of lamin A and lamin C are present as cells exit mitosis that persist through early G1. Whereas lamin A associates with the nascent NE during telophase, lamin C remains in the interior surrounding nucleoplasmic LAD clusters. Lamin C association with the NE is delayed until several hours into G1 and correlates temporally and spatially with the post-mitotic NE association of LADs. Post-mitotic LAD association with the NE, and consequently global 3D genome organization, is perturbed only in cells depleted of lamin C, and not in cells depleted of lamin A. We conclude that lamin C regulates LAD dynamics after mitosis and is a key regulator of genome organization in mammalian cells. These findings reveal an unexpectedly central role for lamin C in genome organization, including both inter-chromosomal LAD-LAD segregation and LAD scaffolding at the NE.
Trusting a Double Agent

We analyze trust in a game with a double agent and two adversarial intelligence organizations. Greater trust by one organization makes the agent more inclined to align against that organization bec...
Multiscale Modeling of EEG/MEG Response of a Compact Cluster of Tightly Spaced Pyramidal Neocortical Neurons

In this study, the boundary element fast multipole method or BEM-FMM is applied to model compact clusters of tightly spaced pyramidal neocortical neurons firing simultaneously and coupled with a high-resolution macroscopic head model. The algorithm is capable of processing a very large number of surface-based unknowns along with a virtually unlimited number of elementary microscopic current dipole sources distributed within the neuronal arbor.
Ohio Nonprofit COVID-19 Survey: A Report of the Results

This report provides the results of the first round of the Ohio Nonprofit COVID-19 Survey, which captured early reactions of the nonprofit sector to the pandemi
Functional limitations and worrying to lose employment among individuals with chronic conditions and disabilities during COVID-19: A hierarchical logistic regression model

BACKGROUND: As an unexpected environmental factor causing significant economic, financial, and health challenges for everyone, it is no wonder that COVID-19 presents significant employment-related worries for people with chronic health conditions and disabilities OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore whether higher levels of functional limitations are associated with worry about job loss for individuals with disabilities and chronic conditions METHODS: Data for this study were collected to understand the effects of COVID-19 on individuals with disabilities and chronic conditions A total of 219 employed participants were extracted from a total of 269 individuals with disabilities and chronic conditions The mean age among participants was 37 83 (SD=10 97) RESULTS: Our hierarchical logistic regression analysis revealed that (a) demographic variables were not associated with worry about job loss in the first block, (b) perceived COVID-19 stress (AOR=2 90, p<0 001) was correlated with worry about job loss in the second block, and (c) functional limitations (AOR=1 06, p<0 001) were positively correlated with worry about job loss in the third block Overall, the entire model containing all predictor variables in three blocks explained 23% (Nagelkerke R2) of the variance in worry about job loss CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes to the disability and vocational rehabilitation literature by examining the relationship between functional limitations and worry to lose jobs in people with disabilities © 2021 - IOS Press All rights reserved
The Comparative Mental Health Responses Between Post-Musculoskeletal Injury and Post-Concussive Injury Among Collegiate Athletes: A Systematic Review

# Background The average annual national estimate of injuries sustained by collegiate athletes is 210,674, which encompasses both those of a musculoskeletal and a concussive nature. Although athletic injuries are sustained through physical means and produce physical symptoms, sports-related injuries may be a stressor among athletes that is related to mental health. # Purpose The purpose of this systematic review is to summarize existing literature describing mental health responses in collegiate athletes with a concussion compared to those with a musculoskeletal injury. # Study Design Systematic Review # Methods Systematic searches of PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, ProQuest, and SportDiscus were completed. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were utilized. Methodological quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Tool. Data extracted from the included articles included the study design, number of participants, type of injury, sex, age, sport participation, outcome measures, and time to return to play. # Results A total of six articles were included. Peak depressive symptoms in athletes who sustain a concussion or musculoskeletal injury occur within one-week post-injury. No significant differences between the concussive and musculoskeletal groups anxiety scores were found at baseline or at each follow-up session. Athletes from both groups were found to be returning to their respective sports with anxiety scores representative of clinical anxiety. # Conclusion Similar trends in depressive and anxiety symptoms at various time points post-injury were observed in athletes with both musculoskeletal and concussive injuries. This study identified that athletes were returning to play before their psychological symptoms had returned to their baseline. # Level of Evidence 2a
AN in inclusive lepton-proton collisions: TMD and twist-3 approaches

We consider the inclusive production of hadrons in lepton-nucleon scattering. For a transversely polarized nucleon this reaction shows a left-right azimuthal asymmetry, which we compute in both TMD and in twist-3 collinear factorization formalisms. All non-perturbative parton correlators of the calculation are fixed through information from other hard processes. Our results for the left-right asymmetry agree in sign with recent data for charged pion production from the HERMES Collaboration and from Jefferson Lab. We discuss similarities and differences of the two formalisms.
Conflict and health: Building on the role of infrastructure

Abstract Conflict undermines health. But infrastructure, such as transportation networks, hospitals, and markets, can moderate the effects of conflict on health. We make two primary contributions to this established observation. First, we disentangle important differences in the roles that three types of infrastructure play in moderating the effect of conflict on health. Second, we evaluate conflict intensity as a continuous measure, capturing how different types of infrastructure could protect health in conflict-affected areas. We merge geocoded conflict and infrastructure metrics with individual-level child health data as a marker of societal well-being which is particularly sensitive to conflict. Our results, which cover 29 Sub-Saharan African states between 2000 and 2018, indicate that physical infrastructure ameliorates the effects of conflict on health. However, living in remote areas with higher food production also confers significant protection from conflict. This empirical pattern presents a policy challenge since increasing access to markets and reducing the degree of subsistence agriculture is associated with health improvement and economic development over time. Living in more populated areas comes with both substantial health benefits and risks. These effects are likely to become more complex as countries in Sub-Saharan Africa continue to urbanize.
Regulatory Review Commission + Regulatory Budget = a Diet for Better, More Effective Regulations

Excessive regulatory accumulation has long been a concern of policymakers, and over the past 40 years, many presidents and members of Congress have taken steps to address this issue. Every recent president beginning with Carter issued or reaffirmed executive orders that set requirements for regulatory agencies in an attempt to avoid poorly designed and excessive regulations. Similarly, Congress began taking steps to address overregulation with the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978, the Staggers Rail Act of 1980, and the Motor Carrier Act of 1980. Each of these attempts had a laudable goal, but none have had the effect of reducing and limiting the long-term accumulation of regulations. To reduce the burdens of regulations now and in the future, a proper regime must include both a drastic reduction of the regulatory bloat and a formal mechanism to limit the growth of the regulatory code. Together, these approaches would give Congress the information, incentives, and capacity to address existing costly regulations and regulatory accumulation more broadly, as well as improve future legislation and control the growth of new regulations. This policy brief describes the problems associated with regulatory accumulation, then briefly describes these two approaches and how Congress can use them together to take more control over the regulatory process and improve both legislation and regulation.
Case Study Comparison: Limitations in Telehealth Relating to Poverty and Family Support

Telehealth appointments have grown in popularity due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. Three cases presented in this article show several different perspectives where telehealth was utilized. For the first patient, appointments were successfully completed via telehealth; however, the patient's family opted to continue with an unsecure internet connection at a local laundromat. For the second patient, a stable internet connection could not be obtained in his home, thus making telehealth appointments unavailable. The caregiver of this patient ended up driving to the clinic to have adjustments made in person. For the third patient, telehealth appointments were unavailable due to unstable internet connections as well as difficulty setting up video interpreting services. These cases highlight the idea that telehealth can be incredibly beneficial, when used correctly. For some, the option to attend appointments virtually gives them access to specialists that otherwise may not be available. For other patients, aspects such as access to smart devices and steady internet access must be considered to ensure a successful connection. The hope is that this article sheds light on some of the potential setbacks that can come from the use of telehealth appointments in a practice and provides discussion regarding for whom telehealth may be appropriate, even in pediatric patients. After reading this article, readers should be able to discuss ways in which there could be solutions for these barriers that may prevent some patients from utilizing these types of virtual appointments.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Dynamics and Discordant Amyloid Biomarkers

Do MRI-based metrics of a CSF-dynamics disorder, disproportionately enlarged subarachnoid-space hydrocephalus (DESH), correlate with discordant amyloid biomarkers (low CSF β-amyloid 1-42, normal Aβ-PET scan)? Individuals ≥50 years from the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging, with MRI, 11C-Pittsburgh compound B (Aβ) PET scans, and CSF phosphorylated-tau protein and Aβ42, were categorized into 4 groups: normal and/or abnormal by CSF β-amyloid 1-42 and Aβ amyloid PET. Within groups, we noted MRI patterns of CSF-dynamics disorders and Aβ-PET accumulation-change rate. One-hundred participants (21%) in the abnormal-CSF and/or normal-PET group had highest DESH-pattern scores and lowest CSF-phosphorylated-tau levels. Among normal amyloid-PET individuals, a 1-unit DESH-pattern score increase correlated with 30%-greater odds of abnormal amyloid CSF after age, and sex adjustment. Mean rate over time of amyloid-PET accumulation in abnormal-CSF and/or normal-PET individuals approximated individuals with normal amyloid values. Adjusting for phosphorylated-tau, abnormal CSF-amyloid and/or normal amyloid-PET individuals had higher mean amyloid-PET accumulation rates than normal individuals. CSF dynamics disorders confound β-amyloid and phosphorylated-tau CSF-biomarker interpretation.
Anisotropic upper critical fields of disordered Nb0.53Ti0.47-Ge multilayers

Studies are reported of the upper critical fields of Nb0.53Ti0.47-Ge multilayers consisting of thick Ge layers and varying-thickness Nb0.53Ti0.47 layers. Both the angular dependence and the temperature dependence of the upper critical fields indicate a dimensional crossover at a Nb0.53Ti0.47 layer thickness near 200 A. All the 2D samples display a cusplike upper critical field angular dependence with a sharper cusp for thinner Nb0.53Ti0.47 layers. The parallel upper critical fields are tentatively fitted with an expression combining the 2D field dependence of Rickayzen, the paramagnetic limiting behavior of Maki, and the disorder-related Coulomb interaction effects of Maekawa and Fukuyama. The perpendicular fields are fitted with the Maekawa, Ebisawa, and Fukuyama theory; better agreement is obtained for thinner Nb0.53Ti0.47 sublayers when the paramagnetic limiting effect is included.
Measuring Experience of Care: Availability and Use of Satisfaction Surveys in Residential Intervention Settings for Children and Youth

Many public and private mental health agencies have mandated the inclusion of client satisfaction measures in performance outcome initiatives. Unfortunately, there have been limited concurrent developments in methods to assess consumers’ perceptions of care, especially for youth. This article reports the findings from a survey of 66 American Association of Children’s Residential Centers (AACRC) member organizations, the Brief Survey of Specific Youth-Guided Practices in Residential Care Settings, that was conducted in Spring 2014 as part of a project that investigated the integration of youth-guided philosophy into residential intervention services and the extent to which AACRC member organizations incorporate “youth-guided” principles into everyday practice. The survey collected information on a range of youth-guided practices within agencies, but in this article we focus on some of the management practices most directly associated with administration of experience of care (satisfaction surveys). Specifi...
A 5-axis mini direct drive robot for time delayed teleoperation

A previously developed 3 axis mini direct drive robot has been enhanced with two additional direct drive axes for general positioning and orientation of an axially symmetric tool. The arm has a work volume of about 50 cc and will have 5-10 micron or better resolution and repeatability. The arm forms an initial prototype for the NASA/University of Washington MicroTrex flight telerobotics experiment. The contemplated terrestrial applications include handling sub-microliter liquid samples for electrophoresis, and micro-manipulation with scaled force reflection. >
Abstract P219: Lesser LDL Drop on Statins Predicts Greater Glycemic Rise in Women

Background: Statins elevate glucose (glc) in some people, but effects vary. Age & metabolic syndrome precursors were previously shown to significantly predict glc rise on statins (vs placebo) in men but not women. Better understanding of predictors in women is needed. Higher baseline LDL and lesser drop in LDL on statins was previously linked to more muscle symptoms on statins - postulated to arise from LDL upregulation for antioxidant transport in prooxidant settings - which might also lead to glc elevation. Goal: To assess the relation of LDL (baseline and change-on-statins) to glc change (Δglc) in women. Method: 324 postmenopausal women, without known diabetes or CVD, with fasting glc ≤142mg/dL, LDL 115-190 mg/dL, underwent (sex-stratified, double-blind) randomization to pravastatin 40mg, simvastatin 20mg or placebo for 6 months. 203 were age<65. Regression assessed prediction of Δglc by statin-vs-placebo, baseline and ΔLDL, adjusted for baseline-glc§. Analysis was repeated, stratified by treatment arm...
Extending the Impacts of Hostile Media Perceptions: Influences on Discussion and Opinion Polarization in the Context of Climate Change

Researchers recently have begun to examine how hostile media perceptions may promote discursive activities aimed at correcting the media’s perceived negative influence. We use nationally representa...
Low clouds suppress Arctic air formation and amplify high-latitude continental winter warming.

High-latitude continents have warmed much more rapidly in recent decades than the rest of the globe, especially in winter, and the maintenance of warm, frost-free conditions in continental interiors in winter has been a long-standing problem of past equable climates. We use an idealized single-column atmospheric model across a range of conditions to study the polar night process of air mass transformation from high-latitude maritime air, with a prescribed initial temperature profile, to much colder high-latitude continental air. We find that a low-cloud feedback—consisting of a robust increase in the duration of optically thick liquid clouds with warming of the initial state—slows radiative cooling of the surface and amplifies continental warming. This low-cloud feedback increases the continental surface air temperature by roughly two degrees for each degree increase of the initial maritime surface air temperature, effectively suppressing Arctic air formation. The time it takes for the surface air temperature to drop below freezing increases nonlinearly to ∼10 d for initial maritime surface air temperatures of 20 °C. These results, supplemented by an analysis of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5 climate model runs that shows large increases in cloud water path and surface cloud longwave forcing in warmer climates, suggest that the “lapse rate feedback” in simulations of anthropogenic climate change may be related to the influence of low clouds on the stratification of the lower troposphere. The results also indicate that optically thick stratus cloud decks could help to maintain frost-free winter continental interiors in equable climates.
Fire effects on acorn production are consistent with the stored resource hypothesis for masting behavior

Highly variable patterns of seed production (“masting”) have been hypothesized to be driven by internal dynamics of resource storage and depletion. This hypothesis predicts that if seed production is artificially reduced, then the availability of unused stored resources should result in subsequent enhancement of the seed crop. We tested this prediction in two oak species with contrasting patterns of annual seed production (highly variable and relatively constant) by means of controlled burns at various frequencies over a 17-year period. We found that controlled burns reduced acorn production by both species in the year of the burn. In the species with relatively constant productivity, acorn production returned to baseline levels in the year following a burn; however, in the species with highly variable productivity, acorn production significantly increased the year following a burn. These results support a key prediction of the stored resource hypothesis by means of a long-term experimental test in wild t...
Autumnal Return of Tropical Air to the Gulf of Mexico's Coastal Plain

Abstract The return of tropical air from the Gulf of Mexico is examined in the autumnal cool season. Results from the thermodynamic equilibrium model of Betts and Ridgway are used to calculate the equilibrium equivalent potential temperature (θe) over the gulf and the northwestern Caribbean Sea. With a climatological study as a backdrop, a case of severe weather outbreak in mid-November 1988 is analyzed with emphasis on the analysis of low-level θe that flowed into the storm region from the Gulf of Mexico. The primary results of the study are the following: The climatological distribution of equilibrium θe over the gulf and the Caribbean in November serves as a useful tool for the analysis of the 1988 case study. Between 5 and 15 November 1988, equilibrium in the marine layer was established over the gulf due to the absence of any deep cold-air penetrations during this period. The high-valued θe that streamed into the severe storm region on 15 November 1988 tracked from the Yucatan straits and the northwe...
Glutamine supplementation increases postprandial energy expenditure and fat oxidation in humans

Background: Glutamine interacts with insulin-mediated glucose disposal, which is a component of the increase in energy expenditure (EE) after a meal. The study aim was to examine if glutamine supplementation alters postmeal nutrient oxidation. Methods: Ten healthy young adults consumed a mixed meal (6.5 kcal/kg, 14%:22%:64% = protein:fat:carbohydrate) containing either glutamine (GLN:1.05 kcal/kg) or an isocaloric amino acid mixture (alanine: glycine:serine = 2:1:0.5; CON). GLN and CON treatments were administered on separate days in random order for each subject. EE, nonprotein respiratory quotient (RQ), and fat and carbohydrate oxidation rates were assessed using indirect calorimetry for 30 minutes before and for 360 minutes after meal ingestion. Results: Premeal EE and RQ were similar between treatments. The increase in EE above basal during both early (0–180 minutes) and late (180–360 minutes) postmeal phases was greater in GLN than in CON (p < .05), resulting in postmeal EE being 49% greater during t...
Optimal testing strategies for large, sparse multinomial models

Abstract Much has been written in the literature on testing for independence in contingency tables. A number of related topics have been studied, including the choice of test statistic, the appropriateness of asymptotic results versus exact tests, and the use of conditional or unconditional analyses. Much of the work to date has focused on relatively small contingency tables. The literature on testing for Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) is substantive as well. Most of the focus to date has been on loci with relatively small numbers of alleles. The increased use of genetic markers with large numbers of alleles (e.g., forensic DNA profiling) is quickly dating this previous work. The size of the multinomial vectors under consideration grows quickly. Even relatively large samples will produce somewhat sparse multinomial data sets with small expected frequencies, calling asymptotic results into question. In the face of large, sparse multinomials, we provide a comprehensive comparison of test statistics and testing strategies (asymptotic versus exact, conditional versus unconditional) to test for independence (i.e., the presence of HWE) at one locus with many alleles. Attained significance level and power are evaluated. We find that Fisher's exact test is most appropriate for small samples, and the asymptotic chi-square goodness-of-fit statistic works well with large samples, relative to the number of multinomial categories. The log-likelihood ratio statistic performs poorly.
Inequality restricted linear selection indices

The problem of construction of selection indices with arbitrary linear inequality constraints on covariances is considered. The selection indices suggested by Smith (1936), Kempthorne Nordskog (1959) Tall is (1962) are shown as special cases. A method of solution is presented and prediction errors of various indices are compared. The method is applied to the example given in Kempthorne Nordskog (1959).
Use of isotopic transient techniques in the study of NO reduction reactions

Abstract Examples of the use of transient techniques in NO reduction reactions are presented. The specific reactions studied are NO + NH3 reaction over crystalline vanadia catalysts and NO + CH4 reaction over Pd/TiO2 catalysts. The reactions were investigated by the following step function changes: 14NH3 + O2 →15NH3 + O2, 14NO + NH3 + O2 →15NO + NH3 + O2, 14N16O →15N18O, 13CH4 + NO → NO, 13CH4 + NO → He, 13CH4 → NO, CH4 +15NO → CH4, and CH4 +15NO → NO + CH4. The results have provided information about the differences in the surface residence time of intermediates while also making it possible to differentiate between different reaction pathways in the NO reduction reactions with ammonia and with methane.
Antonio de capmany: Human nature and the nature of rhetoric

Antonio de Capmany's Filosofia de la eloquencia (1777) is the Spanish rhetorical treatise in which the epistemology of the Enlightenment is most clearly revealed. In this work Capmany posits an explicit theory of human nature which in turn dictates the nature of his theory of rhetoric. As a result of his philosophical analysis Capmany must assign to rhetoric a function which is essentially expressive.
Special tubes for total bile and pancreatic juice collection in the human.

SummarySpecial tubes for measuring total output of bile and pancreatic juice in man under physiological conditions, are described. Bile secreation from normal livers varied between 1000 and 2000 ml; pancreatic juice from normal pancreas varied between 1500 and 4000 ml.
Crystal structure at 2.4 A resolution of Borrelia burgdorferi inosine 5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase: evidence of a substrate-induced hinged-lid motion by loop 6.

The conversion of inosine 5‘-monophosphate (IMP) to xanthosine 5‘-monophosphate (XMP) is the committed and rate-limiting reaction in de novo guanine nucleotide biosynthesis. Inosine 5‘- monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) is the enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of IMP to XMP with the concomitant reduction of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (from NAD+ to NADH). Because of its critical role in purine biosynthesis, IMPDH is a drug design target for anticancer, antiinfective, and immunosuppressive chemotherapy. We have determined the crystal structure of IMPDH from Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterial spirochete that causes Lyme disease, with a sulfate ion bound in the IMP phosphate binding site. This is the first structure of IMPDH in the absence of substrate or cofactor where the active-site loop (loop 6), which contains the essential catalytic residue Cys 229, is clearly defined in the electron density. We report that a seven residue region of loop 6, including Cys229, is tilted more than 6 A away from...
Relativistic variational theory for two-electron atoms

In this paper the variational method is applied to the Dirac equation for heliumlike atoms. We use screened hydrogenic wave functions and find accurate energy values, corresponding to saddle points in parameter space. The energies and one-photon radiative transition rates for the 1${s}^{2}$, 1s2s, and 1s2p states are calculated with little numerical effort.
Graphical models for data mining

I will discuss the use of graphical models for data mining. I will review key research areas including structure learning, variational methods, a relational modeling, and describe applications ranging from web traffic analysis to AIDS vaccine design.
Phase 2 trial of carboplatin plus tamoxifen in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer and primary carcinoma of the peritoneum.

Abstract Objectives . A previously reported phase 2 trial suggested substantial clinical activity associated with the combination of a platinum agent and tamoxifen in the treatment of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. We wished to confirm or refute this observation in a patient population with well-characterized platinum-resistant disease. Methods . Patients with ovarian or fallopian tube cancers or primary carcinoma of the peritoneum whose disease had either failed to respond to a platinum-based regimen or had responded but experienced a "treatment-free interval (TFI)" of ≤3 months, or if the TFI was >3 months they had been retreated and failed a platinum-based program, were eligible for entry into this phase 2 single institution protocol. Carboplatin (AUC 5) was delivered on a q-21 day cycle. Tamoxifen was administered at a dose of 80 mg/day for the first cycle, and then reduced to 40 mg/day. Treatment was to be continued until evidence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Results . Fourteen patients were treated on this phase 2 trial. In addition to being platinum-resistant, 10 patients had cancers that were also documented to be taxane-resistant (similar criteria to that defined above for platinum). While treatment was generally well tolerated, there were no objective (measurable disease or CA-125 response criteria) or subjective responses to this treatment program. Conclusion . In this phase 2 trial, we have been unable to confirm a meaningful level of clinical activity for the combination of carboplatin plus tamoxifen in a patient population with well-characterized platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.
US drug and biologic approvals in 1998

The Prescription Drug User Fee Act of 1992 enhanced review resources for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The past 3 years have seen an unprecedented approval of 122 new drugs and 28 new biologics. Information is provided on the 39 new products approved by the FDA in 1998. Drug Dev. Res. 48:139–153, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Information systems software cost estimating: a current assessment

A study of information systems managers and other information systems professionals at 112 different organizations confirmed that information systems software cost estimating is an important concern. Subjects reported the completion of only one of every four systems development projects within their estimates. According to them, the major cause of inaccurate estimates was changes in user requirements. Organizations using sophisticated cost estimating software packages were less successful at preventing large cost overruns than organizations not using them. However, the use of the estimator as system developer, the careful monitoring of systems development projects, and the inclusion in performance evaluations of success in meeting estimates were associated with more accurate cost estimating.
Teach Alice programming to non-majors

This paper presents the design and implementation of an introductory computer programming course using Alice for non-CS majors. This course gives a broad overview of computer science as an academic discipline and teaches computer programming to non-CS majors in a fun way.
Structural Changes in the Tracheae of Preterm Lambs Induced by Ventilation

ABSTRACT: Compliant immature airways sustain significant deformation following positive pressure ventilation. To evaluate the structural changes induced by in vivo positive pressure ventilation, tracheae of preterm lambs (107-116 d gestational age) were studied histologically. Nonventilated (group I: n = 7) and ventilated (group II: n = 7) tracheal segments were excised and studied by histologic and morphometric techniques. Computerized image analysis was used to measure dimensions of tracheal wall components and of the tracheal section. The circumference, diameter, and cross-sectional area of the section as well as the length of the trachealis muscle were significantly greater; although the thickness of the muscle and cartilage were seen to be significantly lower in group II sections compared to group I sections. Also, in comparison to group I, in group II sections there was lesser overlap of the posterior free ends of tracheal cartilage and the epithelial layer was flattened and focally abraded. Our findings demonstrate structural changes in the airway of preterm animals and characterize alterations in the geometric arrangement of muscle and cartilage after PPV. These results suggest possible structural mechanisms for the functional changes seen during and subsequent to mechanical ventilation.
The production of long-term rat muscle cell cultures on a Matrigel substrate and the removal of fibroblast contamination by collagenase

We report a simplified method modified from standard procedures for the production of long-term primary skeletal muscle monolayer cell cultures using collagenous for tissue digestion. When grown on the commercially available substrate Matrigel, such cultures are high in myotube content, remain attached to the plate surface after the initiation of spontaneous activity and do not need to be treated with mitotic inhibitors to control fibroblast proliferation. In addition cultures even more enriched for myotubes can be produced by selective removal of fibroblasts from Matrigel coated plates by collagenase. This novel procedure, along with the simplified primary culture technique, allows for highly reproducible results even for the inexperienced user.
Reductions in cortical activity during priming

Priming is a nonconscious form of memory in which an encounter with a stimulus influences the subsequent identification, production or classification of the same or a related stimulus. Neuroimaging studies have revealed that behavioral priming is typically accompanied by reduced activity in several cortical regions. We review recent studies that have concerned two key issues. First, specificity effects produced by changes between study and test in either the physical features of stimuli or the behavioral response reveal cortical sensitivity to the perceptual, conceptual and stimulus-to-decision mapping properties of primed items. Second, correlations between behavioral priming and activity reductions are robust across a range of tasks and procedures in prefrontal regions but not in posterior regions. On the basis of these recent studies, we suggest that the reduction in cortical activity during priming involves at least two different mechanisms.
The surface structure and properties of atmospheric ice crystals

Theories to describe the structures and properties of ice surface were critically examined. Misconceptions were clarified in regard to treatment of the liquid-like layer that is expected to exist on the surface of an ice crystal below 0°C, 1 atm under equilibrium. It was shown that the pressure in the surface layer, not the surface free energy, is responsible for the formation of the liquid-like layer. Transformation of this layer into transitional liquid layer under ice-supersaturated conditions of the environment and the roles played by the latter layer in non-dendritic and dendritic growth of ice crystals were explained.
EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIP OF CONTENT TO GENDER-BASED PERFORMANCE DIFFERENCES IN ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAMS

The purpose of this study is to examine the content of the questions in a number of Advanced Placement Examinations and to attempt to identify content that is related to gender-based performance differences. Free-response questions for ten forms of the AP® Exams in U.S. History, European History, Biology, Microeconomics, and Macroeconomics were studied and the multiple-choice items for four forms of AP U.S. History were also studied. Results indicate that, in the case of U.S. History multiple-choice items, the measures of male and female performance differences are significantly correlated with item content. In a second analysis, the findings for nine of these content categories were replicated in different forms of the exam, suggesting that these results are of generalizable interest. In the case of the free-response questions for each of the five subject areas, the study identified a significant relationship between item content and gender-based performance differences, but there were not enough items for a replication study. Overall, this study suggests that item content is associated with gender-based performance differences.
Isolation and characterization of cell-specific cDNA clones from a subtractive library of the ocular ciliary body of a single normal human donor: transcription and synthesis of plasma proteins.

A subtractive cDNA library was developed for the purpose of identifying cell-specific genes expressed within the human ocular ciliary body, a tissue responsible for regulating aqueous humor secretion and intraocular pressure. Partial DNA sequence of a large number of cDNA clones and homology searches of nucleic acid and protein databases revealed significant homologies to at least 90 independently known genes. A group of biologically significant genes that were previously not known to have transcriptional expression in the ciliary body, complement component C4; alpha 2 macroglobulin; selenoprotein-P; and apolipoprotein D, were further demonstrated by Northern hybridization. Antibodies to these and other proteins (i.e., tyrosinase-related protein and pigment epithelium-derived factor) confirmed their cell-restricted expression in ciliary epithelial cells (pigmented, nonpigmented), or vascular endothelial cells. We provide evidence that two human plasma proteins, complement component C4 and alpha 2-macroglobulin are metabolically labeled with [35S]methionine in ciliary processes explants, suggesting that the ciliary body is an organ of synthesis and secretion of plasma proteins present in aqueous humor. These results challenge the notion that plasma proteins in aqueous humor are imported from outside of the eye. The subtractive cDNA library reported in this work should be very useful for identifying potential candidate genes in ocular abnormalities affecting the ciliary body, or involved in the regulation of intraocular pressure.