cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spatial pattern analysis of Chrysomelobia labidomerae Eickwort (Acari: Tarsonemina; Podapolipidae) on Mexican hosts

Abstract Densities of all lifestages of Chrysomelobia labidomerae Eickwort, a parasite of Mexican Leptinotarsa spp. were recorded and aggregation of this parasite upon its hosts was analyzed. The degree of aggregation was best described by Taylor's power law. Aggregation of all mite stages was independent of host species (4 species) and sex, however, beetle age affected the spatial distribution of mites. Field experiments provide evidence that high densities of C. labidomerae inhibit host dispersal. A deterministic model, based upon a density dependent k parameter of the negative binomial distribution and population growth parameters derived from laboratory studies of C. labidomerae, was used to estimate the relationship between beetle age, mite load, and stable equilibria for the mite population. The model was also used to predict the potential role of this mite for biological control of the Colorado potato beetle where it is a pest of potatoes.
Shaping project management concepts for technical communication students

How does the technical communication curriculum prepare students for an increasingly "projectized" workplace? Theories of knowledge management, communities of practice, and project management practices are key concepts that our students need to be able to both understand and work within a "projectized" environment. So how can we as teachers go beyond the outcome of understanding concepts and help our students shape their own practice as project team participants and future project managers? We will present our experiences teaching and developing curriculum for project management in the Technical Communication undergraduate program at the University of Minnesota.
The effect of interfacial friction on the buckle-driven spontaneous delamination of a compressed thin film

We consider the process of frictional interaction during the delamination of a compressed thin film from a substrate in order to assess the effect of Coulomb friction on the energy release rate, G, driving the delamination. For the case in which the film and the substrate have identical elastic properties, we derive a singular integral equation for the relative sliding displacement of the opposing faces of the debonded interface. Using an analytical model, we find that G decreases by about 35% when the coefficient of interfacial friction is equal to one. Using finite element methods, we then investigate the effects of compliance differences between the film and the substrate, as well as the bending that arises during the post-buckling response of the film. We find that, when the film is more compliant than the substrate, frictional interaction is enhanced and the calculated energy release rate decreases substantially. We further find that, when bending forces are taken into account, G is significantly affected only when the ratio of the length of the delamination to the thickness of the film is relatively small. We conclude that frictional effects can be significant in reducing the delamination driving force, and they can play an important role in the observed arrest of spreading delaminations.
The role of the middle cerebellar peduncle in acquisition and retention of the rabbit’s classically conditioned nictitating membrane response

In the present study, the middle cerebellar peduncles of 20 rabbits were lesioned before or after the left nictitating membrane/eyelid response was classically conditioned. Naive animals with completely destructed peduncles were unable to learn; in trained animals, the CRs were abolished using tones, lights, tactile stimulation, or pontine stimulation as conditioned stimuli. These results support the hypothesis that conditioned stimulus information is projected to the cerebellum via mossy fibers in the middle cerebellar peduncle during classical conditioning of discrete, somatic responses.
Electrophysiological indices of auditory discrimination in newborn infants: The bases for predicting later language development?*

Auditory evoked responses were recorded from scalp locations over the left and right hemispheres of newborn infants in response to series of computer synthesized speech sounds. The children were later tested at 3 years of age on a verbal test. Multivariate analyses of the AER data identified regions of the brain wave which discriminated between children who three years later performed at different levels on a standard language performance test.
Radical scholarship taking on the mainstream: Murray Rothbard’s contribution

Does one have to make a choice between ideological purity and success as an economist? Many free-market economists believe that one has to choose one or the other. Murray Rothbard (1926–1995) held views on economics and government far outside the accepted mainstream. Nevertheless he was extremely prolific in both mainstream and non-mainstream outlets and his work has influenced many people. This article surveys Rothbard’s contributions to top ranked economics journals and discusses some of the attention his work received in those journals and elsewhere. Rothbard left a bold and uncompromising research program in political economy that has inspired many to follow.
Drug displacement of warfarin from human serum albumin: a fluorometric analysis.

Abstract A rapid fluorometric method for studying the displacement of warfarin from human serum albumin was developed. The procedure depends upon the enhancement of the fluorescence of warfarin when bound to albumin, and the diminution of fluorescence when drugs capable of displacing warfarin are added to the assay. A number of drugs were tested for displacing ability at a standard concentration of 2.5 × 10 −5 m . The agents found to be effective displacers of warfarin, in decreasing order with respect to efficacy, were: dicumarol, iopanoic acid, indocyanine green, phenylbutazone, sulfobromophthalein, rifampicin, sulfinpyrazone, oxyphenbutazone, ethacrynic acid, tolbutamide, and salicylic acid. Erythromycin, lincomycin, amitriptyline, novobiocin, acetylsalicylic acid, clofibric acid, urea, tryptophane, diphenylhydantoin, chlorpropamide, and sulfacetamide did not decrease the fluorescence of warfarin at the concentration studied, while sulfisoxazole and indomethacin provided intermediate displacing ability.
Effect of atractyloside on mitochondrial protein synthesis

Bruni and Azzone (1964) concluded that atractyloside inhibits the mitochondrial formation of external ATP from phosphorylated compounds formed both at the level of the respiratory chain and at the substrate level. More recently Klingenberg and Pfaff (1966) and Vignais and Duee (1966) proposed that atractyloside acts on a catalytic carrier in the inner membrane which brings about the translocation of ADP and ATP in both directions. Winkler et al (1968) supported the hypothesis that the atractyloside sensitive binding site in rat liver mitochondria is an obligatory catalytic exchange diffusion carrier system specifically located in the inner membrane. Stimulatory effects of high concentrations of atractyloside on two energy requiring processes in rat liver mitochondria: citrulline synthesis in the absence of added ADP and dinitrophenol insensitive fatty acid oxidation in the absence of added orthophosphate, have been reported by Charles and Van Den Bergh (1967). Allman et al (1966) presented evidence that atractyloside inhibits several of the component steps in fatty acid oxidation. The present communication reports the effect of atractyloside on the incorporation of 1-leucine Cl4 into
Deficient attentional modulation of startle eyeblink is associated with symptom severity in the schizophrenia spectrum

Patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders show deficient prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle eyeblink reflex which is thought to reflect an early stage of information processing called automatic sensorimotor gating. They also exhibit deficient attentional modulation of PPI and prepulse facilitation (PPF) of startle which is thought to reflect deficient early and later controlled attentional processing. This is the first study to assess attentional modulation of PPI and PPF in a 3-group schizophrenia-spectrum sample of age- and sex-matched unmedicated schizotypal personality disorder (SPD) and schizophrenia patients, and healthy controls. Participants performed a tone-length judgment task involving attended, ignored, and novel tone prepulses while the acoustic startle eyeblink reflex was measured. Healthy controls showed greater PPI and PPF during the attended prepulses compared with the ignored prepulses. In contrast, both the SPD and schizophrenia patient groups failed to show this pattern, indicating deficient early and later controlled attentional processing. These findings suggest abnormal attentional modulation of PPI and PPF may be a trait-like feature found in patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. Among the schizophrenia-spectrum sample, more deficient PPI during the attended prepulses was associated with greater symptom severity as measured by the total 18-item Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale score.
Desensitized Half-Band Filters

A common component in digital circuitry for communication systems is the half-band filter. Digital half-band filters are often used in cooperation with upsamplers and downsamplers in multirate systems when a sampling-rate change is required. While techniques for designing these filters are well known, an entirely new method for the design and implementation of lowpass FIR half-band filters is presented in this paper, one in which the filter's frequency response can be provided with a significant insensitivity to the filter's tap-coefficient values. Such insensitivity can be exploited in the filter-design process to yield half-band filters with reduced hardware requirements, which can lead to circuits having lower power consumption, higher operating speeds, and smaller IC area.
Measuring the reliability of existing web servers

As the usage of the Internet increases and more critical functions rely on the World Wide Web for operation, it is important that network researchers have current and accurate information from a real-world standpoint of the achieved reliability of the Internet. Anecdotal evidence suggests that Web outages are a serious issue from a cost standpoint. However, there have been few mainstream studies showing the reliability of the existing web infrastructure. As the Internet has changed, so to has its capabilities and its reliability. Yet, there have been few independent studies which have provided quantitative measurement of actual Web reliability. This article provides results from a controlled experiment intended to measure the reliability of the existing web infrastructure.
Developmental Distribution of the Polyadenylation Protein CstF-64 and the Variant τCstF-64 in Mouse and Rat Testis

Abstract Messenger RNA polyadenylation is one of the processes that control gene expression in all eukaryotic cells and tissues. In mice, two forms of the regulatory polyadenylation protein CstF-64 are found. The gene Cstf2 on the X chromosome encodes this form, and it is expressed in all somatic tissues. The second form, τCstF-64 (encoded by the autosomal gene Cstf2t), is expressed in a more limited set of tissues and cell types, largely in meiotic and postmeiotic male germ cells and, to a smaller extent, in brain. We report here that whereas CstF-64 and τCstF-64 expression in rat tissues resembles their expression in mouse tissues, significant differences also are found. First, unlike in mice, in which CstF-64 was expressed in postmeiotic round and elongating spermatids, rat CstF-64 was absent in those cell types. Second, unlike in mice, τCstF-64 was expressed at significant levels in rat liver. These differences in expression suggest interesting differences in X-chromosomal gene expression between thes...
Analysis of the Complexation/Decomplexation Phenomena in Graft Copolymer Networks

Graft copolymer networks of poly(methacrylic acid-g-ethylene glycol) exhibiting pH-dependent swelling behavior due to the formation of interpolymer complexes were prepared by free radical solution polymerization of methacrylic acid and poly(ethylene glycol) monomethacrylate. Dynamic swelling studies established the swelling/deswelling process due to hydrogen bonding. Additionally, the effects of copolymer composition, graft chain molecular weight, and environmental pH on network structure were studied. The average network correlation length changed significantly due to changes in environmental pH. The largest changes in network structure were observed in gels containing nearly equimolar amounts of methacrylic acid and ethylene glycol and the longest molecular weight poly(ethylene glycol) grafts. Water diffusion coefficients, determined through dynamic swelling analysis, varied by 2 orders of magnitude between the uncomplexed and complexed states.
Evidence for knowledge of Greek in Anglo-Saxon England

More than half of the extant manuscripts from Anglo-Saxon England, both vernacular and Latin, contain Greek. How much Greek did the early English know? M. L. W. Laistner accepted only a handful of early authors, Bede among them, as ‘competent Hellenists’. Bernhard Bischoff, too, noted that among the numerous witnesses to Greek writing in the medieval West, only a few show knowledge of the language itself, and the majority in their corrupt state suggest just the opposite; moreover, he points out, their function is very often liturgical. By the same token, a recent survey of the rich Greek materials from Sankt Gallen makes the general observation that ‘few medievals possessed an ability to read Greek prose, an ability based on, at least, an acquaintance with the elementary principles of grammar’. For a number of years, I have been compiling a catalogue of Anglo-Saxon manuscripts containing Greek, and on the basis of what I have seen, these various assumptions – that much of the Greek was badly copied, that its vocabulary was largely ecclesiastical or liturgical, that such a vocabulary would necessarily repeat itself, yielding therefore perhaps no more than some 500 to 800 Greek words, and that knowledge of Greek grammer (declensions, inflexions and so forth) was minimal – need major modification. In what follows, I shall examine these various assumptions in turn.
The Effect of the Massachusetts Reform on Health Care Utilization

The 2006 Massachusetts health care reform expanded insurance coverage in the state to near-universal levels. As the uninsured gained coverage, their out-of-pocket costs of medical care fell, inducing them to seek more care. This paper analyzes the effect of the reform on reported health care utilization and outcomes by both synthesizing the existing research on the Massachusetts health care reform and providing new evidence using the National Health Interview Survey. The results show evidence that the Massachusetts reform increased residents' use of health care services including primary and preventive care, reduced reliance on the hospital emergency room as a usual source of care, and improved self-reported health.
Heart rate variability declines with increasing age and CTG repeat length in patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1.

Background: Cardiac myopathy manifesting as arrhythmias is common in the neurological disease, myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). The purpose of the present study was to evaluate heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with DM1. Methods: In a multicenter study, history, ECG, and genetic testing were performed in DM1 patients. Results: In 289 patients in whom the diagnosis of DM1 was confirmed by a prolonged cytosine-thymine-guanine (CTG) repeat length the most common ambulatory ECG abnormality was frequent ventricular ectopy (16.3%). The 24-hour time domain parameters of SDNN (SD of the NN interval) and SDANN (SD of the mean NN, 5-minute interval) declined as age and CTG repeat length increased (SDNN: −8.5 ms per decade, 95% confidence intervals [CI]−12.9, −4.2, −8.7 ms per 500 CTG repeats, CI −15.7, −1.8, r = 0.24, P < 0.001; SDANN: −8.1 ms per decade, CI −12.4, −3.8, −8.8 ms per 500 CTG repeats, CI −15.7, −1.9, r = 0.23, P < 0.001). Short-term frequency domain parameters declined with age only (total power: −658 ms2 per decade, CI: −984, −331, r = 0.23, P < 0.001; low frequency (LF) power −287 ms2 per decade, CI: −397, −178, r = 0.30, P < 0.001; high frequency (HF) power: −267 ms2 per decade, CI: −386, −144, r = 0.25, P < 0.001). The LF/HF ratio increased as the patient aged (0.5 per decade, CI: 0.1, 0.9, r = 0.13, P = 0.03). Conclusions: In DM1 patients a decline in HRV is observed as the patient ages and CTG repeat length increases. A.N.E. 2003; 8(3):227-232
β-Carotene Uptake and Tissue Distribution in Ferrets (Mustela putorius furo)

Feirets accumulate li-carotene In liverand adipose tissue after chronic feeding. This study was designed to further evaluate the time course of uptake and depletion of p5-carotene In fenet senim and tissues. Malefeirets (n - 15; 1000-1200 g) were givena single dose of f@.carotene(10 mg/kg body wt) with a meal. Animals were killed at various time points over an 11-d period. Blood and tissue samples were extracted and analyzed for n-carotene by HPLC.Peak senim @- carotene levels (0.68 Â± 0.18 @unoI/L) were observed 8 h after the test meal. f'-Carotene was essentially cleared from the blood by 76 h. Peak 3-caroteneconcentrations (nmol/g) were observed between 8 and 16 h after In gestlon for liver (1.20 Â± 0.04), king (0.042 Â± 0.012), kidney (0.090 Â± 0.015) and spleen (0.076 Â± 0.012). Ferret liver also seemed to contain a variety of other polar and noupolar carotenoids. Ferrets were shewn to absorb n-carotene from a meal and have a consistent seium response pattern. Absorbed I-carotene Is differ entlally distributed In a variety of tissues. The ferret seems to be a useful model for the study of @.camtens absoiption and metabolism. J. Nutr. 122: 115-119, 1992. INDEXING KEYWORDS:
Copper and the Prion Protein: Methods, Structures, Function, and Disease

The transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) arise from conversion of the membrane-bound prion protein from PrP(C) to PrP(Sc). Examples of the TSEs include mad cow disease, chronic wasting disease in deer and elk, scrapie in goats and sheep, and kuru and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans. Although the precise function of PrP(C) in healthy tissues is not known, recent research demonstrates that it binds Cu(II) in an unusual and highly conserved region of the protein termed the octarepeat domain. This review describes recent connections between copper and PrP(C), with an emphasis on the electron paramagnetic resonance elucidation of the specific copper-binding sites, insights into PrP(C) function, and emerging connections between copper and prion disease.
The Impact of Companion Animals in Later Life and Considerations for Practice

Interaction with companion animals, or pets, is increasingly recognized as a contributor to well-being in later life. This article focuses on the actual impact of animal companionship on older adults' (institutionalized and community dwelling) physical, social, and psychological health. Considerations for practice are discussed, with particular emphasis on professionals' recognizing the effect of multiple life-course factors that may moderate the therapeutic value of companion animals. Such factors include older persons' health, financial status, housing situation, and current and previous attitudes and attachments to pets.
Meeting Mr Davis vs Mr Davin: Effects of name frequency on learning proper names in young and older adults

Two theoretical frameworks relevant to proper name learning in ageing make competing predictions about the effects of name frequency. Under an inhibition model, common (high-frequency; HF) proper names will be harder to learn and remember than rare (low-frequency; LF) names, whereas under a transmission deficit model, HF names will have the advantage. Young adults (ages 18–31) and two groups of healthy older adults (ages 60–74 and 75–89) learned HF (e.g., Davis) and LF (e.g., Davin) surnames in association with new faces. Young adults recalled more names than older or oldest adults, and participants of all ages recalled more HF than LF names. There was no interaction between age and name frequency: The difference favouring HF names was similar in magnitude across age groups. All evidence runs contrary to the inhibitory model's prediction that interference makes learning HF names difficult.
Effects of zinc, iron, cobalt, and manganese on Fusarium moniliforme NRRL 13616 growth and fusarin C biosynthesis in submerged cultures

The influence of zinc, iron, cobalt, and manganese on submerged cultures of Fusarium moniliforme NRRL 13616 was assessed by measuring dry weight accumulation, fusarin C biosynthesis, and ammonia assimilation. Shake flask cultures were grown in a nitrogen-limited defined medium supplemented with various combinations of metal ions according to partial-factorial experimental designs. Zinc (26 to 3,200 ppb [26 to 3,200 ng/ml]) inhibited fusarin C biosynthesis, increased dry weight accumulation, and increased ammonia assimilation. Carbohydrate was found to be the principal component of the increased dry weight in zinc-supplemented cultures. Zinc-deficient cultures synthesized more lipid and lipidlike compounds, such as fusarin C, than did zinc-supplemented cultures. Microscopic examination showed that zinc-deficient hyphae contained numerous lipid globules which were not present in zinc-supplemented cultures. Addition of zinc (3,200 ppb) to 2- and 4-day-old cultures inhibited further fusarin C biosynthesis but did not stimulate additional dry weight accumulation. Iron (10.0 ppm) and cobalt (9.0 ppm) did not affect fusarin C biosynthesis or dry weight accumulation. Manganese (5.1 ppm) did not affect dry weight accumulation but did increase fusarin C biosynthesis in the absence of zinc. Maximum fusarin C levels, 32.3 micrograms/mg (dry weight), were produced when cultures were supplied manganese, whereas minimum fusarin C levels, 0.07 micrograms/mg (dry weight), were produced when zinc, iron, cobalt, and manganese were supplied. These results suggest a multifunctional role for zinc in affecting F. moniliforme metabolism.
The influence of pH, temperature and organic acids on the initiation of growth of Yersinia enterocolitica.

The influence of incubation temperature, and of acetic, lactic and citric acids on the minimum pH for the initiation of growth of six strains of Yersinia enterocolitica was determined. The strains included two of serotype O : 9, two of serotype O : 3, and one each of serotypes O : 8 and O : 5, 27. In a culture medium acidified with HCl to pH values between 4.0 and 6.0 at intervals of approximately 0.1 unit the minimum pH at which growth was detected after incubation at 20 degrees, 10 degrees, 7 degrees and 4 degrees C for 21 d was in the ranges 4.18-4.36, 4.26-4.50, 4.36-4.83 and 4.42-4.80, respectively. The minimum pH for growth was also determined in media that contained 17, 33 and 50 mmol/l acetic acid adjusted to pH values between 5.1 and 5.9 at intervals of approximately 0.2 unit, 24, 48 and 95 mmol/l citric acid adjusted to pH values between 4.1 and 4.9 at intervals of approximately 0.2 unit, and 22, 44, and 111 mmol/l lactic acid adjusted to pH values between 4.3 and 5.7 at intervals of approximately 0.4 or 0.5 unit. The effect of these concentrations of organic acids was, in most cases, to increase the minimum pH that allowed growth. The order of effectiveness of the organic acids in raising the minimum pH for growth was acetic greater than lactic greater than citric and the minimum inhibitory concentrations were greater at higher temperatures.
Fully-Automatic Interactive Story Design from Film Scripts

Game design is an expensive and time-consuming process. In this paper we explore the potential of a fully-automatic game design system that uses the scripts from famous action films to generate interactive, text-based, RPGs. We automatically extracted key information such as dialogues, characters, settings, and events from the movie scripts. For level design, we applied a TF-IDF clustering algorithm to determine which scenes could be grouped together as levels. We test a pilot game based on The Adventures of Indiana Jones, in which the player is presented with a series of choices in the form of abstract responses as she guides Indiana Jones to complete his mission successfully. Evaluation of our scene clustering algorithm indicates a high correlation between automatic and gold-standard clusters, while our preliminary user evaluation shows that our approach is promising.
Biology of Anemia, Differential Diagnosis, and Treatment Options in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

Anemia is the most common hematologic manifestation of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The causes of HIV-related anemia are multifactorial and include direct and indirect effects of HIV infection. HIV-related anemia generally is due to reduced red blood cell (RBC) production, secondary to a variety of causes, but it may also involve nutritional deficiencies, increased RBC destruction, or a combination of these problems. Evaluation of hemoglobin level, reticulocyte count, bilirubin, and mean corpuscular volume value and review of the peripheral blood smear are necessary for diagnosis. Treatment of HIV-related anemia should address the correctable underlying causes of this disorder, such as modifications of offending medications, nutritional deficiencies, and parvovirus infection. Patients with HIV infection have a blunted erythropoietin response to anemia. Therapeutic modalities for anemia that is not amenable to correction include blood transfusion and recombinant human erythropoietin (epoetin alfa).
Functional Group Change within and across Scales following Invasions and Extinctions in the Everglades Ecosystem

Cross-scale resilience theory predicts that the combination of functional diversity within scales and functional redundancy across scales is an important attribute of ecosystems because it helps these systems resist minor ecological disruptions and regenerate after major disturbances such as hurricanes and fire. Using the vertebrate fauna of south Florida, we quantified how the loss of native species and invasion by nonnatives may alter functional group richness within and across scales. We found that despite large changes in species composition due to potential extinctions and successful invasions by nonnative species, functional group richness will not change significantly within scales, there will not be any significant loss of overall redundancy of ecology function across scales, and overall body mass pattern will not undergo substantial change. However, the types of functions performed will change, and this change may have profound effects on not only the Everglades ecosystem but on the entire landscape of south Florida.
Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein 1 and Interleukin-8 Production in Mononuclear Cells Stimulated by Oral Microorganisms

Chemokines are a family of low-molecular-weight proinflammatory cytokines that stimulate recruitment of leukocytes. The chemokines interleukin-8 (IL-8) and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) are relatively specific chemoattractants for neutrophils and monocytes, respectively. Chemokine expression contributes to the presence of different leukocyte populations observed in normal and pathologic states. In the present studies, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were stimulated by microbes (Candida albicans, Streptococcus mutans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans) selected based upon their importance as oral pathogens. IL-8 and MCP-1 gene expression and protein release were determined by Northern blot (RNA blot) analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. C. albicans, P. gingivalis, and A. actinomycetemcomitans induced high levels of production of both MCP-1 and IL-8. S. mutans was a strong inducer of MCP-1, but it did not stimulate significant production of IL-8. C. albicans, S. mutans, and A. actinomycetemcomitans were 500 to 5,000 times more potent than P. gingivalis in terms of MCP-1 production. In general, the microbe-to-PBMC ratios required for maximum gene expression of MCP-1 were lower than those for IL-8. However, for actual protein release of MCP-1 versus IL-8, differences in the effects of various microbe concentrations were observed only for A. actinomycetemcomitans. These results demonstrate that different oral pathogens induce specific dose-dependent patterns of chemokine gene expression and release. Such patterns may help explain the immunopathology of oral infections, particularly with regard to inflammatory leukocyte recruitment.
A hybrid framework for protein sequence clustering and classification using signature motif information

In this paper, we propose an unsupervised hybrid framework for protein sequence clustering and classification which incorporates protein structural motif information. The proposed framework consists of three stages: protein structural motif scan, hybrid clustering, and sequence classification. The incorporation of protein structural motif detected by ScanProsite service provides a better measurement in calculating the sequence similarity. The proposed two-phase hybrid clustering approach combines the strengths of the hierarchical and the partition clustering. Phase I adopts the hierarchical agglomerative clustering to pre-cluster multi-aligned sequences. Phase II performs the partition clustering which initiates its partition based on the result from Phase I and uses profile Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) to represent clusters. The profile HMMs are then stored in the database for unknown sequences classification, which is done by finding the best alignment of a sequence to each existing profile HMM. Our experiments demonstrate the effectiveness and the efficiency of the proposed framework for biological sequence clustering and classification.
DEVELOPMENT OF A LOSS-CONSISTENT WIND AND FLOOD DAMAGE SCALE FOR RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS

This paper sets forth a new damage scale for use in assessing physical damage to single family houses caused by wind and flood events. A new methodology is presented for assessing both structural and nonstructural physical damage caused by flood events, ranging from slow-rise inundation flooding to coastal high velocity flooding with wave action. The flood scale is integrated with FEMA's HAZUS wind damage scale to allow users to assess a building's overall level of physical damage on a loss-consistent basis. The damage scale additionally expands and improves FEMA's HAZUS wind damage scale by including two new categories to assess more severe levels of damage. This combined wind and flood damage scale (the WF Damage Scale) ranges from WF-0 (no damage to very minor damage) to WF-6 (complete collapse). Qualitative and quantitative damage descriptions are provided to ease field implementation.
The occurrence and wave properties of H+-, He+-, and O+-band EMIC waves observed by the Van Allen Probes

We perform a statistical study of electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves detected by the Van Allen Probes mission to investigate the spatial distribution of their occurrence, wave power, ellipticity, and normal angle. The Van Allen Probes have been used which allow us to explore the inner magnetosphere (1.1 to 5.8 RE). Magnetic field measurements from the Electric and Magnetic Field Instrument Suite and Integrated Science on board the Van Allen Probes are used to identify EMIC wave events for the first 22 months of the mission operation (8 September 2012 to 30 June 2014). EMIC waves are examined in H+, He+, and O+ bands. Over 700 EMIC wave events have been identified over the three different wave bands (265 H+-band events, 438 He+-band events, and 68 O+-band events). EMIC wave events are observed between L = 2–8, with over 140 EMIC wave events observed below L = 4. Results show that H+-band EMIC waves have two peak magnetic local time (MLT) occurrence regions: prenoon (09:00 0.1 nT2/Hz), especially in the afternoon sector. Ellipticity observations reveal that linearly polarized EMIC waves dominate in lower L shells.
The Prevalence and Visibility of Police Misconduct: A Survey of Citizens and Police Officers:

Although police misconduct has generated much social concern in the United States in recent years, there is no clear consensus among citizens, researchers, community activists, and police administr...
Current treatment of nodular goiter with hyperthyroidism (Plummer's disease): surgery versus radioiodine.

Abstract Background. First described 9 decades ago by H. S. Plummer, thyroidectomy and radioiodine remain the 2 therapeutic modalities for toxic nodular goiter. The aim of this study was to determine its optimal treatment. Methods. The presentation, operative treatment, pathology, and clinical course of 362 consecutive patients treated at our institution for Plummer's disease from 1990 to 1999 were retrospectively reviewed. Results. Three hundred forty-six patients (63 men and 283 women) were treated surgically (181, 53%), with radioiodine (RAI, 157, 45%), or a combination of both (8, 2%). Mean age was 62 years (surgical, 55 years; RAI, 69 years). Nearly half were symptomatic, 51 (15%) with airway or swallowing compromise and 110 (32%) with cardiac complications. The estimated goiter size was larger (60 g or greater) in surgical (72 patients, 38%) than medically treated (45 patients, 29%) patients. RAI treatment dose averaged 28 mCi; 10 patients (6%) required a second treatment, and 8 patients failed treatment and required subsequent thyroidectomy. Types of thyroidectomy included total (29 patients, 16%), near-total (47 patients, 26%), bilateral subtotal (46 patients, 25%), and unilateral (58 patients, 32%). One month after treatment, hyperthyroidism had resolved in 96% of the surgical patients but only 6% of the RAI patients (mean time to resolution, 5.4 months). Only 55 (38%) of the RAI patients' goiters reduced in size. Recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis and hypoparathyroidism each occurred in 3 (2%) patients. Conclusions. Surgical treatment results in rapid, reliable resolution of hyperthyroidism and removal of the nodular goiter with low morbidity and no mortality. RAI is also safe and effective, usually requiring a single dose, but the results are delayed and it usually fails to resolve a goiter. (Surgery 2002;132:916-23.)
Automatic generation of streaming datapaths for arbitrary fixed permutations

This paper presents a technique to perform arbitrary fixed permutations on streaming data. We describe a parameterized architecture that takes as input n data points streamed at a rate of w per cycle, performs a permutation over all n points, and outputs the result in the same streaming format. We describe the system and its requirements mathematically and use this mathematical description to show that the datapaths resulting from our technique can sustain a full throughput of w words per cycle without stalling. Additionally, we provide an algorithm to configure the datapath for a given permutation and streaming width. Using this technique, we have constructed a full synthesis system that takes as input a permutation and a streaming width and outputs a register-transfer level Verilog description of the datapath. We present an evaluation of our generated designs over varying problem sizes and streaming widths, synthesized for a Xilinx Virtex-5 FPGA.
An experimental adaptive nulling receiver utilizing the sample matrix inversion algorithm with channel equalization

The authors explore two ideas for effectively achieving channel equalization within the framework of a narrowband sidelobe canceler. The first approach relies primarily on digital equalization to enhance conventional sample matrix inversion (SMI) performance, whereas the second utilizes feedback to extend the SMI method into the realm of analog adaptive cancellation. An experimental four-channel receiver that supports open-loop and closed-loop operation is described. As implemented, three different canceler modes are possible: feedforward, feedback, and a tandem feedback/feedforward combination. All three modes have been successfully demonstrated in bench experiments with a broadband noise source using the SMI algorithm. Cancellation ratios in excess of 50 dB have been achieved in a four-channel testbed system. >
PLANT-MEDIATED INTERACTIONS BETWEEN THE NORTHERN POCKET GOPHER, THOMOMYS TALPOIDES, AND ABOVEGROUND HERBIVOROUS INSECTS

We used reciprocal exclusions to test for indirect interactions between pocket gophers (Thomomys talpoides) and aboveground insects. Sucking insects occurred at higher densities on plants that were protected from grazing by gophers (P < 0.05), whereas chewing insects damaged plants that were browsed by gophers more than plants that were protected from gopher herbivory (P < 0.05). Pocket gophers foraged more in areas treated with insecticide (P < 0.05). These results indicate that aboveground insects and the northern pocket gopher interacted through their shared plant hosts.
Orbital-free density functional theory study of the energetics of vacancy clustering and prismatic dislocation loop nucleation in aluminium

In the present work, we conduct large-scale orbital-free density functional theory calculations to study the energetics of vacancy clustering in aluminium from electronic structure calculations by accurately accounting for both the electronic structure and long-ranged elastic fields. Our results show positive binding energies for a range of vacancy clusters considered. However, the binding energies for the various quad-vacancy clusters considered in this study are vastly different, and only some of these clusters are found to be stable with respect to dissociation into divacancies. This suggests that, while vacancy clustering is an energetically feasible mechanism, this happens preferentially through the formation of certain vacancy clusters. Among the vacancy clusters considered in this study, the 19 vacancy hexagonal cluster lying in plane has a very large binding energy with the relaxed atomic structure representative of a prismatic dislocation loop. This suggests that vacancy prismatic loops as small ...
Making Paper Dolls: How Restrictions on Judicial Review and the Administrative Process Increase Immigration Cases in Federal Court

Today, jurisdiction over immigration law is by no means well defined by clear limits. Limitations on jurisdiction have bred a multitude of litigation. The number of federal court cases reviewing removal orders has increased 970% in the past ten years. As of September 2005, the immigration cases represented 18% of the appellate civil docket.Congress and the courts are not alone in augmenting the number of immigration cases in the federal courts. Congress has also urged the agencies enforcing the immigration laws to increase enforcement, to reduce backlogs and to make removal more swift and certain. At the same time that Congress was shearing away at the forms of judicial review, the Department of Justice and its Executive Office for Immigration Review (“EOIR”) together with the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) were increasing the number, rate and speed of adjudication of removal cases.For these men, women and children in removal proceedings, the incentives to litigate beyond the agency have partially increased as a reaction to the narrowing and elimination of prior forms of relief. Prior to 1996, the immigration statutes provided many people with a way to regularize their status, to become “legal” through the removal process. Now, statutory bars on relief are very strict and other forms of relief have been entirely eliminated. Thus, the individual fights harder either to defeat the government assertion that he or she is subject to removal or in the hope that litigation or time will somehow prevent removal.In this paper, I argue that many of the reforms taken by Congress or by the agency, although designed to increase efficiency have, in essence, backfired. I explore some of the statutory and administrative sources that are contributing to the increase in immigration-related federal court cases. I also discuss substantive immigration law issues and litigation strategies that, in combination with the statutory/regulatory architecture, are adding to the growth in the number of cases. I look at the interrelationship of these factors. Only by examining these interconnections can we seriously understand the nature of the “problem.” In fact, depending on our goal for the immigration adjudication system, we might conclude that judicial review of removal orders, even at this significant rate, is both manageable and essential for the development of our immigration law and policy.
High-dimensional classification via nonparametric empirical Bayes and maximum likelihood inference

We propose new nonparametric empirical Bayes methods for high-dimensional classification. Our classifiers are designed to approximate the Bayes classifier in a hypothesized hierarchical model, where the prior distributions for the model parameters are estimated nonparametrically from the training data. As is common with nonparametric empirical Bayes, the proposed classifiers are effective in high-dimensional settings even when the underlying model parameters are in fact nonrandom. We use nonparametric maximum likelihood estimates of the prior distributions, following the elegant approach studied by Kiefer & Wolfowitz in the 1950s. However, our implementation is based on a recent convex optimization framework for approximating these estimates that is well-suited for large-scale problems. We derive new theoretical results on the accuracy of the approximate estimator, which help control the misclassification rate of one of our classifiers. We show that our methods outperform several existing methods in simulations and perform well when gene expression microarray data is used to classify cancer patients.
STUDIES ON BLOOD COAGULATION : II. THE FORMATION OF FIBRIN FROM THROMBIN AND FIBRINOGEN.

Although calcium is essential for the formation of thrombin, it can be recovered quantitatively from formed horse thrombin without affecting its coagulating activity. Citrate also has no significant effect. As stated in the text, this does not exclude the possibility that thrombin is actually a calcium compound present in minute concentration; but confirming the results of Hammarsten, it does show that fibrin cannot be a calcium-protein compound unless one assumes molecular weights for fibrinogen greater than 1,000,000. Although the available experimental data concerning the properties of thrombin, the kinetics of its reaction with fibrinogen, and the quantitative relationships between the two do not allow a definite decision as to whether thrombin is an enzyme analogous to rennin, or whether it combines with fibrinogen to form an insoluble compound, fibrin, the weight of evidence does favor the enzyme theory. A given quantity of thrombin can form at least 200 times its weight of fibrin, and in view of the crudeness of the preparation this ratio is probably many times greater. There is no apparent stoichiometric relationship between thrombin and fibrinogen, and thrombin does not disappear from a mixture of the two until the moment of coagulation; the quantity which then disappears is many times the minimal quantity necessary to form the amount of fibrin produced.
A New Species of Fistulina from Mexico

A new species of Fistulina is described from Mexico and the name Fistulina guzmanii proposed. This species differs from all other described species of the genus by its bright purple-red to carmine-red color, especially of the pore surface, and its host which is Mimosa galeottii. In addition, it differs by its smaller size and, to some extent, by slightly smaller basidia and hyphae from F. hepatica, with which it seems to be most closely related. It is so far known only from subtropical, open Quercus forests of Mexico.
Detection of wheel faults in electric vehicles via localization data

This paper addresses the detection of wheel faults in autonomous vehicles. Instead of the typically broad range of sensors involved, localization data is used to detect and classify three major faults in torque-controlled DC motors. A four wheeled vehicle is implemented in simulation with independent steering and in-hub motors to generate localization data. The vehicle model is based on extensive vehicle dynamics modeling to accurately predict a small passenger vehicle. These three faults are induced on the vehicle to determine the effectiveness of the localization method and test its ability to detect the faults and delineate between the different fault types. Lastly, an extension is outlined for detection and classification for broader error types beyond those represented by the three errors examined.
The Effect of Weight Loss on the Sensitivity of Blood Pressure to Sodium in Obese Adolescents

Abstract To clarify the role of sodium intake in the regulation of blood pressure in obese subjects, we measured blood pressure in 60 obese and 18 nonobese adolescents after successive two-week periods of a high-salt diet (>250 mmol of sodium per day) and a low-salt diet (<30 mmol per day). When they were changed from a high-salt to a low-salt diet, the obese group had a significantly larger mean change (±SE) in mean arterial pressure (-12±1 mm Hg) than did the nonobese group (+1±2 mm Hg; P<0.001). The variables that best predicted the degree of sodium sensitivity were the fasting plasma insulin level, the plasma aldosterone level while the low-salt diet was being given, the plasma norepinephrine level while the high-salt diet was being given, and the percentage of body weight made up by fat. Fifty-one of the obese adolescents were also studied before and after a 20-week weight-loss program. After the weight-loss program, the 36 subjects who lost more than 1 kg of body weight had a reduced sensitivity of ...
Analysis Plan of the Risk of a B747-8 Hand-Flown Balked Landing Penetrating the FAA Category I, Code E Obstacle-Free Zone

In Advisory Circular 150/5300-13 CHG 8, “Airport Design,” the OFZ is specified to have a base width (inner approach surface) of 400 feet for runways serving large airplanes. At a point 200 feet laterally from the center of the runway, the inner-transitional OFZ surface rises vertically. The extent of this vertical rise is a function of both the runway threshold elevation above Mean Sea Level and the most demanding wingspan of airplanes expected to use the runway. From the top of this vertical rise, the surface then slopes 6 (horizontal) to 1 (vertical) out to a height of 148 feet (Ref. 1).
African American Women’s Perceptions of Mindfulness Meditation Training and Gendered Race-Related Stress

African American women experience stress-related outcomes due to race and gender (i.e., gendered race-related stress). Mindfulness meditation training (MMT), an intervention that facilitates increased self-regulation of stress, may reduce the effect of gendered race-related stress on African American women’s psychological and physical health. However, little is known about the perceived benefits and barriers African American women associate with MMT. The current study used the Health Belief Model to investigate how African American women’s (a) severity of symptoms, (b) expected benefits of MMT, and (c) perceived barriers to MMT contributed to their interest in MMT. Data from 12 African American women were analyzed with qualitative thematic analysis. Women reported a need for MMT given their gendered race-related stress experiences. Perceived benefits of MMT included easy accessibility, fit with existing daily activities, and positive health outcomes. Perceived barriers to use of MMT were incongruence with African American culture, stigma, caretaking tensions, and extensive time commitment. Themes are discussed with respect to their implications for increasing MMT engagement among African American women.