cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Systematic Review of Global Drivers of Ant Elevational Diversity

Ant diversity shows a variety of patterns across elevational gradients, though the patterns and drivers have not been evaluated comprehensively. In this systematic review and reanalysis, we use published data on ant elevational diversity to detail the observed patterns and to test the predictions and interactions of four major diversity hypotheses: thermal energy, the mid-domain effect, area, and the elevational climate model. Of sixty-seven published datasets from the literature, only those with standardized, comprehensive sampling were used. Datasets included both local and regional ant diversity and spanned 80° in latitude across six biogeographical provinces. We used a combination of simulations, linear regressions, and non-parametric statistics to test multiple quantitative predictions of each hypothesis. We used an environmentally and geometrically constrained model as well as multiple regression to test their interactions. Ant diversity showed three distinct patterns across elevations: most common were hump-shaped mid-elevation peaks in diversity, followed by low-elevation plateaus and monotonic decreases in the number of ant species. The elevational climate model, which proposes that temperature and precipitation jointly drive diversity, and area were partially supported as independent drivers. Thermal energy and the mid-domain effect were not supported as primary drivers of ant diversity globally. The interaction models supported the influence of multiple drivers, though not a consistent set. In contrast to many vertebrate taxa, global ant elevational diversity patterns appear more complex, with the best environmental model contingent on precipitation levels. Differences in ecology and natural history among taxa may be crucial to the processes influencing broad-scale diversity patterns.
Preservation of the ovary: a reevaluation.

The incidence of routine ovariectomy approximates 20% to 30% of all women at hysterectomy. The propriety of this practice is evaluated from three perspectives: (1) the review of the longevity of ovarian hormonal function throughout life, (2) the review of the low risk of subsequent disease in the retained ovary, and (3) the review of epidemiologic considerations. Because oophorectomy and the loss of its steroid contribution has such a profound influence on many body functions, with the most devastating relation to osteoporosis, and because there are no meaningful data in the literature to support the value of routine oophorectomy, removal of ovaries should only be performed when the ovaries are diseased.
Preparing to Implement an Information System

The factors that must be considered when preparing to implement a pharmacy information system are discussed. A major early decision is whether to locate the central processing unit (CPU) in the pharmacy department or the information services department. Other site considerations are the size of the CPU, environmental conditions, electrical needs, the presence of a backup CPU, and system security. System considerations include interfaces, daily management, preventive maintenance, other support functions, and printers. The system will affect all personnel in the pharmacy department; most jobs will have to be redesigned. Issues to address during implementation planning are forms and labels, the implementation schedule, benchmark development, system conversion, and problem resolution. Files must be developed with great attention to detail and accuracy, as they are the heart and soul of the system. Most departmental policies and procedures will have to be incorporated into the operations of the system. Other departments--in particular, information services, hospital purchasing, administration, nursing, and laboratory--may have requirements that should be considered. There may be legal requirements in the areas of drug order entry, file security and confidentiality, and retention of records. Extensive preparation and planning are necessary before a pharmacy information system can be implemented.
The thermodynamic properties of dibenzofuran

Abstract Measurements leading to the calculation of the ideal-gas thermodynamic properties for dibenzofuran are reported. Experimental methods included combustion calorimetry, adiabatic heat-capacity calorimetry, comparative ebulliometry, inclined-piston manometry, and differential scanning calorimetry. Entropies, enthalpies, and Gibbs energies of formation were derived for the ideal gas for selected temperatures between 298.15 K and 720 K. The critical temperature and critical density were determined with a differential scanning calorimeter, and the critical pressure was derived. These are the first reported experimental critical properties for dibenzofuran. Measured combustion enthalpies, vapor pressures, critical properties, and ideal-gas entropies are compared with literature values.
Radiosensitivity of Fancd2-/- mouse Bone Marrow Stromal Cells Is Altered By Abrogation of TGF-β Signaling

Abstract Both marrow-transplanted and non-transplanted Fanconi Anemia (FA) patients are often radiosensitive. Due to an increased risk of developing secondary malignancies, these patients require dose and volume modification during radiotherapy. To determine whether abrogation of TGF-β signaling alters the radiation sensitivity of Fancd2-/- mice, cell lines derived from double knockout (DKO) (SMAD3-/- Fancd2-/-) mice were compared with those from Fancd2-/-, SMAD3-/-, and wild-type mice for ionizing irradiation sensitivity. Bone marrow stromal cell lines were derived from long-term bone marrow cultures of DKO, Fancd2-/-, SMAD3-/-, and wild-type SMAD3+/+ (129/Sv) X Fancd2+/+ (B6) F1 mice. Radiation sensitivity was determined using clonogenic irradiation survival curves. There was no significant difference in radiosensitivity comparing DKO cells (Do = 1.95 ± 0.06 Gy, ň = 4.3 ± 0.7) to the wild type SMAD3+/+ (129/Sv) X Fancd2+/+ (B6) F1 cell line (Do = 2.00 ± 0.11 Gy, and ň = 5.1 ± 0.7, p = 0.7003 and 0.4820, respectively). The Fancd2-/- cell line was more radiosensitive with a Do of 1.37 ± 0.09 Gy compared to 1.95 ± 0.07 and 2.00 ± 0.11 for DKO and wild type cells (p = 0.0063 and 0.0360, respectively. In contrast, the SMAD3-/- cell line was more radioresistant with an increased shoulder on the irradiation survival curve (ň = 12.1 ± 2.9) compared to the DKO or wild type SMAD3+/+ (129/Sv) X Fancd2+/+ (B6) F1 cell lines (ň = 4.335 ± 0.7 or 5.1 ± 0.7, p = 0.00277 or 0.0426, respectively). This confirms and extends results with SMAD3-/- mouse derived cell lines on another background strain (C57BL/6J) (Epperly, et al., Radiation Research, 165:671-677, 2006). TGF-β signaling was abrogated in both DKO and SMAD3-/- mouse cell lines (measured by TGF-β inhibition of fresh marrow CFU-GEMM in vitro), confirming the phenotype of altered TGF-β signaling. Therefore, radiosensitivity associated with the Fancd2-/- genotype was abrogated by interruption of the TGF-β signaling pathway in the same cells. Supported by research grant NIAID/NIH, U19A168021. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Prion-Like Protein Aggregates and Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a highly prevalent metabolic disease characterized by chronic insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction and loss, leading to impaired insulin release and hyperglycemia. Although the mechanism responsible for β-cell dysfunction and death is not completely understood, recent findings suggest that the accumulation of misfolded aggregates of the islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) in the islets of Langerhans may play an important role in pancreatic damage. Misfolding and aggregation of diverse proteins and their accumulation as amyloid in different organs is the hallmark feature in a group of chronic, degenerative diseases termed protein misfolding disorders (PMDs). PMDs include highly prevalent human illnesses such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, as well as more than 25 rarer disorders. Among them, prion diseases are unique because the pathology can be transmitted by a proteinaceous infectious agent, termed a prion, which induces disease by propagating protein misfolding and aggregation. This phenomenon has a striking resemblance to the process of protein misfolding and aggregation in all of the PMDs, suggesting that misfolded aggregates have an intrinsic potential to be transmissible. Indeed, recent studies have shown that the pathological hallmarks of various PMDs can be induced in vivo under experimental conditions by inoculating tissue extracts containing protein aggregates into animal models. In this review, we describe our current understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying the prion-like transmission of protein aggregates and its possible role in T2D.
Classic Tours, Inc.: Strategic and Financial Issues in Starting a Business

The purpose of this case is to allow students to confront the issues related to starting a new service business, such as evaluation of the business concept, identification of different customer segments, and assessment of the comprehensive service package necessary for long-term success in a competitive service industry. Students are also asked to record projected transactions, prepare projected financial statements, and perform a break-even analysis. It is intended for use in such courses as Starting New Ventures or Entrepreneurship, or it can be used at the start of an integrated MBA program to illustrate that a thorough case analysis typically involves dealing with multiple functional disciplines and addressing a variety of business issues. This case represents a slight modification of “Classic Tours, Inc.: Financial Projections for Starting a Business,” (UVA-C-2106), which was written for use in accounting and finance courses where greater emphasis would be placed on the financial issues associated with starting a business and somewhat less emphasis would be placed on strategic considerations. Excerpt UVA-C-2141 Rev. Sept. 3, 2013 CLASSIC TOURS, INC.: STRATEGIC AND FINANCIAL ISSUES IN STARTING A BUSINESS In April 1994, Diane Monroe reviewed her plans for the September 1 opening of her educational travel agency in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Diane had received her undergraduate degree in history from Capital University in 1986. She had lived in Columbus, Ohio, from 1984 until she and her husband, Larry, moved to Fredericksburg in August 1993. He had taught at Ohio State University prior to joining the faculty of Mary Washington College at the end of the 1993 academic year. Diane had worked for three years following graduation at a travel agency in Columbus. In October 1989, she had joined a travel agency specializing in educational tours. During her three and a half years there, she had enjoyed working with middle school teachers and students and had learned a lot about the educational tour business. She had also developed strong relationships with about 25 teachers who had organized and led student tour groups each year from 1990 to 1993. When they had learned that Diane was leaving the agency, most of these teachers had said they would like to do business with her again if she ever worked for a similar agency. . . .
Bracketed morality and ethical ideologies of sport fans

Historically, scholarship on ethics in sport has focused almost exclusively on practices of athletes, coaches and leagues. In this study, we highlight a serious void in the existing empirical liter...
Prediction of Dangerousness in Different Contexts

Psychiatrists are called upon by the legal system to provide many services. This is particularly true, of course, of forensic psychiatrists. As Bloom and Rogersl have pointed out, psychiatric input often seems mandated by statutes, even though this does not necessarily mean that any particular psychiatrist is required to participate in the proceeding in question. This use of psychiatry has resulted in many criticisms and questions. This chapter will focus on one set of criticisms related to the willingness and capacity of psychiatrists to predict dangerousness.
Succession and Mycorrhizae on Mount St. Helens

Mycorrhizae are symbiotic mutualisms between plants and fungi, in which carbon is exchanged for nutrients. The eruption of Mount St. Helens was a large event that covered a topographically complex land area with disturbances of varying intensity that altered survival of soil organisms. Animals from rodents to elk fed upon and transported mycorrhizal fungi through the different disturbance zones, facilitating succession and altering the newly forming soils and vegetation. Mechanisms of interaction among individual combinations of mycorrhizal fungi, plants, and animals were predictable, but the different species combinations resulting from initial survival legacies created the dynamic and complex landscape we observe today.
Risk of pharmacokinetic interactions between antiepileptic and other drugs in older persons and factors associated with risk.

Objective To determine the frequency of older Americans with epilepsy receiving concomitant prescriptions for antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and non-epilepsy drugs (NEDs) which could result in significant pharmacokinetic (PK) interaction, and to assess the contributions of racial/ethnic, socioeconomic, and demographic factors. Methods Retrospective analyses of 2008-2010 Medicare claims for a 5% random sample of beneficiaries ≥67 years old in 2009 augmented for minority representation. Prevalent cases had ≥1 ICD-9 345.x or ≥2 ICD-9 780.3x, and ≥1 AED. Among them, incident cases had no seizure/epilepsy claim codes nor AEDs in preceding 365 days. Drug claims for AEDs, and for the 50 most common NEDs within +/- 60 days of the index epilepsy date were tabulated. Interacting pairs of AEDs/NEDs were identified by literature review. Logistic regression models were used to examine factors affecting the likelihood of interaction risk. Results Interacting drug pairs affecting NED efficacy were found in 24.5% of incident, 39% of prevalent cases. Combinations affecting AED efficacy were found in 20.4% of incident, 29.3% of prevalent cases. Factors predicting higher interaction risk included having ≥ 1 comorbidity, being eligible for Part D low Income Subsidy, and not living in the northeastern US. Protective factors were Asian race/ethnicity, and treatment by a neurologist. Significance A substantial portion of older epilepsy patients received NED-AED combinations that could cause important PK interactions. The lower frequency among incident vs. prevalent cases may reflect changes in prescribing practices. Avoidance of interacting AEDs is feasible for most persons because of the availability of newer drugs.
PENINGKATAN PERTUMBUHAN PADI VAR CIHERANG SETELAH DIINOKULASI DENGAN Azospirillum MUTAN MULTIFUNGSI PENAMBAT N2, PELARUT P DAN PENGHASIL FITOHORMON INDOLE ACETIC ACID (IAA).

Modern agriculture rellies on the application of fertilizer to enhanched plant growth. Excessive application of chemical fertilizers in the long term will decrease soil fertility, therefore the use of biological fertilizers is expected to reduce the negative impact. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of multi-functional Azospirillum for N2-fixation, phosphate solubilizerÂ and producing phytohormone Indole Acetic Acid (IAA) on the growth of rice plants Ciherang in the pot experiment conducted in the BB Biogenâ€™s greenhouse. Two treatments were tested: types of inoculation (not inoculated, were inoculated with the wildtype AjB 6.4.1.2 and inoculated with mutant isolates AJM 3.7.1.14), and 4 levels of fertilizer application (not fertilized, a quarter dose of paddy fertilizer recommendations, a half dose of fertilizer rice in the rice fields, and the appropriate dose of fertilizer in paddy fields). Azospirillum used is wildtype isolate AjB 6.4.1.2 and mutant isolate AJM 3.7.1.14 isolated and and mutated in BB Biogen. Ciherang rice seed inoculated with Azospirillum on the cell density of 10 6 cells / ml at the different seedlings tub. After the age of 14 days after planting, the seedlings were transferred into pots with three plants per pot. Parameters measured were: plant height, number of tillers, number of panicles per clump, fresh weight and dry panicles per clump, weight of 100 grains, and the content of N and P stover. Results show that inoculantion, affect significantly on the number of panicles per hill, grain weight per panicle and the dry weight of grains per panicle.
Who cares about a label? The effect of pediatric labeling changes on prescription drug utilization

Off-label drug use is common, particularly in pediatric populations. In response, legislation requires and/or provides financial incentives for drug manufacturers to perform pediatric clinical trials. Using New Hampshire's all-payer claims database, we examine the impact of subsequent changes to drug labeling on pediatric drug utilization. To separate changes in utilization induced by labeling changes from other temporal factors, we estimate difference-in-differences models that compare utilization trends for pediatric patients to those of adults. We estimate that establishing safety and efficacy increases a drug's market share by (a statistically significant) 2.8 percentage points, whereas failure to do so decreases a drug's market share by (a statistically insignificant) 0.9 percentage points. We then interpret these estimates within the context of public and market incentives to conduct pediatric clinical trials.
RECENT IMMIGRATION AND RACE: Continuity and Change

Contemporary immigration is affecting U.S. society in many ways, particularly with respect to racial dynamics. Three aspects of these dynamics stand out: the conceptualization of race, the meaning of assimilation, and racial relations between groups. Although contemporary immigration, being largely non-White, is challenging U.S. society's entrenched conceptualization of race as revolving around a Black/White framework, this framework is not being rapidly overturned. Instead, immigrants are increasing social complexity by both adapting to the Black/White dichotomy and seeking alternatives to it through multiculturalism. The conceptualization of race is pivotally important because it determines the shape of assimilation, and, consistent with growing immigration-driven complexity, no one model of assimilation dominates the society. Instead, Anglo-conformity and multiculturalism are competing for preeminence. Blacks, because of U.S. society's failure to completely absorb them, helped to originate multiculturalism, but immigration is strengthening the model's appeal. Blacks and immigrants are adapting to U.S. society by utilizing both Anglo-conformity and multiculturalism. Immigration, increasingly, is also influencing race relations because of its volume and character. Even though Black/White conflict remains unresolved, future race relations will go beyond this nexus to incorporate other groups in complex interactions, revolving around the formation of coalitions and conflict situations as groups pursue particular interests.
Patterns of product improvements and customer response

Abstract Product improvements (PI) are common in practice. An important research gap in this domain is the absence of a comprehensive examination of the role of different patterns of PI (i.e., infrequent but big spurts of major improvements versus gradual occurrence of small improvements). This omission is surprising because such an examination will enhance our conceptualization of customer perceptions of PI and will provide valuable guidance for managers in devising appropriate strategies for introducing PI and the associated allocation of organizational resources. To address this gap, the current research proposes an analytical framework that is grounded in prospect theory to examine the impact of different patterns of PI on customer response. More specifically, the paper examines the moderating role of brand-tier on the link between the pattern of PI and customer response.
The application of synthetic aperture radar imaging technique to measure moisture content of concrete structures

Abstract The presence of free moisture inside concrete is a significant cause of deterioration (e.g. alkali-silica-reaction-ASR, steel rebar corrosion, freeze-thaw) in reinforced concrete structures. A 10 GHz synthetic aperture radar system was used to scan five concrete specimens with water-to-cement (w/c) ratios ranging from 0.35 to 0.55 and at moisture contents varying from dry (0.25%) to saturated (4.8%). The experimental data were used to develop a regression model, which illustrates an important relationship between the SAR image and moisture content at a specified w/c ratio. The model indicated that integrated SAR amplitude increases non-linearly with the moisture content of concrete at a given w/c ratio. The study concludes that the inverse of the developed model is adequate for estimating in-place moisture content of concrete using SAR imaging techniques and that the w/c ratio has a significant effect on the developed relationship.
Supporting Women Scholars' Paths to Academia: An Examination of Family-Friendly Policies of Public Affairs Doctoral Programs.

Despite earning roughly half the doctoral degrees in public administration, women remain underrepresented in public affairs programs, particularly in senior positions. Studies describe a leaky pipe...
VSEC-LDA: Boosting Topic Modeling with Embedded Vocabulary Selection.

Topic modeling has found wide application in many problems where latent structures of the data are crucial for typical inference tasks. When applying a topic model, a relatively standard pre-processing step is to first build a vocabulary of frequent words. Such a general pre-processing step is often independent of the topic modeling stage, and thus there is no guarantee that the pre-generated vocabulary can support the inference of some optimal (or even meaningful) topic models appropriate for a given task, especially for computer vision applications involving "visual words". In this paper, we propose a new approach to topic modeling, termed Vocabulary-Selection-Embedded Correspondence-LDA (VSEC-LDA), which learns the latent model while simultaneously selecting most relevant words. The selection of words is driven by an entropy-based metric that measures the relative contribution of the words to the underlying model, and is done dynamically while the model is learned. We present three variants of VSEC-LDA and evaluate the proposed approach with experiments on both synthetic and real databases from different applications. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of built-in vocabulary selection and its importance in improving the performance of topic modeling.
Association Between Rotavirus Vaccination and Type 1 Diabetes in Children.

Importance Because rotavirus infection is a hypothesized risk factor for type 1 diabetes, live attenuated rotavirus vaccination could increase or decrease the risk of type 1 diabetes in children. Objective To examine whether there is an association between rotavirus vaccination and incidence of type 1 diabetes in children aged 8 months to 11 years. Design, Setting, and Participants A retrospective cohort study of 386 937 children born between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2014, was conducted in 7 US health care organizations of the Vaccine Safety Datalink. Eligible children were followed up until a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, disenrollment, or December 31, 2017. Exposures Rotavirus vaccination for children aged 2 to 8 months. Three exposure groups were created. The first group included children who received all recommended doses of rotavirus vaccine by 8 months of age (fully exposed to rotavirus vaccination). The second group had received some, but not all, recommended rotavirus vaccines (partially exposed to rotavirus vaccination). The third group did not receive any doses of rotavirus vaccines (unexposed to rotavirus vaccination). Main Outcomes and Measures Incidence of type 1 diabetes among children aged 8 months to 11 years. Type 1 diabetes was identified byInternational Classification of Diseasescodes: 250.x1, 250.x3, or E10.xx in the outpatient setting. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to analyze time to type 1 diabetes incidence from 8 months to 11 years. Hazard ratios and 95% CIs were calculated. Models were adjusted for sex, race/ethnicity, birth year, mother’s age, birth weight, gestational age, number of well-child visits, and Vaccine Safety Datalink site. Results In a cohort of 386 937 children (51.1% boys and 41.9% non-Hispanic white), 360 169 (93.1%) were fully exposed to rotavirus vaccination, 15 765 (4.1%) were partially exposed to rotavirus vaccination, and 11 003 (2.8%) were unexposed to rotavirus vaccination. Children were followed up a median of 5.4 years (interquartile range, 3.8-7.8 years). The total person-time follow-up in the cohort was 2 253 879 years. There were 464 cases of type 1 diabetes in the cohort, with an incidence rate of 20.6 cases per 100 000 person-years. Compared with children unexposed to rotavirus vaccination, the adjusted hazard ratio was 1.03 (95% CI, 0.62-1.72) for children fully exposed to rotavirus vaccination and 1.50 (95% CI, 0.81-2.77) for children partially exposed to rotavirus vaccination. Conclusions and Relevance The findings of this study suggest that rotavirus vaccination does not appear to be associated with type 1 diabetes in children.
ADP binding by the Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito D7 salivary protein enhances blood feeding on mammals

During blood-feeding, mosquito saliva is injected into the skin to facilitate blood meal acquisition. D7 proteins are among the most abundant components of the mosquito saliva. Here we report the ligand binding specificity and physiological relevance of two D7 long proteins from Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito, the vector of filaria parasites or West Nile viruses. CxD7L2 binds biogenic amines and eicosanoids. CxD7L1 exhibits high affinity for ADP and ATP, a binding capacity not reported in any D7. We solve the crystal structure of CxD7L1 in complex with ADP to 1.97 A resolution. The binding pocket lies between the two protein domains, whereas all known D7s bind ligands either within the N- or the C-terminal domains. We demonstrate that these proteins inhibit hemostasis in ex vivo and in vivo experiments. Our results suggest that the ADP-binding function acquired by CxD7L1 evolved to enhance blood-feeding in mammals, where ADP plays a key role in platelet aggregation. D7 proteins are highly abundant in the salivary glands of several blood feeding insects. Here, the authors study the ligand binding specificity and physiological roles of the mosquito D7 proteins CxD7L1 and CxD7L2, showing that CxD7L1 acquired ADP-binding properties to enhance blood feeding in mammals.
Ertapenem Neurotoxicity in Hemodialysis Patients—Safe and Effective Dosing Is Still Needed: A Retrospective Study and Literature Review:

Background: The approved dosing of ertapenem in patients with chronic kidney disease stage 5 utilizing dialysis (CKD-5D) is 0.5 g intravenous daily. Several reports associated this dosing strategy ...
Quantitative Determination of Biomass-Derived Renewable Carbon in Fuels from Coprocessing of Bio-Oils in Refinery Using a Stable Carbon Isotopic Approach

Increasing renewable carbon incorporation into conventional fuels through coprocessing with vacuum gas oil (VGO, a petroleum refining feedstock) is a critical step in biofuel development, scaling-u...
Calmodulin influences MAPK signaling by binding KSR1.

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade is a fundamental signaling pathway that regulates cell fate decisions in response to external stimuli. Several scaffold proteins bind directly to kinase components of this pathway and regulate their activation by growth factors. One of the best studied MAPK scaffolds is kinase suppressor of Ras1 (KSR1), which is induced by epidermal growth factor (EGF) to translocate to the plasma membrane where it activates extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). While Ca2+ has been shown to modulate MAPK signaling, the molecular mechanisms by which this occurs are incompletely understood. Here we tested the hypothesis that Ca2+ alters MAPK activity at least in part via KSR1. Using several approaches, including fusion proteins, immunoprecipitation, confocal microscopy, and a cell-permeable chemical inhibitor, we investigated the functional interaction between KSR1 and calmodulin. In vitro analysis with pure proteins reveals that calmodulin binds directly to KSR1. Moreover, endogenous calmodulin and KSR1 co-immunoprecipitate from mammalian cell lysates. Importantly, Ca2+ is required for the association between calmodulin and KSR1, both in vitro and in cells. The cell-permeable calmodulin antagonist CGS9343B significantly reduced activation of ERK by EGF in mouse embryo fibroblasts that overexpress KSR1, but not in control cells. Moreover, CGS9343B impaired the ability of EGF to induce KSR1 translocation to the plasma membrane and to stimulate formation of KSR1-ERK and KSR1-pERK (phosphorylated ERK) complexes in cells. Collectively, our data identify a previously unrecognized mechanism by which the scaffold protein KSR1 couples Ca2+ and calmodulin signaling to the MAPK cascade.
Crack and Criminal Justice in Canton, Ohio, 1987–1999: “The Drug Problem has Created a Monster”

The rise of crack cocaine in the late 1980s propelled the war on drugs. The experience of Canton, Ohio, shows how the response to crack solidified mass incarceration. A declining industrial city of 84,000 people in northeast Ohio with deep-seated racial divides, it was overwhelmed by aggressive, enterprising crack dealers from outside the city. In response, politicians and residents united behind the strategy of incessant arrests and drastic prison sentences. The law-enforcement offensive worsened conditions while pursuing African Americans at blatantly disproportionate rates, but few people engaged in reframing the drug problem. Instead, a punitive citizenry positioned punishment as the principal remedy. The emergency foreclosed on more comprehensive assessments of the city’s tribulations, while the criminal justice system emerged as the paramount institution.
A KRAP(y) job: Defining the localization of active IP3R.

Abstract A recent publication documented an exciting role for KRAP in tethering/immobilizing IP3Rs to actin. This interaction “licenses” IP3R activity as disrupting the partnership markedly diminishes Ca2+ puffs and global signals. These findings highlight a unique mechanism for regulating IP3R activity.
Community Lost: The State, Civil Society, and Displaced Survivors of Hurricane Katrina

Neither government programs nor massive charitable efforts responded adequately to the human crisis that was Hurricane Katrina. In this study, the authors use extensive interviews with Katrina evacuees and reports from service providers to identify what helped or hindered the reestablishment of the lives of hurricane survivors who relocated to Austin, Texas. Drawing on social capital and social network theory, the authors assess the complementary, and often conflicting, roles of FEMA, other governmental agencies and a range of non-governmental organizations in addressing survivors' short- and longer-term needs. While these organizations came together to assist with immediate emergency needs, even collectively they could not deal with survivors' long-term needs for employment, affordable housing and personal records necessary to rebuild lives. Community Lost provides empirical evidence that civil society organizations cannot substitute for an efficient and benevolent state, which is necessary for society to function.
Why Won't the Leaders Lead? The Need for National Governments to Replace Academics and Practitioners In the Effort to Reform the Muddled World of International Insolvency

* University of Connecticut School of Law, J.D. candidate, 2003. Prior to entering law school, the author received a degree in International Studies from Fairfield University, and worked as a Project Officer for the International Executive Service Corps. The author would like to thank Evan Flaschen and Anthony Smits for introducing him to the world of international insolvency and for their comments on an earlier draft of this article; Avi Brisman for his advice and comments; and his wife, Becki, for her unwavering support and encouragement.
The adolescent ballet dancer: Nutritional practices and characteristics associated with anorexia nervosa

A questionnaire was administered to 45 female ballet dancers aged 12–21 years and 44 nonathletic female subjects aged 14–16 years. Dietary practices and nutrition beliefs of the dancers were assessed, and a comparison was made of the prevalence of anorexia nervosa characteristics among the two groups. Ballet dancers reported characteristics of anorexia nervosa significantly more often than did controls. Characteristics used to differentiate between the groups were underweight ( p p p p
Divine Operating System

This Foreword to a Tennessee Law Review symposium on the implications of a federal constitutional convention surveys a number of proposals for reining in the growth of federal government power and spending, ranging from the creation of a new house of Congress with the sole power to repeal bills, to more mundane proposals such as a balanced budget amendment and term limits.
Allocation Regions & Implementation Contracts

The purpose of this article is to advocate the use of two intermediate level abstractions named allocation region and implementation contract as the interface of language-independent memory management systems (MMS).
A classroom demonstration of electrodeposited fractal patterns

An inexpensive experiment for physical science laboratory courses combining the recommended techniques for teaching fractal geometry in the classroom with the standard procedures for studying electrochemical deposition of fractal patterns is presented.
A transformational grammar-based query processor for access control in a planning system

Providing computer facilities and data availability to larger numbers of users generates increased system vulnerability which is partially offset by software security systems. Much too often these systems are presented as ad hoc additions to the basic data management system. One very important constituent of software security systems is the access control mechanism which may be the last resource available to prohibit unauthorized data retrieval. This paper presents a specification for an access control mechanism. The mechanism is specified in a context for use with the GPLAN decision support system by a theoretical description consistent with the formal definition of GPLAN's query language. Incorporation of the mechanism into the language guarantees it will not be an ad hoc addition. Furthermore, it provides a facile introduction of data security dictates into the language processor.
Variable effects of tamoxifen on human hematopoietic progenitor cell growth and sensitivity to doxorubicin.

To determine the influence of tamoxifen on the drug sensitivity of normal human hematopoietic progenitor cells, T-cell- and adherent-cell depleted human bone marrow mononuclear cells (T−, Ad−) were exposed in vitro to 5 μM tamoxifen for 24 h. The effects of tamoxifen were highly variable, as exposure to tamoxifen produced an increase (97%±12.3%) in the growth of day-12 committed myeloid progenitors (CFU-GM) in only four of ten experiments utilizing bone marrow from different donors. When T−, Ad− myeloid progenitor cells treated with tamoxifen were subsequently exposed to doxorubicin, 7 of 14 experimental samples studied demonstrated a net increase in the number of surviving clonogenic cells as compared with cells exposed to doxorubicin alone. Tamoxifen also stimulated the growth of a more purified (CD34+-selected) progenitor cell population in four of four experiments (by 62.5%±4.9%) but did not increase the survival of these cells upon exposure to doxorubicin; in fact, in five of ten experimental samples, tamoxifen enhanced cell sensitivity to doxorubicin. Taken together, these observations indicate that tamoxifen produces variable stimulation of committed myeloid progenitor cell growth in vitro. Furthermore, while under some circumstances, tamoxifen appears to have the capacity to enhance CFU-GM survival in the presence of doxorubicin, this drug combination may also result in enhanced toxicity to normal bone marrow progenitors.
The effect of the imidazodiazepine Ro 15-4513 on the anticonvulsant effects of diazepam, sodium pentobarbital and ethanol

The ability of the imidazodiazepine Ro 15-4513 to antagonize the anticonvulsant effects of diazepam, sodium pentobarbital and ethanol was investigated. Ro 15-4513 alone significantly lowered seizure threshold to bicuculline and this effect subtracted from the anticonvulsant effects of sodium pentobarbital and ethanol. In contrast, Ro 15-4513 completely reversed the anticonvulsant effects of diazepam, consistent with suggestions that it is a competitive ligand for benzodiazepine receptors.
Characterizing Non-ideal Impacts of Reconfigurable Hardware Workloads on Ring Oscillator-Based Thermometers

Thermal issues have resulted in growing concerns among industries fabricating various types of devices, such as Chip Multiprocessors (CMP) and reconfigurable hardware devices. Since passive cooling costs have risen considerably and packaging for worst-case is no longer practical, dynamic thermal management techniques are being devised to combat thermal effects. For such techniques to be applied effectively, it is necessary to accurately measure device temperatures at run time. Although several techniques have been proposed to measure the on-chip temperatures of reconfigurable devices, ring oscillators in many ways are a preferred choice due to their strong linear temperature-dependence and compact design using available spare reconfigurable resources. A major problem in using ring-oscillators to measure temperature, however, is their strong dependence on the core voltage of, and current distribution throughout the device under test. One of the reasons for variations in these properties is changes in the workload running on the device. Researchers have seen large shifts in the output frequencies of ring-oscillators due to core voltage swings on reconfigurable devices, and have tried to find alternate ways of measuring temperature that attempt to mitigate these effects. The need, however, is to have a workload-compensated ring oscillator-based thermometer for reconfigurable devices. To obtain this, it is first necessary to characterize the non-ideal effects of workload variations on ring oscillator response. Where non-ideal refers to impacts on ring oscillator oscillation frequency due to phenomena other than the workload's impact on device temperature. This paper performs such a characterization, in which the effects of workload variation on ring oscillator output frequency is quantified. A complete hardware-software setup is designed to collect temperature and power related data along with ring oscillator response to varying workload configurations. In addition, a potential issue with using the Xilinx System Monitor to measure die temperature at high ranges is also briefly discussed.
Serological Comparisons among Tissue Culture Cell Lines

IT has long been a question whether cells derived from normal tissues acquire some malignant attributes after long-term tissue culture, especially those cells which have become established in vitro as lines. This has been a particularly vexing problem to pharmaceutical houses, necessitating the use of primary cell cultures for vaccine production. Some cells of supposed normal derivation have been shown to produce tumours after inoculation into suitable recipients1–4 and to assume the heteroploid pattern of malignant cells5. It is the purpose of this preliminary report to present evidence that cells of known malignant origin contain antigenic matorial which is not found in cells of normal origin. Suggestive evidence that this antigenic material is shared by cells of malignant human and murine tissues, thus transcending species barriers, will also be given.
Environmental effects on mechanochemical activation of spiropyran in linear PMMA

Mechanophore-linked linear poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) was synthesized using bisfunctionalized spiropyran (SP) as an atom transfer radical polymerization initiator. The resulting polymer had a Tg of 127 °C and molecular weight greater than 250 kDa. SP-cleavage experiments confirmed the incorporation of SP molecules approximately into the center of the polymer chain. Force-induced reaction of the SP species into a colored, fluorescent merocyanine (MC) form was investigated over a range of environmental conditions by monitoring color change or full field fluorescence during tensile loading. Activation of this glassy polymer was observed in a temperature range of 90–105 °C. At higher temperatures, approaching Tg, deformation was dominated by viscous flow at very low applied stress with no activation. At lower temperatures, brittle failure preceded activation unless the polymer was plasticized by exposure to methanol. Mechanically induced activation of SP in plasticized PMMA at room temperature (22 °C) was achieved at a critical strain (ca. 10%) substantially below that required in previous systems.
Perfect sampling from independent Metropolis-Hastings chains☆

Abstract “Perfect sampling” enables exact draws from the invariant measure of a Markov chain. We show that the independent Metropolis-Hastings chain has certain stochastic monotonicity properties that enable a perfect sampling algorithm to be implemented, at least when the candidate is overdispersed with respect to the target distribution. We prove that the algorithm has an optimal geometric convergence rate, and applications show that it may converge extreme rapidly.
Endoscopy in Colonic Volvulus

Flexible fiberoptic gastrointestinal endoscopy has greatly simplified the diagnosis and treatment of colonic volvulus. The management of 39 patients with colonic volvulus treated over 9 years was reviewed. Five per cent were treated with rectal tube decompression alone, 23% were treated with either sigmoidoscopic or colonoscopic reduction, and 26% were treated exclusively with operation. Endoscopic reduction was attempted in nearly half of the patients in preparation for operation. Recurrent volvulus occurred in 57% of patients initially treated with endoscopic reduction alone. Sigmoidoscopic examination did not confirm the diagnosis in 24% of instances in which it was used, although colonoscopy was always diagnostic. The overall mortality rate was 8%, but increased to 25% in patients with gangrene of the colon. Three patients who later proved to have gangrene of the colon had a normal initial sigmoidoscopic examination. Two of these patients died of intra-abdominal sepsis from a perforated colon. In five patients an accurate endoscopic diagnosis of gangrene prompted immediate exploration. None of these patients died. Endoscopy is a safe and effective diagnostic tool for the initial evaluation of patients with suspected colon volvulus. In addition, endoscopy may result in therapeutic decompression and may provide visual assessment of the viability of the bowel mucosa, thus assisting in the timing of appropriate operative treatment.
Sample size and error in the determination of mode shapes by principal components analysis

Principal components analysis (PCA) is a multivariate statistical technique that transforms a data set having a large number of inter-related variables to a new set of uncorrelated variables called the principal components, determined to allow the dimensionality of the data set to be reduced while retaining as much of the variation present as possible. PCA can be applied to dynamic structural response data to identify the predominant modes of vibration of the structure. Because PCA is a statistical technique, there are errors in the computed modes due to the use of a sample of finite size. The aim of this paper is to study the effect of sample size on the accuracy with which the modes of vibration can be computed. The paper focuses predominantly on elastic response data and examines the potential influence of various parameters such as the period of the structure, the input excitation, and the spatial distribution of mass over the structure. Issues relating to errors in the modes of nonlinear structures are also discussed.
Surface Modification of TiO2 by Phosphate: Effect on Photocatalytic Activity and Mechanism Implication

Phosphate modified TiO2 photocatalysts were prepared by phosphoric acid treatment before or after TiO2 crystallization. Substrates with different structures were chosen to explore the photocatalytic activity of as-modified TiO2 under UV irradiation. It was found that the effect of phosphate modification is definitely attributed to the surface-bound phosphate anion, and the modification by phosphate can affect both the rates and pathways of photocatalytic reactions, which are of great dependence on the structures and properties of substrates. The degradation of substrates (such as 4-chloropehenol, phenol, and rhodamine B) with weak adsorption on the pure TiO2 was markedly accelerated by phosphate modification, while substrates (such as dichloroacetic acid, alizarin red, and catechol) with strong adsorption exhibited a much lower degradation rate in the phosphate modified system. A much higher amount of hydroxyl radical was produced in phosphate modified system. All of the experimental results imply that ph...
The Role of Psychophysics in Phytopathology: The Weber–Fechner Law Revisited

The accuracy and precision of disease severity assessment data might be improved if there was a better understanding of how the laws of psychophysics actually relate to the theory and practice of phytopathometry. In this regard, we utilized a classical method developed in the field of psychophysics (the method of comparison stimuli) to test Horsfall and Barratt’s claim that raters cannot accurately discriminate disease severity levels between 25% and 50% because, according to the Weber–Fechner law, visual acuity is proportional to the logarithm of the intensity of the stimulus. We show for two pathosystems, wheat leaf rust and grapevine downy mildew, that raters can accurately discriminate disease severity levels between 25% and 50%, and that although Weber’s law appears to hold true, Fechner’s law does not. Furthermore, based upon our results, the relationship between actual (true) disease severity (X) and disease severity estimated by raters (Y) is linear, not logarithmic as proposed by Horsfall and Barratt.
Quantifying the need for cardiac support in human shock by a functional model of cardiopulmonary vascular dynamics: with special reference to myocardial infarction.

Abstract A quantitative method of analyzing cardiac and pulmonary vascular dynamics has been developed on the basis of a functional model of central indicator dilution. Using this model it has been possible to demonstrate a segregation of patients with various clinical states by virtue of the quality of their dynamic cardiac mixing. Patients with hyperdynamic states secondary to sepsis or cirrhotic liver disease show rapid cardiac mixing times ( t m ), unless there is evidence of myocardial failure when a prolongation of mixing time occurs, even at high cardiac outputs. Patients with myocardial infarction (MI) shock have very prolonged cardiac mixing times. A critical level of t m has been established for MI shock patients, at which some form of mechanical cardiac support seems mandatory if patient salvage is to be possible. A group of MI shock patients has been identified who also show evidence for a significant cardiac nonmixing volume which appears associated with the magnitude of the akinetic area of infarcted myocardium. The appearance of such a cardiac nonmixing volume appears to be an important prognostic sign which suggests the need for cardiac support and may also have implications regarding the necessity for definitive surgery. The dvnamic aspects of pulmonary volume shifts with changing myocardial contractile states can also be inferred from the quantitative model. A technique of estimating the important model parameters at the bedside is described which can be applied as a guide to assist the surgeon in patient management.