cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Divergence in the Spatial Stochastic Model of Voting

Much research has been devoted over the last few decades in an attempt at constructing formal models of political choice in electoral systems based on proportional representation (PR). In large degree these models have been most successful in studying the post-election phase of coalition bargaining (Laver and Schofield 1990; Laver and Shepsle 1996; Banks and Duggan 2000). Such models can take the locations and strengths of the parties as given. Attempts at modelling the electoral phase have met with limited success, since they have usually assumed that the policy space is restricted to one dimension, or that there are at most two parties. The extensive formal literature on two party electoral competition was typically based on the assumption that parties or candidates adopted positions in order to win (Calvert 1985.) In PR systems it is unlikely that a single party can gain enough votes to win outright (Cox 1990, 1997; Strom 1990).
A new calculation for $D(e,e'p)n$ at GeV energies

We perform a fully relativistic calculation of the $^{2}\mathrm{H}$$(e,{e}^{'}p)n$ reaction in the impulse approximation. We employ the Gross equation to describe the deuteron ground state, and we use the SAID parametrization of the full $\mathit{NN}$ scattering amplitude to describe the final state interactions (FSIs). We include both on-shell and positive-energy off-shell contributions in our FSI calculation. We show results for momentum distributions and angular distributions of the differential cross section, as well as for various asymmetries. We identify kinematic regions where various parts of the FSIs are relevant, and discuss the theoretical uncertainties connected with calculations at high missing momenta.
On the Causal-Doxastic Theory of the Basing Relation

If one is to believe that p justifiably, then one must believe p for, or because of, one's evidence or reasons in support of p. The basing relation is exactly this relation that obtains between one's belief and one's reasons for believing. Keith Allen Korcz, in a recent article published in this Journal, has argued that two conditions are each sufficient and are jointly necessary to establish basing relations between beliefs and reasons. One condition is formulated to account for basing relations that can obtain in virtue of causal relations between one's belief and reasons, and the other condition is supposed to account for basing relations which can be established independently of the instantiation of any such causal relation.
Thalamic Infarction and Rubral Tremor

Two children, ages 14 months and 9 years, with a combined resting-postural-kinetic tremor following bilateral thalamic infarction are reported from Ataturk University, and Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
Charge storage in polymer acid-doped polyaniline-based layer-by-layer electrodes.

Polymeric electrodes that can achieve high doping levels and store charge reversibly are desired for electrochemical energy storage because they can potentially achieve high specific capacities and energies. One such candidate is the polyaniline:poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid) (PANI:PAAMPSA) complex, a water-processable complex obtained via template polymerization that is known to reversibly achieve high doping levels at potentials of up to 4.5 V versus Li/Li+. Here, for the first time, PANI:PAAMPSA is successfully incorporated into layer-by-layer (LbL) electrodes. This processing technique is chosen for its ability to blend species on a molecular level and its ability to conformally coat a substrate. Three different polyaniline-based LbL electrodes comprised of PANI/PAAMPSA, PANI/PANI:PAAMPSA, and linear poly(ethylenimine)/PANI:PAAMPSA are compared in terms of film growth, charge storage, and reversibility. We found that the reversibility of PANI:PAAMPSA is retained within the LbL elec...
Ultrasmall hollow gold-silver nanoshells with extinctions strongly red-shifted to the near-infrared.

Hollow gold–silver nanoshells having systematically varying sizes between 40 and 100 nm were prepared. These particles consist of a hollow spherical silver shell surrounded by a thin gold layer. By varying the volume of the gold stock solution added to suspensions of small silver-core templates, we tailored the hollow gold–silver nanoshells to possess strong tunable optical extinctions that range from the visible to the near-IR spectral regions, with extinctions routinely centered at ∼950 nm. The size and morphology of these core/shell nanoparticles were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Separately, X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used for measuring their elemental composition; UV–vis spectroscopy was used to evaluate their optical properties. Given their relatively small size compared to other nanoparticles tha...
Exploring Minecraft as a conduit for increasing interest in programming.

We present an investigation of how Minecraft can be used to promote interest in computer programming. To facilitate this exploration, we developed CodeBlocks, a block-based programming language used to control a virtual robot that navigates, senses, and interacts within the game. We modeled it after several successful graphical languages for programming education and performed a study with non-programmers to evaluate its ability to improve perceptions of programming and teach non-programmers to program. A survey of current Minecraft players was conducted to identify interest in the plugin. We found support for our main hypothesis that the programming interest of non-programmers improved as a result of using CodeBlocks. The plugin has been publicly released to the Minecraft modding community and is available to play on our public server.
Isolation and Identification of Chlamydia trachomatis: A Comparative Study

Sixteen California public health laboratories participated in a study to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of their respective procedures for the isolation and identification of Chlamydia trachomatis . Twelve coded specimens prepared by the California State Viral and Rickettsial Disease Laboratory were tested in each laboratory. The laboratories that detected organisms at the highest dilutions were those that stored the specimens at −70 °C before testing, centrifuged the inoculum onto the cell sheet at 2,400 to 2,800g, used an immunofluorescence conjugate for identification, and performed second passages on negative specimens. Methods employing higher storage temperatures, lower centrifugation speeds, iodine staining for detection, or no second passage, and particularly any combination of these, were less sensitive.
Effects of varenicline on alcohol self-administration and craving in drinkers with depressive symptoms:

Varenicline (VAR) is approved to aid in smoking cessation and has been shown to be effective for reducing alcohol consumption in heavy drinkers. Little is known, however, about treatment moderators that may influence efficacy. The current study reanalyzed data from a human laboratory study (Verplaetse et al., 2016) to determine whether VAR was more effective at reducing alcohol use among drinkers reporting symptoms of depression. Participants were 60 adults meeting DSM-IV criteria for alcohol use disorders ( n = 60) who were randomly assigned to receive VAR (1 mg/day, 2 mg/day) or placebo. Following 7 days of medication pretreatment, participants attended a laboratory testing session. They provided self-reported ratings of alcohol craving and performed an ad libitum alcohol consumption task after receiving a priming dose of alcohol (target blood alcohol concentration = 0.030 g/dL). Higher blood VAR plasma levels were associated with less alcohol craving and less drinking among participants with more depressive symptoms. Among participants with fewer depressive symptoms, VAR was associated with more drinking during the ad libitum drinking task. These findings show that depression symptoms may be a moderator of VAR efficacy in alcohol users and provides evidence for the role of nAChRs in depression and alcohol use.
Chapter 4 – Probability

This chapter starts with consideration of an experiment whose outcome cannot be predicted with certainty. We define the events of this experiment. We then introduce the concept of the probability of an event, which is the probability that the outcome of the experiment is contained in the event. An interpretation of the probability of an event as being a long-term relative frequency is given. Properties of probabilities are discussed. The conditional probability of one event, given the occurrence of a second event, is introduced. We see what it means for events to be independent.
A Study of the Upper Eocene Otoliths of the Yazoo Clay in Caldwell Parish, Louisiana

An extensive and detailed study of the otoliths from three localities of the Tullos Member of the Yazoo Clay in Caldwell Parish, was undertaken in order to classify and describe the upper Eocene otoliths. The classification of the otoliths was based mainly on Recent forms when extant genera were available for comparison. Eleven families and sixteen genera were identified and described through a systematic study of approximately 1600 otoliths from the Tullos Member of the Yazoo Clay.
A Feature Sampling Strategy for Analysis of High Dimensional Genomic Data

With the development of high throughput technology, it has become feasible and common to profile tens of thousands of gene activities simultaneously. These genomic data typically have sample size of hundreds or fewer, which is much less than the feature size (number of genes). In addition, the genes, in particular the ones from the same pathway, are often highly correlated. These issues impose a great challenge for selecting meaningful genes from a large number of (correlated) candidates in many genomic studies. Quite a few methods have been proposed to attack this challenge. Among them, regularization-based techniques, e.g., lasso, become much more appealing, because they can do model fitting and variable selection at the same time. However, the lasso regression has its known limitations. One is that the number of genes selected by the lasso couldn’t exceed the number of samples. Another limitation is that, if causal genes are highly correlated, the lasso tends to select only one or few genes from them. Biologists, however, desire to identify them all. To overcome these limitations, we present here a novel, robust, and stable variable selection method. Through simulation studies and a real application to the transcriptome data, we demonstrate the superiority of the proposed method in selecting highly correlated causal genes. We also provide some theoretical justifications for this feature sampling strategy based on the mean and variance analyses.
External immunity in ant societies: sociality and colony size do not predict investment in antimicrobials.

Social insects live in dense groups with a high probability of disease transmission and have therefore faced strong pressures to develop defences against pathogens. For this reason, social insects have been hypothesized to invest in antimicrobial secretions as a mechanism of external immunity to prevent the spread of disease. However, empirical studies linking the evolution of sociality with increased investment in antimicrobials have been relatively few. Here we quantify the strength of antimicrobial secretions among 20 ant species that cover a broad spectrum of ant diversity and colony sizes. We extracted external compounds from ant workers to test whether they inhibited the growth of the bacterium Staphylococcus epidermidis . Because all ant species are highly social, we predicted that all species would exhibit some antimicrobial activity and that species that form the largest colonies would exhibit the strongest antimicrobial response. Our comparative approach revealed that strong surface antimicrobials are common to particular ant clades, but 40% of species exhibited no antimicrobial activity at all. We also found no correlation between antimicrobial activity and colony size. Rather than relying on antimicrobial secretions as external immunity to control pathogen spread, many ant species have probably developed alternative strategies to defend against disease pressure.
AN UNUSUAL CASE OF ACUTE PERICARDITIS IN GRAVES DISEASE

Acute presentation of chest pain often results in an early invasive evaluation; however, when the initial work up is non-revealing, clinicians must continue to pursue the underlying cause of the patient's illness. A 49 year old previously healthy man presented to an outside hospital with sudden
An Exhausting Idea: The Fifth Circuit Examines the Idea Exhaustion Requirement in Stewart v. Waco Independent School District

On March 14, 2013, in Stewart v. Waco Independent School District, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit held that the plaintiff was not required to administratively exhaust her Rehabilitation Act claim under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). In doing so, the Fifth Circuit created a precedent that could potentially flood court dockets and that does not make use of the administrative safeguards statutorily in place. This Comment argues that, on remand, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas should apply a relief-centered approach to ultimately find that the plaintiff was required to exhaust her administrative remedies under the
IL-2 Based Combination Therapy of Malignant Disease: Summary of the Phase I Experience at the Cleveland Clinic

We have performed Phase I trials of rIL-2 in combination with IFNα or doxorubicin (DOX), based upon the independent activity of these agents and preclinical evidence of therapeutic synergy. In a Phase I trial of the combination of doxorubicin (DOX) and rIL-2, myelosuppression prevented dose escalation beyond the MTD of DOX 40 mg/m2 IV bolus day 1 and rIL-2 3.0 MU/m2/24 hr IV on days 2–5, 9–12, and 16–19. Significant increases in peripheral blood NK and LAK precursor activities were observed, but no clinical responses were produced in this patient population with largely gastrointestinal malignancies. In other Phase I studies, four week cycles of rIL-2 given by intravenous (IV) bolus injection three times weekly (TIW) have been administered in combination with rHuIFNα2a given intramuscularly (IM) TIW. With aggressive supportive care, the Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD) of rIL-2 that could be given with rHuIFNα2a 10 MU/m2 IM TIW was 22.0 x 106 BRMP Units (MU)/m2 IV TIW. Dose limiting toxicities were CNS, pulmonary and cardiovascular. When given with rHuIFNα2a 10.0 MU/m2 TIW, the MTD of infusion rIL-2 was 3.0 MU/m2/24 hr x 5 days, weekly x 4. We have also treated pts with RCC and MM in Phase II trials of rIL-2 3.0 MU/m2/24 hrs D1–4 and rHuIFNα2a 5.0 MU/m2 SQ D1–4. Overall, 3/7 pts with RCC treated with infusion schedule rIL-2 and rHuIFNα2a have responded in our Phase I study, as opposed to 3/33 pts with RCC treated with bolus schedule rIL-2 and rHuIFNα2a. Of pts with MM, 6/23 pts have responded to bolus schedule rIL-2 and rHuIFNα2a while 0/3 have responded to infusion schedule rIL-2 with rHuIFNα2a in our Phase I studies. We have also entered patients on multi-center Phase II studies utilizing a somewhat less dose-intense schedule of infusion schedule rIL-2 and rHuIFNα2a. Among patients entered on these trials from the Cleveland Clinic, 3/11 pts with RCC have responded, while 2/10 pts with MM have responded. Further studies of the mechanisms by which responses are mediated are needed if IL-2 based therapies are to be improved.
Bioelectric Parameters and Sodium Transport in Bullfrog Small Intestine

This discussion is primarily concerned with some recent and continuing studies in the author’s laboratory. These investigations are directed towards an analysis, in terms of current models of epithelial transport and electrophysiology, of the relationship between transepithelial Na+ transport and bioelectric parameters in the small intestine. One of the most striking developments in epithelial physiology during recent years has been the formation of general functional principles which, mutatis mutandis, are applicable to all transporting epithelia1,2. It is hoped, therefore, that the results and conclusions presented herein, though restricted in large measure to studies with one experimental system, the isolated small intestine of the bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana), will be of interest within the broader context of intestinal and epithelial transport.
Ground-truth of a 1-km downscaled NLDAS air temperature product using the New York City Community Air Survey

Ground-truthing results are presented for a new 1-km air temperature product downscaled for New York City (NYC) from ∼12 km North American Land Data Assimilation System (NLDAS) air temperature data using 1 km moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer surface temperature data. The downscaled product was compared against a unique highly spatially resolved ground-level ambient air temperature dataset collected through the New York City Community Air Survey (NYCCAS), a neighborhood level air pollution and temperature monitoring network, for the years 2009 and 2010. This work focuses on the spatial variation in daily minimum temperatures within the five counties that comprise NYC (∼784 km2). Overall, the downscaled daily minimum temperature was well correlated with ground station data, with NYCCAS minimum temperatures being slightly higher. Minimum temperature R2 values were 0.9 and 0.92, and mean absolute errors were 0.69°C and 0.86°C for years 2009 and 2010, respectively. The smallest differences between NYCCAS and the downscaled data were seen at lower temperatures, in less densely urbanized areas, and in areas with higher vegetative cover, suggesting systematic bias in the downscaled data related to land-use. The 1-km dataset discerned neighborhood level temperature differences in high-density urban situations with heterogeneous land cover.
Prandtl-Batchelor theorem for flows with quasiperiodic time dependence

The classical Prandtl–Batchelor theorem (Prandtl, Proc. Intl Mathematical Congress, Heidelberg, 1904, pp. 484–491; Batchelor, J. Fluid Mech., vol. 1 (02), 1956, pp. 177–190) states that in the regions of steady 2D flow where viscous forces are small and streamlines are closed, the vorticity is constant. In this paper, we extend this theorem to recirculating flows with quasiperiodic time dependence using ergodic and geometric analysis of Lagrangian dynamics. In particular, we show that 2D quasiperiodic viscous flows, in the limit of zero viscosity, cannot converge to recirculating inviscid flows with non-uniform vorticity distribution. A corollary of this result is that if the vorticity contours form a family of closed curves in a quasiperiodic viscous flow, then at the limit of zero viscosity, vorticity is constant in the area enclosed by those curves at all times.
Throughput maximization of complex resource allocation systems through timed-continuous-Petri-net modeling.

Fluid-relaxation-based scheduling is a powerful scheduling method for complex resource allocation systems and other stochastic networks. However, this method has been pursued through rather ad hoc representations and arguments in the past. This paper establishes that timed-continuous Petri nets provide a structured and natural framework for the implementation of this method in the context of complex resource allocation, and highlights the potential advantages of such a more structured approach.
Dynamics of Non-Canonical Amino Acid-Labeled Intra- and Extracellular Proteins in the Developing Mouse

Mapping protein synthesis and turnover during development will provide insight into functional tissue assembly; however, quantitative in vivo characterization has been hindered by a lack of tools. To address this gap, we previously demonstrated murine embryos can be labeled with the non-canonical amino acid azidohomoalanine (Aha), which enables the enrichment and identification of newly synthesized proteins. Using this technique, we now show how protein turnover varies as a function of both time and cellular compartment during murine development. Pregnant C57BL/6 mice were injected with Aha or PBS (control) at different embryonic time points. Aha-labeled proteins from homogenized E12.5 and E15.5 embryos were conjugated with diazo biotin-alkyne, bound to NeutrAvidin beads, selectively released, then processed for either SDS-PAGE or LC–MS/MS. For turnover studies, embryos were harvested 0–48 h after Aha injection at E12.5, separated into different cellular fractions based on solubility, and analyzed via western blotting. We developed an enhanced method for isolating Aha-labeled proteins from embryos that minimizes background signal from unlabeled proteins and avidin contamination. Approximately 50% of all identified proteins were found only in Aha samples. Comparing proteins present in both Aha and PBS samples, 90% were > 2-fold enriched in Aha-treated embryos. Furthermore, this method could resolve differences in the Aha-labeled proteome between developmental time points. Newly synthesized Aha-labeled proteins were observed by 3 h and peak labeling was around 6 h. Notably, extracellular matrix and cytoskeletal turnover appeared lower than the cytosolic fraction. The methods developed in this work enable the identification and quantification of protein synthesis and turnover in different tissue fractions during development. This will provide insight into functional tissue assembly and ultimately inform the design of regenerative therapies that seek to promote growth and repair.
Brassicaceae, Molecular Systematics and Evolution Of

The evolutionary history and systematics of the Brassicaceae (the mustard family) is the focus of intense study using several molecular markers. These studies have elucidated relationships with tribes but have so far been unable to resolve relationship among lineages that arose near the origins of the family. The reliance on fruit morphology to the exclusion of other morphological characters has, in the past, produced spurious taxonomies in the family. It is probable that the family arose in humid, hot or warm regions of the Near East sometime earlier than 32 million years ago.
Detection of fentanyl in binary mixtures with cocaine by use of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

AbstractThe ongoing epidemic pertaining to overdose deaths has been attributed to the synthetic opioid fentanyl due to its use as an adulterant in other, less potent drugs of abuse. Detection of lo...
Convergence Rates of Accelerated Markov Gradient Descent with Applications in Reinforcement Learning.

Motivated by broad applications in machine learning, we study the popular accelerated stochastic gradient descent (ASGD) algorithm for solving (possibly nonconvex) optimization problems. We characterize the finite-time performance of this method when the gradients are sampled from Markov processes, and hence biased and dependent from time step to time step; in contrast, the analysis in existing work relies heavily on the stochastic gradients being independent and sometimes unbiased. Our main contributions show that under certain (standard) assumptions on the underlying Markov chain generating the gradients, ASGD converges at the nearly the same rate with Markovian gradient samples as with independent gradient samples. The only difference is a logarithmic factor that accounts for the mixing time of the Markov chain. One of the key motivations for this study are complicated control problems that can be modeled by a Markov decision process and solved using reinforcement learning. We apply the accelerated method to several challenging problems in the OpenAI Gym and Mujoco, and show that acceleration can significantly improve the performance of the classic temporal difference learning and REINFORCE algorithms.
Standardization of Diagnostic Terminology and Criteria: A Prelude for Error Reduction

The practice and advancement of medicine depends on the use of a common language in the diagnosis and staging of disease. Standardized diagnostic terminology and criteria serve as a foundation in error reduction. Three factors are necessary for a successful standardized scheme of disease classification: (1) ease of use, (2) reproducibility, and (3) clinical relevance. From the pathologists’ perspective, this includes agreement on the terms referring to disease and also agreement on the features necessary to define a disease or lesion. The most notable benefit of standardization is to reduce diagnostic disagreements and build confidence in a system of classification of disease that is reliable and reproducible so that over time, clinicians are able to manage their patients with confidence.
Conversations: The Open Libraries Project – Interview with Chris Freeland

In this installment of “Conversations,” Chris Freeland, director for the Open Libraries project with the Internet Archive, discusses his work with the Open Libraries project and the National Emerge...
Using a multimethod life history approach to navigate the osteological paradox: A case study from Prehispanic Nasca, Peru.

Objectives We leverage recent bioarchaeological approaches and life history theory to address the implications of the osteological paradox in a study population. The goal of this article is to evaluate morbidity and mortality patterns as well as variability in the risk of disease and death during the Late Intermediate period (LIP; 950-1450 C.E.) in the Nasca highlands of Peru. We demonstrate how the concurrent use of multiple analytical techniques and life history theory can engage the osteological paradox and provide salient insights into the study of stress, frailty, and resilience in past populations. Materials and methods Crania from LIP burial contexts in the Nasca highlands were examined for cribra orbitalia (n = 325) and porotic hyperostosis (n = 270). All age groups and both sexes are represented in the sample. Survivor/nonsurvivor analysis assessed demographic differences in lesion frequency and severity. Hazard models were generated to assess differences in survivorship. The relationship between dietary diversity and heterogeneity in morbidity was assessed using stable δ15 N and δ13 C isotope values for bone collagen and carbonate. One hundred and twenty-four crania were directly AMS radiocarbon dated, allowing for a diachronic analysis of morbidity and mortality. Results The frequency and expression of both orbital and vault lesions increases significantly during the LIP. Survivor/nonsurvivor analysis indicates cranial lesions co-vary with frailty rather than robusticity or longevity. Hazard models show (1) decreasing survivorship with the transition into the LIP, (2) significantly lower adult life expectancy for females compared to males, and (3) individuals with cranial lesions have lower survivorship across the life course. Stable isotope results show very little dietary diversity. Mortality risk and frequency of pathological skeletal lesions were highest during Phase III (1300-1450 C.E.) of the LIP. Conclusion Results provide compelling evidence of increasing physiological stress and mortality in the Nasca highlands during the LIP, but also reveal substantial heterogeneity in frailty and the risk of death. Certain members of society experienced a heavier disease burden and higher mortality compared to their contemporaries. Elevated levels of disease and lethal trauma among females account for some of the sex differences in survivorship but cannot explain the large degree of female-biased mortality. We hypothesize that parental investment in males or increased female fertility rates may explain these differences.
Towards Performance Clarity of Edge Video Analytics.

Edge video analytics is becoming the solution to many safety and management tasks. Its wide deployment, however, must first address the tension between inference accuracy and resource (compute/network) cost. This has led to the development of video analytics pipelines (VAPs), which reduce resource cost by combining DNN compression/speedup techniques with video processing heuristics. Our measurement study on existing VAPs, however, shows that today's methods for evaluating VAPs are incomplete, often producing premature conclusions or ambiguous results. This is because each VAP's performance varies substantially across videos and time (even under the same scenario) and is sensitive to different subsets of video content characteristics. We argue that accurate VAP evaluation must first characterize the complex interaction between VAPs and video characteristics, which we refer to as VAP performance clarity. We design and implement Yoda, the first VAP benchmark to achieve performance clarity. Using primitive-based profiling and a carefully curated benchmark video set, Yoda builds a performance clarity profile for each VAP to precisely define its accuracy/cost tradeoff and its relationship with video characteristics. We show that Yoda substantially improves VAP evaluations by (1) providing a comprehensive, transparent assessment of VAP performance and its dependencies on video characteristics; (2) explicitly identifying fine-grained VAP behaviors that were previously hidden by large performance variance; and (3) revealing strengths/weaknesses among different VAPs and new design opportunities.
The West and its Radical Others

This contribution explores Francois Debrix’s Re-Envisioning Peacekeeping on the question of radical alterity. I argue that Debrix presents a unique and prescient analysis of alterity in the context of the war in Bosnia that highlights an ideological aspect of late twentieth century ‘disciplinary neoliberalism’. For Debrix, the visualization and representation of genocidal racial violence in Bosnia becomes a form of seductive voyeurism. As I argue, this also opens up the possibility of imagining forms of microfascism circulating within the West itself as a way of reigniting the political in the face of a depoliticized world. Debrix’s Re-Envisioning Peacekeeping helps us situate the proliferation of contemporary forms of neo-fascism in this ideological legacy of the late 1990s ‘End of History’.
Housing Cost Burden and Health Decline Among Low- and Moderate-Income Older Renters.

OBJECTIVE To examine the association between housing cost burden and health decline among low- and moderate-income older renters in the U.S. METHODS Baseline data include low- and moderate-income community-dwelling older renters (N = 1,064) from the nationally representative 2015 National Health and Aging Trends Study. Housing cost burden (HCB) was defined as the percentage of monthly income spent on rent, categorized as "no HCB" (<30%), "moderate HCB" (30-49%), and "severe HCB" (≥50%). We used weighted logistic regression models to estimate whether HCB status in 2015 and change in HCB between 2015 and 2017 were associated with self-rated health decline and developing a new limitation related to activities of daily living (ADL) or instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) between 2015 and 2017. RESULTS Older renters with severe HCB in 2015 were the most likely to develop a new ADL/IADL limitation (63.4%) over time (p < .05). The association between HCB status in 2015 and self-rated health decline was not statistically significant, but older renters with persistent HCB had 1.64 times greater odds of self-rated health decline (p < .05) and 2.01 times greater odds of developing a new ADL/IADL limitation (p < .01), compared to older renters with no HCB at baseline and follow-up. DISCUSSION Even in the short term, HCB contributes to health decline in later life. Efforts to promote equity and healthy aging in the community must consider how to best address housing affordability among the growing population of older renters.
Enhancing Computer Displays to Support Coordination of Hemodynamic Monitoring and Treatment

Although the amount of clinical data available through critical care monitoring systems has steadily increased, little integration of that data occurs. Consequently, higher order relationships cannot be obtained directly. An ecological psychology approach to display design that attempts to reduce the cognitive load for the clinician by directly displaying the functional relationships between parameters is compared with a traditional approach in a monitoring and control task. Analysis of performance by Critical and Non-Critical Care Nurses and Novices suggests that the integrated display facilitates performance for all groups.
Enzymatic Changes Associated with the Initiation and Maintenance of Lactation in the Rat

Abstract The changes in the activities of a number of enzymes, representing various metabolic activities, in pyridine nucleotides, in levels of deoxyribo- and ribonucleic acid, and in numbers of nuclei in mammary glands removed from rats at various stages of pregnancy and lactation have been documented. The onset of lactation is accompanied by a rapid 3- to 4-fold increase in numbers of nuclei and in DNA levels, followed by a rapid increase in the activities of all the enzymes investigated. The increases in enzyme activities which occur during the first 3 days of lactation appear to be of a pattern similar to that of the tissue after 15 days of lactation, indicating that the newly formed cells acquire an enzymatic complement characteristic of fully lactating tissue very soon after their formation. It is suggested that the apparent preferential increases, during lactation, in the activities of enzymes directly associated with the synthesis of milk components are due to the fact that their activities are very low in nonsecretory tissue and that a significant proportion of the enzymes extracted from mammary tissue during early lactation arises from nonsecretory tissue. Under these conditions enzyme activities present in high levels in nonsecretory tissue would not increase dramatically during lactation.
Distributed sensor networks as sensate skin

We have designed and constructed a hardware test bed to explore the application of a dense, multi-modal, peer-to-peer, sensor network as an electronic "skin"; a sensate lining that covers an object to sense, process, and coarsely classify local stimuli. Resulting parameters can be routed between nodes (which we term skin "patches") neighbor-to-neighbor to a portal for external analysis and/or produce a local response with a set of actuators built into each patch. The resulting device is a roughly 33-cm. diameter sphere tiled with such patches. Each patch sports an array of vibration-sensitive whiskers, sensors for local pressure, light, sound, and temperature, as well as actuators for a full range of colors, vibrations, and sound. All these sensors and actuators fall under the control of a dense, distributed sensor network, as each patch is connected to its neighbors. Geometrically, this device, termed "Tribble", resembles a soccer ball, where each face is a single patch of skin.
Atmospheric qualities of online retailing

Abstract To address the lack of systematic research on the nature and effectiveness of online retailing, a conceptual model is proposed which examines the potential influence of atmospheric qualities of a virtual store. The underlying premise is that, given the demonstrated impact of store environment on shopper behaviors and outcomes in a traditional retailing setting, such atmospheric cues are likely to play a role in the online shopping context. A Stimulus–Organism–Response (S–O–R) framework is used as the basis of the model which posits that atmospheric cues of the online store, through the intervening effects of affective and cognitive states, influence the outcomes of online retail shopping in terms of approach/avoidance behaviors. Two individual traits, involvement and atmospheric responsiveness, are hypothesized to moderate the relationship between atmospheric cues and shoppers' affective and cognitive reactions. Propositions are derived and the research implications of the model are presented.
Integration of linkage analyses and disease association studies.

The REGD procedure of the S.A.G.E. [1994] system was used to determine the mode of inheritance of the rare disease given in Problem 1. The likelihood ratio test statistic indicated that we should reject the hypotheses of dominant and recessive inheritance at the 0.01 level, so codominant inheritance was assumed. The estimated penetrance values computed from the beta estimates given by the S.A.G.E. output were 1.0, 0.7, and 0.0 for the AA, AB, and BB genotypes respectively. A sample of three markers from each chromosome was used to determine which chromosome(s) gave evidence of having loci linked to the disease locus. The lod minus 0.83 support interval, which has been shown to provide the best approximation to 95% coverage among interval estimates [Nemesure et al., in press], was obtained for each of these markers. The criterion for rejecting the hypothesis of close linkage using the support interval methodology required that the left side of the lod minus 0.83 support interval about the maximum likelihood estimate, theta, includes only values greater than theta = 0.10. This criterion suggested that chromosomes 2, 3, and 6 did not contain the disease genes. Classical lod-score linkage analysis using the usual criteria of 3.0 for linkage and -2.0 for exclusion did not result in any regions being identified. On dropping the required lod score to 1.0, chromosomes 1, 3, and 6 gave results in favor of linkage with lod scores of 1.94 (theta = 0.19), 1.20 (theta = 0.24), and 1.30 (theta = 0.23), respectively. Association studies comparing unrelated cases to unrelated controls were done for all markers on all chromosomes. Two associations were observed which were significant at the 0.05 level after adjusting for the large number of multiple comparisons being made. The strongest association observed was between allele 7 of marker 23 on chromosome 5 and the disease (chi 2(1) = 52.20, OR = 4.7) and the second strongest was between allele 8 of marker 31 on chromosome 1 (chi 2(1) = 20.10, OR = 3.4).
The Three Degrees Conference: One Year Later

Increasing drought, the spread of tropical disease, storm surges with rising duration and severity, and unprecedented human dislocation will reduce food security and access to fresh water, promote the spread of disease beyond normative ranges, and uproot millions of people who inhabit coastal regions. It is certain that the survival ability of many of the world’s indigenous and most disadvantaged peoples is at stake. And yet, the law is inadequately prepared to deal with these human impacts of climate change. The application of both codified and customary international and domestic law will be critical in addressing the massive human and humanitarian crises ignored by technical market solutions to climate change, moderate political reforms, and stalled treaty efforts. The legal community is in a unique position to spearhead innovative adaptations to climate change to account for the basic protection of fundamental human rights. Numerous scholars have suggested that human rights law may provide the most adequate and responsible remedy for climate-related impacts, and yet others debate its utility in the climate context.
Microstructure of Atmospheric Clouds and Precipitation

Before discussing the microphysical mechanisms of cloud particle formation, we shall give a brief description of the main microstructural features of clouds. Here we shall be concerned primarily with the sizes, number concentrations, and geometry of the particles comprising the visible cloud.
Continued Antigen Stimulation Is Not Required During CD4 + T Cell Clonal Expansion

Peptide Ag initiates CD4 + T cell proliferation, but the subsequent effects of Ag on clonal expansion are not fully known. In this study, murine CD4 + T cells were labeled with the fluorescent dye CFSE and were stimulated with specific peptide Ag. Activation occurred, as CFSE-associated fluorescence was reduced 2-fold with each cell division. Separation of proliferating cells based upon CFSE fluorescence intensity showed that daughter cells from each cell division proliferate even after removal of Ag. A limited exposure (∼2 h) to peptide programmed the cells to proliferate independently of Ag. Although not required for cell division, Ag increased the survival of proliferating cells and increased the total number of cell divisions in the expansion process. These results indicate that Ag exposure begins a program of cell division that does not require but is modified by further TCR stimulation.
Decoding femininity in computer science in India

The benefits in school and the job market so far outweigh any potential gender bias that few women are deterred.
Why confined aquatic disposal cells often make sense

Confined aquatic disposal (CAD) cells are increasingly becoming the selected option for the management of unacceptably contaminated sediments. CAD cells are selected as the preferred alternative because this approach provides an acceptable compromise when cost, logistics, regulatory acceptance, environmental risk, and perception of various alternatives are considered. This preference for CAD cells often occurs even when other alternatives with similar risk reduction and less cost, such as an open water capping alternative, are considered as options. This paradox is largely a result of subjective factors that affect regulatory acceptance such as public perceptions.
Water-soluble specific growth hormone binding sites from cultured human lymphocytes: preparation and partial characterization.

Cultured human lymphocytes (IM-9 cell line) have specific binding sites or receptors for human growth hormone (hGH). Under appropriate conditions, this specific binding material is spontaneously released into the incubation medium and is solubilized without the use of detergents. This water-soluble preparation binds [125I]iodo-hGH with the same specificity as receptors on the intact cell. Unlabeled hGH, but not porcine growth hormone or insulin, competes with labeled hGH for binding to the soluble preparation. Growth hormone preparations of varying purity compete for binding to the soluble binding preparation in the same rank order as they compete for binding to the intact IM-9 lymphocyte. [125I]iodo-hGH incubated with, but not bound to, the soluble preparation is partially degraded, while the [125I]iodo-hGH that is bound to the soluble preparation is protected from degradation, and its ability to rebind to fresh cells is enhanced. The [125I]iodo-hGH-soluble binding preparation complex can be dissociated ...
Diversity in land-tenure arrangements under the household responsibility system in China

Abstract This paper examines important aspects of agricultural land administration under the household responsibility system (HRS). It uses a data set gathered in the 1980s and 1990s to measure land-tenure security and the development of land markets in several regions of China. The paper describes Chinese central government policies toward land and demonstrates that tremendous heterogeneity exists in land-tenure policies at local levels. It explores the characteristics of villages to better understand the conditions such as demographic changes that motivate land reallocations.
Expression and function of NIK- and IKK2-binding protein (NIBP) in mouse enteric nervous system

Background NIK- and IKK2-binding protein (NIBP)/TRAPPC9 is expressed in brain neurons, and human NIBP mutations are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. The cellular distribution and function of NIBP in the enteric nervous system (ENS) remain unknown. Methods Western blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis were used respectively to identify the protein and mRNA expression of NIBP and other neuronal markers. Multi-labeled immunofluorescent microscopy and confocal image analysis were used to examine the cellular distribution of NIBP-like immunoreactivity (IR) in whole mount intestine. Enteric neuronal cell line (ENC) was infected with lentivirus carrying NIBP or its shRNA expression vectors and treated with vehicle or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α. Key Results NIBP is expressed at both mRNA and protein levels in different regions and layers of the mouse intestine. NIBP-like-IR was co-localized with various neuronal markers, but not with glial, smooth muscular, or interstitial cells of Cajal markers. A small population of NIBP-expressing cells and fibers in extra-ganglionic and intra-ganglionic area were negative for pan-neuronal markers HuD or Peripherin. Relatively high NIBP-like-IR was found in 35–44% of myenteric neurons and 9–10% of submucosal neurons. Approximately 98%, 87%, and 43% of these relatively high NIBP-expressing neurons were positive for choline acetyltransferase, neuronal nitric oxide synthase and Calretinin, respectively. NIBP shRNA knockdown in ENC inhibited TNFα-induced NFκB activation and neuronal differentiation, whereas NIBP overexpression promoted it. Conclusions & Inferences NIBP is extensively expressed in the ENS with relatively high level in a subpopulation of enteric neurons. Various NIBP expression levels in different neurons may represent dynamic trafficking or posttranslational modification of NIBP in some functionally active neurons and ultimately regulate ENS plasticity.
The Road Ahead for Wireless Technology: Dreams and Challenges

Wireless technology has enormous potential to change the way we live, work, and play. Future wireless networks will support Gigabit per second multimedia communication between people and devices with high reliability and uniform coverage indoors and out. Software will create a virtual wireless network cloud, enabling resource management, seamless connectivity, and roaming across heterogeneous access networks, including WiFi and cellular systems. Wireless technology will also enable smart and energy-efficient homes and buildings, automated highways and skyways, and in-body networks for analysis and treatment of medical conditions. The shortage of spectrum will be alleviated by advances in cognitive radios, and breakthrough energy-efficiency algorithms and hardware will be employed to make wireless systems "green". There are many technical challenges that must be overcome in order to make this vision a reality. This talk will describe what the wireless future might look like and some of the innovations and breakthroughs that are required to realize this vision.
Tehachapi solar thermal system first annual report

The staff of the Southwest Technology Development Institute (SWTDI), in conjunction with the staff of Industrial Solar Technology (IST), have analyzed the performance, operation, and maintenance of a large solar process heat system in use at the 5,000 inmate California Correctional Institution (CCI) in Tehachapi, CA. This report summarizes the key design features of the solar plant, its construction and maintenance histories through the end of 1991, and the performance data collected at the plant by a dedicated on-site data acquisition system (DAS).