cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Continuous Record Asymptotics in Systems of Stochastic Differential Equations

This paper considers estimation based on a set of T + 1 discrete observations, y (0), y ( h ), y (2 h ),…, y ( Th ) = y ( N ), where h is the sampling frequency and N is the span of the data. In contrast to the standard approach of driving N to infinity for a fixed sampling frequency, the current paper follows Phillips [35,36] and Perron [29] and examines the “dual” asymptotics implied by letting h tend to zero while the span N remains fixed. We suggest a way of explicitly embedding discrete processes into continuous-time processes, and using this approach we generalize the results of the above-mentioned authors and derive continuous record asymptotics for vector first-order processes with positive roots in a neighborhood of one and we also consider the case of a scalar second-order process. We illustrate the method by two examples. The first example is a near unit root model with drift and trend.
Suppression of perceptual organization in the auditory mode by the presence of visual stimuli

Differences in perceptual organization of vocal nonsense, in the presence of visual displays of varying complexity, were studied in 48 college students. Freedom to respond to nonsense appeared to be inversely related to the degree of visual complexity. A theoretical framework is suggested to explain the differences and to relate the results to elicited aggression experiments.
Allocation tradeoffs among chaparral shrub seedlings with different life history types (Rhamnaceae)

 Premise of the Study: California chaparral shrub species have different life history types: Nonsprouters (NS) are killed by fi and persist through a fi re-stimulated seed bank; facultative sprouters (FS) reestablish by a combination of vegetative sprouting and seeding; and obligate sprouters (OS) reestablish exclusively by sprouting. Nonsprouters and FS establish seedlings in opencanopy postfi re environments, whereas OS establish seedlings between fi res in the shady understory. We hypothesized that allocation differences among seedlings of postfi re sprouters and nonsprouters and regeneration niche differences would lead to contrasting patterns in biomass accumulation (NS > FS > OS, in sun; OS > FS > NS, in shade).  Methods: Seedlings of three species from each life history type were grown in sun and 75% shade. We measured net carbon assimilation and biomass accumulation after one year.  Key Results: Biomass accumulation was similar in the sun except FS>OS. In the shade, NS had lower biomass than FS and OS. Assimilation rates, nitrogen relations, and allocation differences could not fully explain biomass accumulation differences. Instead, biomass accumulation was inversely related to water-stress tolerance and shade tolerance. Additionally, OS and FS differed in root/shoot allocation even though both are sprouters.  Conclusions: Seedling growth and carbon assimilation rates were divergent among three life history types and were consistent with differences in tolerance to water stress and shade or sun regeneration niches, but not tradeoffs in sprouting-related allocation differences per se.
The Evaluation of Postmarketing Adverse Drug Experience Reports at FDA: Part I

This series of two papers provides an overview of the Food and Drug Administrations’s (FDA) processing of postmarketing ADE reports. The first paper describes the spontaneous reporting system, computerized processing of Form FDA 1639, and the clinical review of individual ADE reports. The clinical review of ADE reports uses a medical model, very similar to one used in clinical practice when developing a patient’s chart. This medical model also contributes to the identification of safety signals since it forms the basis of the clinical assessment of the report and the determination of how an ADE report, or group of reports, may be related to drug use. The signaling functions are discussed in the companion paper. “Causality assessment,” %attribution, ’’ and other related terms have various definitions. These papers will use these terms rather loosely in describing how FDA staff determine if there may be a preliminary signal of a meaningful association of a drug to an adverse event.
Analysis of Safety Effects of Traffic, Geometric, and Access Parameters on Truck Arterial Corridors

According to NHTSA, more than 400,000 truck-related crashes occurred in 2009; approximately 7,800 of those were fatal. Truck-related crashes undermine the truck's remarkable contribution to the U.S. economy. Truck safety research on arterial streets is considerably disproportionate when compared with the extensive studies of truck safety on freeways. Identifying critical factors that contribute to truck-related crashes and developing remedial and preventive strategies to reduce truck-related crashes and their consequences on arterials are imperative. Truck-related crashes can be mitigated through careful planning of the location, design, and operation of driveways, median openings, and street connections. In this study, access-related data were collected manually in addition to roadway geometric characteristics. The augmented data offered more explanation and prediction power for truck crashes. The standard deviation of commercial driveway throat width, commercial driveway throat width with flare and its ...
Auto-calibrating analog timer for on-chip testing

A practical approach for generating precise and slow analog ramps to be used for time-domain analog testing and for monotonicity and histogram test of ADCs is presented. The technique uses a discrete-time adaptive scheme to calibrate the ramp generator. Two implementations of the approach are proposed: one is entirely single-ended and the second uses a pseudo-differential-based offset cancellation scheme. The first implementation has been implemented in 2 mm technology and experimental results are in agreement with simulations yielding a slope error of 1.5% and distortion of 0.2%.
Unintentional Injury in Preschool Boys With and Without Early Onset of Disruptive Behavior

Objective: To determine subsequent risk of unintentional injury among preschool boys diagnosed with ODD, boys with comorbid ODD and ADHD, and boys matched demographically to the clinical sample; to test predictive validity of a measure of injury proneness; and to examine factors that might predict injury beyond clinic status. Methods: Seventy-nine consecutive clinic-referred preschool-age boys and 76 demographically matched boys without disruptive behavior participated in a 2-year prospective longitudinal design. Time 1 assessment included clinical diagnosis, parent-reported injury proneness, attachment, and verbal abilities. Injury history was measured 1 and 2 years later. Results: Clinic-referred children had more injuries than the comparison group. Children with comorbid ODD and ADHD had approximately the same injury rate as those with ODD but not ADHD. Parent-reported injury proneness was unrelated to subsequent injuries. Neither attachment nor verbal ability predicted injury significantly beyond clinic status. Conclusions: Children with early disruptive behavior are at increased risk of unintentional injury and therefore should be considered prime candidates for injury prevention campaigns.
Modeling Dynamic Magnetically Insulated Transmission Line Flow in a Transmission Line Code

Summary form only given. Many modern pulsed power generators use magnetically insulated transmission lines (MITL) to couple power between the driver and the load. In an MITL the electric field stress on the cathode exceeds the vacuum explosive-emission threshold and electron emission occurs. For sufficiently high current, emitted electrons are magnetically insulated from crossing the anode-cathode gap and flow axially downstream in the direction of power flow. The return current from the total anode current Ia is divided between current Ic flowing in the cathode and current flowing in vacuum electron flow, i.e., Ia -Ic. As a result of the electron flow in vacuum between the electrodes, the impedance of the MITL is altered and, thus, the power flow coupling between the machine and the load changes. The effective impedance is best described by the flow impedance Zf. In a dynamic system where the voltage and currents are changing in time, Zf also varies. In this work a model for dynamic flow impedance is developed for incorporation into a transmission line code (TLC). The model describes both self-limited flow as the pulse initially propagates down the MITL toward the load, as well as, the subsequent electron power flow along the MITL after the pulse encounters the load. Additionally, for low impedance loads, this description must include electron retrapping as the flow is modified by the wave reflection off the load and the percentage of the return current in vacuum electron flow decreases. The objective of this work is to efficiently and accurately simulate power flow in systems with a MITL using a simple TLC rather than a more computer intensive particle-in-cell code. Available results will be presented.
Ferroelectric PZT RF MEMS resonators

This paper presents recent work on ferroelectric-piezoelectric lead zirconate titanate (PZT) RF MEMS resonators. Several research topics are introduced including design modifications that improve out-of-band rejection by 35dB, a demonstration of a high rejection (∼117dB) parallel resonant mode with DC bias tunable rejection, a MEMS support design for the mitigation of anchor loss, and a numerical electrode shaping design technique that permits the excitation of arbitrary modes in arbitrary geometries.
Local management of pancreatic carcinoma: Iodine-125 implantation

Abstract A retrospective review of patients with pancreatic carcinoma treated from 1983 to 1986 was performed. Group 1 comprised 11 patients judged surgically unresectable who were implanted with iodine-125 followed by external beam therapy postoperatively (Implant + XRT). Eight patients received external beam therapy alone (XRT) Group 2, and 23 patients underwent radical surgical resection (group 3). Median survival was 8 months in the implant + XRT group; 5 months in the XRT alone group and 7.5 months in the surgical group. Locoregional control was achieved in 8/11 (73%), 2/8 (25%), and 11/23 (48%) of these groups respectively. Pain was the most common presenting symptom, 38/42 (90%). Complete, lasting palliation was achieved in 8/10 (80%) of group one, 2/8 (25%) of group two, and 13/20 (65%) of group three patients. Despite surgical unresectability implant + XRT appears to offer similar results to radical surgery. The data are presented with respect to the implant technique, disappearance of the tumour on CT scan and patterns of failure.
What Is the Fire Danger Now? Linking Fuel Inventories with Atmospheric Data

The combination of forest fuel maps with real-time atmospheric data may enable the creation of more dynamic and comprehensive assessments of fire danger. The goal of this study was to combine fuel maps, based on data from the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program of the USDA Forest Service, with real-time atmospheric data for the creation of a more dynamic index of fire danger. Results indicate fuel loadings and moisture could be estimated for specific points on a meteorological modeling grid network (4 x 4 km; based on FlA's strategic-scale fuel inventory and atmospheric data) enabling the current assessment and 1- to 2-day prediction of fire danger as well as refined understanding of fire danger across forest ecosystems.
Store-operated Ca2+ signaling in dendritic cells occurs independently of STIM1

SOCE via CRAC channels is a critical signaling event in immune cells. Recent studies have identified key proteins underlying this process; STIM is an ER Ca²+ sensor that interacts with Orai, an intrinsic, pore-forming protein of the CRAC channel. In heterologous expression systems, STIM1 regulates SOCE by interacting with Orai1, -2, and -3. In native tissues, however, the precise roles of STIM and Orai proteins are not well defined. Here, we have investigated the molecular components of SOCE signaling in mouse DCs. We show that DCs predominantly express STIM2 and only very low levels of STIM1 compared with T lymphocytes. Upon store depletion with Tg, STIM2 aggregates and interacts selectively with Orai2. In contrast, Tg fails to aggregate STIM1 or enhance STIM1-mediated interactions with Orai proteins. Consistent with this biochemical characterization, stimulation of DCs with the adhesion molecule ICAM-1 selectively recruits STIM2 and Orai2 to the IS. Together, these data demonstrate a novel, STIM2-dependent SOCE signaling pathway in DCs.
Realignment: New Party Coalitions and the Nationalization of the South

Among academic and non-academic observers the Reagan election provoked speculation about whether the party system was finally embarking upon a realignment whose symptoms had been visible for some time. The discussion rarely produced a consensus because definitions of realignment are neither explicit nor theoretical, but historical and descriptive. This paper extends an argument which defines realignments as changes in the social group coalitions which distinguish party supporters. It uses this definition to describe changes which have been underway for over twenty years; it identifies the significance of the South in the transformation, and it shows the realignment to be programmatically significant even if the Democratic party retains its numerical dominance.
Excess Mortality in Two-Year Rodent Carcinogenicity Studies

This paper considers the impacts of various patterns of differential or excess mortality on the biological and statistical interpretation of 2-year rodent carcinogenicity studies. It provides sugge...
Medical Image Synthesis via Monte Carlo Simulation

A large number of test images and their "ground truth" segmentations are needed for performance characterization of the many image segmentation methods. In this work we developed a methodology to form a probability distribution of the diffeomorphism between a segmented template image and those from a population, and consequently we sample from these probability distributions to produce test images. This method will be illustrated by producing simulated 3D CT images of the abdomen for testing the segmentation of the human right kidney.
Classifying Human Dynamics Without Contact Forces

We develop a classification algorithm for hybrid autoregressive models of human motion for the purpose of videobased analysis and recognition. We assume that some temporal statistics are extracted from the images, and we use them to infer a dynamical system that explicitly models contact forces. We then develop a distance between such models that explicitly factors out exogenous inputs that are not unique to an individual or her gait. We show that such a distance is more discriminative than the distance between simple linear systems, where most of the energy is devoted to modeling the dynamics of spurious nuisances such as contact forces.
Mathematics Bridge Program

Since 1990 the Department of Freshman Engineering has offered the Mathematics Summer Bridge Program for beginning students whose high school academic backgrounds indicate high learning potential, but also a high probability of having difficulty in completing the Freshmen Engineering mathematics curriculum. The uniqueness of the Purdue Bridge is that it is one week and only covers mathematics. The Bridge was designed to allow the student to discover his/her strengths and weaknesses in mathematics and to determine if he/she is ready for calculus. The concept is that after the bridge the student will be prepared emotionally to attack the first semester. This positive attitude will produce passing grades in her/his first semester mathematics course, a high first semester GPA, and increase the retention rate of the high risk student.
Synergetic Control Strategies for Shipboard DC Power Distribution Systems

This paper presents a synergetic control design for a generalized component of modern ship DC distribution systems such as an arbitrary number of paralleled buck converters feeding a constant power load. The design uses a state space averaged model of the system and overcomes the system's nonlinearity, multi-connectivity, and high dynamic order, which are challenging features for control development. The design results in general analytical control strategies, conditions for counterweighing the system's nonlinearity, and stability conditions for the closed-loop operation. The control introduces invariant manifolds into the state space of the system and suppresses errors in output voltage and current sharing. The coefficients of invariant manifolds allow us not only to counterweigh nonlinearity and allocate the type and ratings of current sharing for each converter, but also allow to change the number of operating converters. The control strategies are first applied to a two-converter system to demonstrate how the designed control dynamically allocates the current sharing within the system. Next, a two-converter system under synergetic control and feedback linearization control shows superiority of synergetic control performance. Finally, an eight-converter system presents a coordinative control strategy that optimizes the system's efficiency by changing the number of operating converters.
Talents Unlimited: An Inservice Education Model for Teaching Thinking Skills

The Talents Unlimited project is an effective inservice education model for training both regular classroom teachers and specialists in gifted education in the development of students' creative and...
Intraoperative Recording of the Bulbocavernosus Reflex

OBJECTIVE : To demonstrate the feasibility of intraoperative monitoring of the bulbocavernosus reflex (BCR) as an indicator of the functional integrity of sacral nervous structures to aid in preventing their intraoperative injury. METHODS : Intraoperative BCR was elicited by electrical stimulation of the dorsal penile/clitoral nerve in 119 patients anesthetized with propofol, fentanyl, and nitrous oxide, with short-acting relaxant. Thirty-eight patients underwent surgery without risk, whereas 81 underwent surgery with risk of damage to sacral structures. Different patterns of stimuli were applied through silver/silver chloride disc electrodes placed on the dorsal aspect of the penis in males and over the clitoris (cathode) and adjacent labia (anode) in females. Recordings were made from the anal sphincter using intramuscular wire electrodes introduced within a 27.5 gauge needle, with two electrodes each inserted in the right and left hemisphincter muscles. Preoperatively, some patients had minor urinary problems in controlling their sphincters. RESULTS : The BCR was reliably recorded without habituation under this anesthetic regime. Optimal stimulating parameters were found to be double pulses (0.5-ms duration), with an interstimulus interval of 3 ms, stimulating rate of 2.3 Hz, and intensity of 20 mA. With these parameters, it was possible to record the BCR intraoperatively in all patients. Isoflurane and nitrous oxide significantly suppressed the BCR, and muscle relaxant completely abolished it. CONCLUSION : We demonstrated that it is feasible, under certain anesthetic regimes, to intraoperatively monitor the BCR in both children and adults (24 d to 74 yr of age) who did not have significantly affected function in sacral nervous structures.
Testing the predictive power of the transtheoretical model of behavior change applied to dietary fat intake

This study evaluated how well predictions from the transtheoretical model (TTM) generalized from smoking to diet. Longitudinal data were used from a randomized control trial on reducing dietary fat consumption in adults (n =1207) recruited from primary care practices. Predictive power was evaluated by making a priori predictions of the magnitude of change expected in the TTM constructs of temptation, pros and cons, and 10 processes of change when an individual transitions between the stages of change. Generalizability was evaluated by testing predictions based on smoking data. Three sets of predictions were made for each stage: Precontemplation (PC), Contemplation (C) and Preparation (PR) based on stage transition categories of no progress, progress and regression determined by stage at baseline versus stage at the 12-month follow-up. Univariate analysis of variance between stage transition groups was used to calculate the effect size [omega squared (omega(2))]. For diet predictions based on diet data, there was a high degree of confirmation: 92%, 95% and 92% for PC, C and PR, respectively. For diet predictions based on smoking data, 77%, 79% and 85% were confirmed, respectively, suggesting a moderate degree of generalizability. This study revised effect size estimates for future theory testing on the TTM applied to dietary fat.
Reactions of Aromatic Aldehydes with Boron Halides

Abstract Recently, during studies directed toward the total synthesis of the antibiotic frustulosin 11,2 we encountered some problems in the removal of methoxyl groups during the preparation of the phenolic aldehyde 2. Our efforts to effect this transformation led us to investigate the reactions of the boron trihalides with aromatic aldehydes. Although the methoxyl group has many desirable properties for hydroxyl protection its stability to both acids and bases often presents difficulties at the time of removal. Of the many reagents and methods devised3 for the removal of methoxyl and other alkoxyl groups boron tribromide can be considered as one of the most widely applicable reagents for this purpose. However, as a fairly powerful Lewis acid, complications can arise when acid.
An efficient MOSFET current model for analog circuit simulation-subthreshold to strong inversion

An analytical model for the subthreshold current of MOSFETs is derived. The model is valid for gate voltages from above the onset of weak inversion to the onset of strong inversion. A complete drain current model is formulated by merging the subthreshold model with a conventional strong inversion model so that, at the transition between weak and strong inversion, continuity of the drain current and its derivatives is maintained. >
YscB of Yersinia pestis Functions as a Specific Chaperone for YopN

Following contact with a eucaryotic cell, Yersinia species pathogenic for humans (Y. pestis, Y. pseudotuberculosis, and Y. enterocolitica) export and translocate a distinct set of virulence proteins (YopE, YopH, YopJ, YopM, and YpkA) from the bacterium into the eucaryotic cell. During in vitro growth at 37°C in the presence of calcium, Yop secretion is blocked; however, in the absence of calcium, Yop secretion is triggered. Yop secretion occurs via a plasmid-encoded type III, or “contact-dependent,” secretion system. The secreted YopN (also known as LcrE), TyeA, and LcrG proteins are necessary to prevent Yop secretion in the presence of calcium and prior to contact with a eucaryotic cell. In this paper we characterize the role of the yscB gene product in the regulation of Yop secretion in Y. pestis .A yscB deletion mutant secreted YopM and V antigen both in the presence and in the absence of calcium; however, the export of YopN was specifically reduced in this strain. Complementation with a functional copy of yscB in trans completely restored the wild-type secretion phenotype for YopM, YopN, and V antigen. The YscB amino acid sequence showed significant similarities to those of SycE and SycH, the specific Yop chaperones for YopE and YopH, respectively. Protein cross-linking and immunoprecipitation studies demonstrated a specific interaction between YscB and YopN. In-frame deletions in yopN eliminating the coding region for amino acids 51 to 85 or 6 to 100 prevented the interaction of YopN with YscB. Taken together, these results indicate that YscB functions as a specific chaperone for YopN in Y. pestis. Yersinia species pathogenic for humans (Y. pestis, Y. pseudotuberculosis, and Y. enterocolitica) interact directly with the surfaces of eucaryotic cells and translocate a distinct set of virulence proteins (YopE, YopH, YopJ, YopM, and YpkA) from
Directional correlations of gamma rays in 77As

Abstract Directional correlation measurements have been made for γ-transitions in 77As following the decay of 11.30 h 77Ge using two Ge(Li) detectors. Using the method of Chow et al., mixing ratios of γ-transitions and the spins of seven levels have been deduced assuming only a ground-state spin of 3 2 . Levels for which spins were deduced are 216( 3 2 ), 264( 5 2 ), 475( 9 2 ), 632( 5 2 ), 1189( 7 2 ), 1458( 3 2 ) and 1528( 5 2 ) keV .
A novel application development environment for large-scale scientific computations

Our results demonstrate that our novel application development environment provides both ease-of-use and high performance for large-scale, I/O-intensive scientific applications.
Indirect Recognition by Helper Cells Can Induce Donor-specific Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes In Vivo

In vitro studies have revealed that help for cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) induction can be mediated through several pathways, including direct recognition of allogenic class II antigens by CD4+ cells, direct recognition of allogeneic class I antigens by "CD4-independent" CD8+ cells, and "indirect" recognition of peptides of alloantigens presented in association with self class II molecules. Whereas good evidence for the two direct pathways is available in vivo, there is relatively little evidence to show that indirect recognition can initiate graft rejection. This study examined the role of indirect allorecognition during the generation of CTLs in mice as they rejected major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-deficient skin after depletion of CD8+ T cells in vivo. Recipients were depleted of CD8+ T cells by in vivo treatment with anti-CD8 monoclonal antibody and then grafted with allogeneic skin lacking MHC class II antigens. The mice rejected the skin grafts rapidly. Although flow cytometry showed marked depletion of CD8+ T cells in these mice, we found that (a) CD8+ CTLs were generated and sensitized to MHC class I antigens of the donor; (b) the generation of the CD8+ CTLs required the help in vivo of CD4+ cells, as well as priming with the allogeneic skin graft; and (c) the CD4+ T helper cells were sensitized indirectly to donor peptides presented in association with class II antigens on recipient antigen-presenting cells. These results provide evidence that indirect recognition can provide effective help for CTL induction during graft rejection, even when the cytotoxic T cells are sensitized by determinants expressed only on the donor graft.
A gene for a severe lethal form of X-linked arthrogryposis (X-linked infantile spinal muscular atrophy) maps to human chromosome Xp11.3–q11.2

X-linked arthrogryposis Type I (X-linked infantile spinal muscular atrophy) is a rare disorder showing hypotonia, areflexia, and multiple congenital contractures (arthrogryposis) associated with loss of anterior horn cells and death in infancy. We have studied an X-linked arthrogryposis family using highly polymorphic microsatellite markers throughout the X chromosome. Meiotic breakpoint analysis (concordance analysis) based on shared regions of the founder X chromosome was successful in localizing the X-linked arthrogryposis gene to Xp11.3-q11.2. In this region, the highest two-point lod score was found with DXS991 (Zmax = 2.63, theta = 0.00). In multipoint linkage analysis covering the entire X chromosome, only the region defined by MAOB and DXS991 showed positive lod scores and all other regions showed negative lod scores. These data establish the first gene mapping assignment of an X-linked lethal form of human lower motor neuron disease.
The Symphony Of Southeast Texas In 2010: Managing A Regional Orchestra In Modern Times

The Symphony of Southeast Texas is a regional, professional symphony orchestra based in Beaumont, TX. The orchestra operates on an annual budget of approximately $550,000, and employs musicians on a per-service basis. In 2009, the orchestra hired a new Music Director following two years of searching and auditions. Chelsea Tipton, II, ignited a fire amongst all of the organizations constituents from his first visit to Beaumont for his audition in March 2009. Following his appointment as Music Director, the organization’s members realized what a remarkable opportunity was at hand for the orchestra. The organization had to capitalize on the enthusiasm surrounding a new Music Director, but this came with a unique set of challenges. Orchestras, like non-profit organizations in general, struggle with maintaining a sustainable business model. This case study describes the opportunities, and the challenges associated with them, that regional orchestras, and similarly positioned small non-profit organizations, face.
Maximum matchings in dynamic graph streams and the simultaneous communication model

We study the problem of finding an approximate maximum matching in two closely related computational models, namely, the dynamic graph streaming model and the simultaneous multi-party communication model. In the dynamic graph streaming model, the input graph is revealed as a stream of edge insertions and deletions, and the goal is to design a small space algorithm to approximate the maximum matching. In the simultaneous model, the input graph is partitioned across k players, and the goal is to design a protocol where the k players simultaneously send a small-size message to a coordinator, and the coordinator computes an approximate matching.Dynamic graph streams. We resolve the space complexity of single-pass turnstile streaming algorithms for approximating matchings by showing that for any e > 0, Θ(n2-3e) space is both sufficient and necessary (up to polylogarithmic factors) to compute an ne-approximate matching; here n denotes the number of vertices in the input graph.The simultaneous communication model. Our results for dynamic graph streams also resolve the (per-player) simultaneous communication complexity for approximating matchings in the edge partition model. For the vertex partition model, we design new randomized and deterministic protocols for k players to achieve an α-approximation. Specifically, for α ≥ [EQUATION], we provide a randomized protocol with total communication of O(nk/α2) and a deterministic protocol with total communication of O(nk/α). Both these bounds are tight. Our work generalizes the results established by Dobzinski et al. (STOC 2014) for the special case of k = n. Finally, for the case of α = o([EQUATION]), we establish a new lower bound on the simultaneous communication complexity which is super-linear in n.
The causes of crime: Violent behavior and cerebral hemisphere function

Experimental support for the hypothesis that violent behavior is associated with left-hemisphere dysfunction is scarce. This study examines the association between crime, violence, and left-hemisphere dysfunction using measures of hand, eye, and foot dominance within a sample of 1,066 males born and raised in Philadelphia between the ages of 10 and 18 years as part of the Biosocial Study conducted at the Center for Studies in Criminology and Criminal Law at the University of Pennsylvania. Overall there were no significant differences between offenders and non-offenders in measures of hand and foot preferences. However, for eye preference, there were significant between-group differences, particularly for violent offenders. Altogether violent offenders were more apt to show left-eye preference rather than right-eye preference. As the literature discusses, an increased incidence of left-side preference in a given population may be related to left-hemisphere dysfunction. The finding of a partial correspondence (eye preference only) rather than full correspondence among the three indices of lateral preferences (hand, eye, and foot preferences) may be attributed to environmental influences, such as the effects of brain trauma at birth. In addition, possible associations between hemisphere dysfunction and behavior disorders and crime can also be affected by other biological and social factors over the course of an individual’s development.
Recent Elections and Black Politics: The Maturation or Death of Black Politics?

Black politics is not maturing and may be degenerating.' To explicate this thesis, let me borrow from Nelson George's (1989) critical study of Afro-American music in the post civil rights era.2 George argues that the development of crossover artists and music, and their effective marketing to mainstream white society, has resulted in the death of the music as an authentic black cultural expression. George, the former Billboard music critic, writes "In the twenty years since the Great Society, which marked a high point of R&B music, the community that inspired both social change and artistic creativity has become a sad shell of itself: unhappily, while the drive behind the movement for social change was the greatest inspiration for the music, the very success of the movement spelled the end of the R&B world" (1989:xiii). The new black politics initiated in the late 1960s, like the music of the era, was conceived as a social change agent, the continuation of movement politics by other means. It would indeed be sad if the conditions for its success require it to become a "deracialized" mainstream shell of itself (on the deracialization thesis in terms of the 1989 elections see also McCormick, 1989). Do the 1989 elections really represent a new phenomenon? Do these several elections really indicate something new in terms of candidates, issues, strategies, white crossover voting, and coalition politics? The coverage in the national press and in the early scholarly reports, including several articles in this symposium suggest that there was something entirely different, "nearly beyond belief" about the election of Wilder and several of the mayors. Although all elections are local in that candidates, issues, and symbols tend to be idiosyncratic, to the extent that patterns are discernible I would argue that the 1989 elections are not all that new in terms of what we know about the post civil rights pattern of black electoral coalitions and govern-
Soil Moisture Differences between Terracette Benches and Risers on Semiarid Rangeland Hillslopes

Microtopographic features known as terracettes are found throughout semiarid rangelands. Their soil properties and hydrologic function, however, are virtually unknown. This research aimed to quantify whether or not terracetted hillslopes retain more soil water. The objectives of this research were to: (i) assess soil moisture measured at two terracetted field sites comparing bench and riser; (ii) identify to what extent microtopography, soil properties, and land use affect soil moisture; and (iii) quantify differences in soil moisture at the field scale between terracetted and control sites (grazed and ungrazed) in eastern Washington. We measured volumetric water content (θ v ), bulk density, soil texture, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and organic matter in addition to compaction, vegetative cover, and cattle density. Our results show significant θ v differences between terracette benches and risers in the upper 10 cm, with benches exhibiting higher mean θ v than risers across all sites during both wet (+6.14%) and dry (+6.63%) seasons. Soil texture and organic matter did not vary between bench and riser features, and microtopography itself was not driving observed soil moisture differences. Soil moisture differences were attributed to land use (i.e., cattle) impact on soil bulk density and vegetative cover. Greater water content on terracette benches is partially attributed to shifts to smaller pore sizes with compaction and a reduction in transpiration resulting from lower vegetative cover due to root impedance. However, this increased water storage is not plant accessible and does not contribute to increased forage production. This work is intended to provide a mechanistic understanding of terracette hydrology for semiarid rangeland management.
On Translation Policy

The term translation policy has become problematic for the field of Translation Studies because it has meant so many things to so many authors that it threatens to lose some of its efficacy (see Meylaerts 2011a, 163�166 ). In light of this, the concept of translation policy should be developed so that it will be broad enough to account for diverse phenomena in different places with multiple agents, while retaining specific parameters that make the concept methodologically useful. This article will consider insights from Translation Studies and from other fields, especially from the field of Language Policy, in order to develop such a concept of translation policy. To illustrate how the understanding of translation policy that will be proposed may be used in a descriptive paradigm, the article will present translation policy in Scotland�s local government as a case study.
Safety and efficacy of median sternotomy versus video-assisted thoracic surgery for lung volume reduction surgery.

BACKGROUND The National Emphysema Treatment Trial, a randomized trial comparing lung volume reduction surgery with medical therapy for severe emphysema, included randomized and nonrandomized comparisons of the median sternotomy and video-assisted thoracoscopic approaches for lung volume reduction surgery. METHODS Lung volume reduction surgery was performed by median sternotomy only at 8 centers and video-assisted thoracoscopy only at 3 centers; 6 centers randomized the approach to lung volume reduction surgery. Mortality, morbidity, functional status, and costs were assessed. RESULTS In the nonrandomized comparison, 359 patients received lung volume reduction surgery by median sternotomy, and 152 patients received lung volume reduction surgery by video-assisted thoracoscopy. The 90-day mortality was 5.9% for median sternotomy and 4.6% for video-assisted thoracoscopy (P =.67). Overall mortality was 0.08 deaths per person-year for median sternotomy and 0.10 deaths per person-year for video-assisted thoracoscopy (video-assisted thoracoscopy-median sternotomy risk ratio, 1.18; P =.42). Complication rates were low and not statistically different for the 2 approaches. The median hospital length of stay was longer for median sternotomy than for video-assisted thoracoscopy (10 vs 9 days; P =.01). By 30 days after surgery, 70.5% of median sternotomy patients and 80.9% of video-assisted thoracoscopy patients were living independently (P =.02). Functional outcomes were similar for median sternotomy and video-assisted thoracoscopy at 12 and 24 months. Costs for the operation and the associated hospital stay and costs in the 6 months after surgery were both less for video-assisted thoracoscopy than for median sternotomy (P <.01 in both cases). Similar results were noted for the randomized comparison. CONCLUSIONS Morbidity and mortality were comparable after lung volume reduction surgery by video-assisted thoracoscopy or median sternotomy, as were functional results. The video-assisted thoracoscopic approach to lung volume reduction surgery allowed earlier recovery at a lower cost than median sternotomy.
Automated Fault Localization of XACML Policies

Access control policies in distributed systems, particularly implemented in the XACML standard language, are increasingly complex. Faults may exist in complex policies for various reasons such as misunderstanding of the access control requirements, omissions, and coding errors. These faults, if not removed before deployment, may lead to unauthorized accesses or denial of service. Manual localization of these faults, however, can be a challenging task. Inspired by spectrum-based fault localization for software debugging, this paper presents an approach for automatically localizing the fault(s) in a given XACML policy by exploring test coverage information of the policy elements. We investigate two test coverage criteria (i.e., reachability and firing) of policy elements and 14 scoring methods for ranking policy elements to determine the fault location(s). To evaluate the fault localization methods, we have used real-world policy files with different levels of complexity and a large number of policy mutants with one or two seeded faults. The experiment results show that the firing-based Naish2 and CBI-Inc methods are effective in fault localization of XACML policies.
Enhanced Requirement for TNFR2 in Graft Rejection Mediated by Low-Affinity Memory CD8+ T Cells during Heterologous Immunity

The affinity of a TCR binding to peptide:MHC profoundly impacts the phenotype and function of effector and memory cell differentiation. Little is known about the effect of low-affinity priming on memory cell generation and function, which is particularly important in heterologous immunity, when microbe-specific T cells cross-react with allogeneic Ag and mediate graft rejection. We found that low-affinity-primed memory CD8(+) T cells produced high levels of TNF ex vivo in response to heterologous rechallenge compared with high-affinity-primed memory T cells. Low-affinity secondary effectors significantly upregulated TNFR2 on the cell surface and contained a higher frequency of TNFR2(hi) proliferating cells. Low-affinity-primed secondary effectors concurrently downregulated TNF production. Importantly, blockade of TNFR2 attenuated graft rejection in low- but not high-affinity-primed animals. These data establish a functional connection between TNF signaling and TCR-priming affinity and have implications for the immunomodulation of pathogenic T cell responses during transplantation.
Risk-profiles and outcomes of multi-foetal pregnancies in adolescent mothers.

AbstractIn this retrospective review of 468 mothers with a multi-foetal pregnancy in Detroit, we describe the risk-profiles and the obstetrical, maternal and foetal outcomes of multi-foetal pregnancy in 59 (13%) adolescents. Overall, most mothers were African American, did not have private insurance and all were unmarried. For most mothers, this was their first pregnancy (59.3%) and their first delivery (69.5%). Almost 50% presented to triage at least once during their pregnancy. Anaemia (78%) and hypertensive disorders (18.6%) were common in this age group. The majority of adolescents delivered preterm as 81.4% were <37 weeks and 49% were <34 weeks. Furthermore, the majority of infants (79%) had low birth weights (median: 1975 g, range: 365–3405 g). This contemporary report emphasises the need for multidisciplinary prenatal management and specialist supervision, as multi-foetal pregnancies in adolescents pose real risks and impact obstetrical, maternal and neonatal outcomes.
Nucleic acid scavenging microfiber mesh inhibits trauma-induced inflammation and thrombosis.

Trauma patients produce a host of danger signals and high levels of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) after cellular injury and tissue damage. These DAMPs are directly and indirectly involved in the pathogenesis of various inflammatory and thrombotic complications in patients with severe injuries. No effective therapeutic agents for the removal of DAMPs from blood or tissue fluid have been developed. Herein, we demonstrated that nucleic acid binding polymers, e.g., polyethylenimine (PEI) and polyamidoamine dendrimers, immobilized onto electrospun microfiber mesh can effectively capture various DAMPs, such as extracellular DNAs and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1). Furthermore, treatment with PEI-immobilized microfiber mesh abrogated the ability of DAMPs, released from dead and dying cells in culture or found in patients following traumatic injury, to activate innate immune responses and coagulation in vitro and in vivo. Nucleic acid scavenging microfiber meshes represent an effective strategy to combat inflammation and thrombosis in trauma.
Factors That Contribute to Indeterminate Results From the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube Test in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background & Aims The QuantiFERON-Tuberculosis Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) (QIAGEN Group, Hilden, Germany) test is widely used to screen for latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) before treatment with a tumor necrosis factor antagonist. The test frequently produces indeterminate results, prompting additional testing. We evaluated factors associated with indeterminate results from the QFT-GIT test among patients with IBD. Methods We conducted a case–control study among eligible adults with QFT-GIT test results and a concomitant diagnosis of IBD receiving care at a tertiary referral center from 2011 through 2013. We compared patients with IBD with indeterminate and determinate (positive or negative) results from the QFT-GIT test. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical features, laboratory parameters, and medication use from medical charts. We calculated odds ratios (OR) and 95% CIs using multivariate logistic regression models. Results A total of 400 patients with IBD (265 Crohn's disease and 135 ulcerative colitis) were included in the final analyses. Indeterminate results were noted in 11.5% of patients. At the time of testing, a higher proportion of patients with indeterminate results from the QFT-GIT test were on systemic corticosteroid therapy (60.9% vs 30.5% of patients with conclusive test results; P Conclusions In a case–control study of patients with IBD, we associated systemic corticosteroid therapy and low levels of albumin with an increased likelihood of having indeterminate QFT-GIT test result.
Cerebral Blood Flow Assessment Following Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Quantitative CBF information, especially when coupled with blood pressure and CO2 challenge, has proven highly useful in guiding day to day management of patients following subarachnoid hemorrhage. As technology continues to improve and become more acessible, clinical management of patients will undoubtedly move toward decisions based on solid physiology, eliminating the use of clinical impressions hastily made at early morning rounds from the foot of the bed.
Spontaneously Susceptible Cells and Cell Culture Methodologies for African Swine Fever Virus

The results of immunofluorescent studies revealed that those cells which belong to the mononuclear phagocyte system of van Furth or reticuloendothelial cells in lymphoid tissues and organs were susceptible to African swine fever virus (ASFV) infection. Furthermore, we have observed for the first time that the reticular epithelial cells of thymus and mesangial cells in renal glomeruli were also susceptible to ASFV infection, while the lymphocytes, neutrophils, vascular endothelial cells, hepatic cells, and tunica media of blood vessels were not susceptible to ASFV infection in vivo. The plastic adhering mononuclear cells (MNC) were stimulated by macrophage colony-stimulating factor (MCSF), and MNC-forming colonies were fully susceptible to ASFV infection. Infected pigs which died from acute fatal course seem to acquire a disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Methodologies for cell cultures, application of cultured cells for virus infection, production of viral antigens for serodiagnosis, and use of various cell lines for growing ASFV are described and discussed.