cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Can nonexperts really emulate statistical learning methods? A comment on “The accuracy, fairness, and limits of predicting recidivism”

Recent research has questioned the value of statistical learning methods for producing accurate predictions in the criminal justice context. Using results from respondents on Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurkers) who were asked to predict recidivism, Dressel and Farid (2018) argue that nonexperts can achieve predictive accuracy and fairness on par with algorithmic approaches that employ statistical learning models. Analyzing the same data from the original study, this comment employs additional techniques and compares the quality of the predicted probabilities output from statistical learning procedures versus the MTurkers’ evaluations. The metrics presented indicate that statistical approaches do, in fact, outperform the nonexperts in important ways. Based on these new analyses, it is difficult to accept the conclusion presented in Dressel and Farid (2018) that their results “cast significant doubt on the entire effort of algorithmic recidivism prediction.”
The Impact of Community Engagement Through Dance on Teen and Young Adult Dancers

This chapter looks at the impact of community engagement through dance on adolescent and young adult dancers, particularly in relation to self-esteem, empathy, artistic understanding, and career aspirations of the participants, and whether dance differs from other kinds of civic engagement for them. The research investigates dancers ages 16–21, including both private studio trained dancers and dancers in an undergraduate dance program that volunteer on an ongoing basis in these types of community settings. The specific projects include teaching dance and developing choreography with low-income teens in an urban community center and a wheelchair dance class at a residential school for 16–21 year olds with cerebral palsy, both in Philadelphia. In this mixed method study, quantitative results from self-esteem and empathy surveys were triangulated with qualitative data collected through interviews. While statistical results were insignificant, three areas of impact were illuminated through qualitative analysis: (1) definitions of dance, (2) differences between dance based and other volunteer or community work, and (3) career aspirations.
The effect of pain on balancing behavior: complexity analysis of mediolateral force trajectories

Abstract Background Postural instability is a prevalent and deleterious consequence of aging. It is unclear how the occurrence of chronic pain augments balance issues as age progresses. Research question We investigated how postural stability is influenced by aging and chronic pain. Methods Fifty-five participants with and without recent chronic pain balanced on one foot while performing three tasks, a standard balancing task with no challenge, a mental task in which participants answered arithmetic questions while balancing on one foot, and a knot-tying task in which participants tied knots in a ribbon while balancing on one foot. General linear models were used to assess the relationship between age, sex, BMI, and pain category for the three different balancing tasks. In addition, a multivariate analysis of variance was used to test the effect of age and pain category on Hurst exponents from all of three different balancing tasks. Results Our results show that aging changes the control strategy of balancing from less persistent to more repetitive. The strong feedback elements intrinsic to healthy stability ensure quick reactions and strong capacity to compensate for balance checks; this reactive state changes into a less reactive and more predictable balance strategy with age while balancing on one foot. Mental tasks during balancing also decreased the feedback in balancing strategy. Balance strategy during the knot-tying task was correlated with age, but unaffected by chronic pain. Overall, the chronic pain group had a worse balance strategy while performing the mental task in comparison with healthy people, but were not differentiable from controls in the standard or knot-tying tasks. Significance Scores from balancing while engaging in cognitive tasks may provide evidence of health decline, and contribute to our knowledge about how pain affects feedback mechanisms.
The Practical Effectiveness of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems at Different Roadway Facilities: System Limitation, Adoption, and Usage

This research proposes a method to estimate the practical effectiveness of 6 advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) in avoiding crashes on different roadway facilities (locations). The systems include blind spot warning/lane change warning (BSW/LCW), forward collision warning (FCW), intersection movement assist (IMA), pedestrian crash avoidance and mitigation (PCAM), lane departure warning (LDW) and left turn assist (LTA) systems. The method involves the use of meta-analysis and quasi-induced exposure methodologies to estimate the distribution of effectiveness factors across the driver population. These factors include system operating conditions, system adoption rates and system usage features. Then a Monte-Carlo procedure is applied to sample these factors for simulating the practical ADAS effectiveness. The research shows that the practical effectiveness could be as much as 48.25% lower than the ideal effectiveness proposed by previous research. It is also found that BSW/FCW, PCAM, FCW and LDW systems exhibited the highest effectiveness when operating on urban expressways/freeways. On rural multilane highways, such systems are demonstrated to have the least effectiveness. Furthermore, LTA systems are found to perform better at rural intersections than at urban intersections while the conclusion is contrary regarding IMA systems. Among the six systems, BSW/LCW has the most consistent performance among facilities, while LTA is most likely to be affected by facility type. The integrated system of six ADAS systems could prevent at most 29.50% of total crashes on urban multi-lane highways, while its lowest practical effectiveness is 13.72% on rural two-lane highways. Finally, technical and policy implications of the results are discussed.
Protocol-based nurse coordinator management of ambulatory tacrolimus dosing in de novo renal transplant recipients-A single-center experience with a large African American population.

Introduction Transplant nurse (RN) coordinators review tacrolimus levels frequently and would be capable of making dose adjustments autonomously if not limited by their license. Collaborative practice agreements could be an answer; thus, the aim of this evaluation was to determine if an RN-driven protocol could be used safely and effectively to manage tacrolimus in ambulatory kidney transplant (KTX) recipients. Methods This was a retrospective review of all solitary adult KTX recipients between August 1, 2016, and July 29, 2017. The primary objective was to evaluate protocol adherence and frequency of use, and secondary objectives were to evaluate the utility of the protocol both overall and based on ethnicity. Results A total of 173 patients were included in the evaluation (59% African American [AA], 41% non-African American [non-AA). RN coordinators followed the protocol for 75% of tacrolimus adjustments; however, they only responded to 27% of the overall levels. There was no difference in 180-day tacrolimus-associated readmission (15% AA vs 5% non-AA, P = .06), biopsy-proven acute rejection (4% AA vs 7% non-AA, P = .363), or hyperkalemia (34% AA vs 32% non-AA, P = .87) between groups. Conclusions Transplant nurse coordinators are capable of accurately following a protocol for tacrolimus dosage adjustment in a large, racially diverse kidney transplant center.
Doppler Velocimetry in Prolonged Pregnancy

A comprehensive review of Doppler velocimetry revealed significant variability in the design and conduct of these studies. Areas of variability include differences in ultrasound machines used, Doppler modality (continuous value vs pulsed Doppler), Doppler indices used, and definition of prolonged pregnancy and precision of pregnancy dating. The Doppler technique requires experience and precision that are difficult to ensure and maintain across different trials. The extreme variability observed is likely to overwhelm any small or moderate correlation between Doppler measurements and outcomes, should they exist. The generally small size of the study samples and the near universal lack of power analysis for studies with negative results represent significant additional hurdles. Properly designed and sufficiently powered trials would therefore still be of benefit. An interesting empirical observation was that umbilical Doppler velocimetry appeared to better predict outcome in prolonged pregnancy when compared with the standard antenatal tests such as NST and fluid volume assessment. This is certainly an observation that merits further investigation.
Leïla Slimani’s Chanson douce

This article examines Leila Slimani’s Chanson douce (2016) in the light of the double bind in which authors coming from postcolonial countries are often put. Either accused of cultural imperialism ...
Social heterogeneity, local capacity, and urban parks: Evidence from US cities

Abstract This paper analyzes the provision of urban parks and recreational spaces, focusing on public funding efforts in metropolitan cities. Using cities as units of analysis and fifteen years of data, we examine their public funding efforts for parks and recreational spaces, evaluating the reliability of the findings across alternative modeling specifications. Social and institutional characteristics are explored as for explanations of public funding efforts for parks and recreational spaces. The main finding is that significantly different levels of parks and recreation spending are prevalent across American cities. Additional findings are that social and institutional conditions affect the public funding of parks and recreation programs, based on a pooled spatial analysis of cities. While its primary contribution is to research on disparities in urban parks and recreational spaces, the paper also integrates social and institutional literatures to identify factors influencing the allocation of public funds to those spaces in metropolitan areas.
Research Methods on the Contribution of Robots in the Service Quality of Hotels

Robotics has many different applications in production—for example automation of production lines—and in services. A particular point of view is whether robots can replace people in the provision of services, in the case of tourism services. At present, the application of robotics to tourism is very limited, while at the academic level there has begun to have a relative interest. The current chapter has made an attempt to analyse the current research on the relationship between the use of robotics and service quality on hotels. The outcome is that there is a limited research which indicates that there is a positive relationship, though there are some reservations such as that the customers need to interact with humans. For this reason, the chapter makes a recommendation for future research.
Characterization of RelA in Acinetobacter baumannii.

ABSTRACT In response to nutrient depletion, the RelA and SpoT proteins generate the signaling molecule (p)ppGpp, which then controls a number of downstream effectors to modulate cell physiology. In Acinetobacter baumannii strain AB5075, a relA ortholog (ABUW_3302) was identified by a transposon insertion that conferred an unusual colony phenotype. An in-frame deletion in relA (ΔrelA) failed to produce detectable levels of ppGpp when amino acid starvation was induced with serine hydroxamate. The ΔrelA mutant was blocked from switching from the virulent opaque colony variant (VIR-O) to the avirulent translucent colony variant (AV-T), but the rate of AV-T to VIR-O switching was unchanged. In addition, the ΔrelA mutation resulted in a pronounced hypermotile phenotype on 0.35% agar plates. This hypermotility was dependent on the activation of a LysR regulator ABUW_1132, which was required for expression of AbaR, a LuxR family quorum-sensing regulator. In the ΔrelA mutant, ABUW_1132 was also required for the increased expression of an operon composed of the ABUW_3766-ABUW_3773 genes required for production of the surfactant-like lipopeptide acinetin 505. Additional phenotypes identified in the ΔrelA mutant included (i) cell elongation at high density, (ii) reduced formation of persister cells tolerant to colistin and rifampin, and (iii) decreased virulence in a Galleria mellonella model. IMPORTANCEAcinetobacter baumannii is a pathogen of worldwide importance. Due to the increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance, these infections are becoming increasingly difficult to treat. New therapies are required to combat multidrug-resistant isolates. The role of RelA in A. baumannii is largely unknown. This study demonstrates that like in other bacteria, RelA controls a variety of functions, including virulence. Strategies to inhibit the activity of RelA and the resulting production of ppGpp could inhibit virulence and may represent a new therapeutic approach.
CHAPTER 7 – Asymptotic Series

Publisher Summary This chapter studies the asymptotic series, a concept of great importance in much of mathematics. The chapter discusses the case of the infinite integral. It presents the difference between convergent series and asymptotic series. Asymptotic series are manipulated fairly freely—that is, one can add and subtract them quite easily. Formal multiplication is generally legitimate and asymptotic series can usually be integrated term by term. Asymptotic expansions are a convenient way of evaluating a function for large arguments. If the function can be represented as a power series, then that may be an appropriate way of evaluating it for small arguments.
Examining the same-day relationship between morning cortisol after awakening, perceived stress in the morning, and physical activity in youth.

Most children in the United States currently do not meet physical activity (PA) guidelines, and perceived stress is a known barrier against PA. However, most studies have solely focused on the betw...
Treatment of human cells with 5-aza-dC induces formation of PARP1-DNA covalent adducts at genomic regions targeted by DNMT1

ABSTRACT The nucleoside analog 5-aza-2’-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC) is used to treat some hematopoietic malignancies. The mechanism of cell killing depends upon DNMT1, but is otherwise not clearly defined. Here we show that PARP1 forms covalent DNA adducts in human lymphoblast or fibroblasts treated with 5-aza-dC. Some adducts recovered from 5-aza-dC-treated cells have undergone cleavage by apoptotic caspases 3/7. Mapping of PARP1-DNA adducts, by a new method, “Adduct-Seq”, demonstrates adduct enrichment at CpG-dense genomic locations that are targets of maintenance methylation by DNMT1. Covalent protein-DNA adducts can arrest replication and induce apoptosis, and these results raise the possibility that induction of PARP1-DNA adducts may contribute to cell killing in response to treatment with 5-aza-dC.
The Alchemy of Meth: A Decomposition: by Jason Pine, Minneapolis, University of Minnesota Press, 2019, 224 pp., author’s note, preface, introduction, afterword, notes, bibliography, images, (paperback), ISBN 978-1-5179-0771-6

Jason Pine’s The Alchemy of Meth: A Decomposition steps into a cultural and social terrain that will be familiar to many readers. From Breaking Bad and Requiem for a Dream to Ozark and the controve...
Chemical shift assignments of the N-terminal domain of PSD95 (PSD95-NT)

Postsynaptic density protein-95 (PSD95) contributes to the postsynaptic architecture of neuronal synapses and plays an important role in controlling synaptic plasticity. The N-terminal domain of PSD95 (residues 1-71, called PSD95-NT) interacts with target proteins (calmodulin, α-actinin-1 and CDKL5), which regulate the Ca2+-dependent degradation of glutamate receptors. We report complete backbone NMR chemical shift assignments of PSD95-NT (BMRB No. 50752).
Duality, Canonical Modules, and Gorenstein Rings

The most basic geometric objects associated with a smooth manifold or a smooth variety are its tangent and cotangent bundles, and various tensors derived from them. In algebraic geometry the most easily accessible, and the most important, is the canonical bundle, the highest exterior power of the cotangent bundle. It plays a central part in duality theory. If the variety is affine, then the sections of the canonical bundle form a module over the coordinate ring of the variety called the canonical module. Because it is the module of sections of a line bundle, it is locally free of rank 1.
AUSTRIAN MONOPOLY THEORY -A CRITIQUE*

There are two views of monopoly within what might be called the broad Austrian camp. According to the Mises-Kirzner view, monopoly price can exist on the free market, and a necessary part of its definition is a purposeful withholding of resources on the part of the monopolist. Rothbard, however, defines monopoly as an exclusive government grant of trading privileges, and, as such, finds it incompatible with market freedom.In this paper I shall criticize the former view, (I) by considering alternative interpretations to monopolistic withholding, and (2) by considering several inconsistencies on the part of its proponents.
Biosynthesis of edeine. Fractionation and characterization of enzymes responsible for biosynthesis of edeine A and B.

Abstract Enzymes obtained from cells disrupted by lysozyme treatment were resolved into three complementary enzyme fractions by DEAE-cellulose-Sephadex G-200 chromatography. These enzymes of molecular weight 210 000 (A), 180 000 (B) and 100 000 (C) were responsible for the activation of the constituent amino acids of edeines and their subsequent polymerization into biologically active peptides. Two of these fractions 210 000 and 180 000 molecular weight contained covalently bound pantetheine. Fraction A of 210 000 mol. wt activated β-tyrosine, whereas Fraction B of 180 000 mol. wt activated diaminopropionic acid, isoserine, 2,6-diamino-7-hydroxyazelaic acid and glycine. Fraction C of 100 000 mol. wt, which predominately activated diaminopropionic acid and isoserine, was inactive for β-tyrosine. The amino acid activation was measured by ATP-32PPi exchange. All three enzyme fractions were present in extracts obtained from cells of late logarithmic and early stationary phase of growth (8–12 h). Enzymes of old cells (20–24 h) resolved into two fractions only, of 210 000 and 160 000 molecular weight. Both have shown the catalytic activity for the same edeine constituent amino acids as Fraction A and B. Fractions A and B formed complexes with constituent amino acids of edeines which were precipitable with trichloroacetic acid. The amino acids in these complexes were covalently bound to the protein.
Outpatient Management of HIV Infection

Overview of the HIV/AIDS Epidemic. Pathogenesis and Natural History of HIV Infection. Overview of HIV-Related Disorders. General Approach to Management. Symptom-Oriented Evaluation and Management. Diagnosis and Management of Minor Medical Problems. Therapy of Serious HIV-Related Infections and Malignancies. Treatment Issues in Special Populations. HIV Infection in Women and Families. Anti-retroviral Therapy. Issues in the Care of the Patient Taking Anti-retroviral Therapy. Issues in the Care of the Patient Failing Therapy. Managed Care and HIV Infection. Issues in Quality Management in AIDS Care. General Health Maintenance for the HIV-Infected Patient. Case Studies. Appendices.
Adenovirus type 5 E1A gene products act as transformation suppressors of the neu oncogene

The adenovirus type 5 early region 1A (E1A) gene was introduced into neu-transformed B104-1-1 cells. Cells that expressed E1A possessed reduced transforming activity in vitro and reduced tumorigenicity in nude mice. These results demonstrate that the E1A gene products can act negatively to suppress the transformed phenotype in neu-transformed cells.
Many Breast Cancer Mutations Parallel Mutations in Known Viral Cancers

Infections may play a larger role in breast cancer than previously believed, especially if normal breast cell architecture and immune defenses have been weakened by gene mutations. Mutated genes in 289 breast cancers were compared with mutated genes in model viral and non-viral cancers. DNA sequences were obtained from publicly available data. Mutated genes in breast cancers were just as likely to be found in viral cancers as in non-viral cancers. Breast, viral, and non-viral cancers all had damage to genes encoding essential immune functions and physical barriers to cell infection. Potentially, damage to these protective genes can suppress control of cancer-associated viruses and open easier routes for infectious particles. Genes that provide protection against cancer viruses and form barriers against infection were damaged in every breast, viral, and non-viral cancer tested. Breast and other cancer cells may already harbor infections. Gaps in immunity or in infection barriers caused by distinct individual sets of mutations make cancer cells more susceptible than normal cells to infections that can exploit the cancer mutations. Other infections may be less likely because mutations have altered host proteins the other infection requires. Understanding gaps in cell defenses may enable therapy that more specifically destroys cancer cells and preserves normal cells.
The effects of adrenocorticotropin hormone and angiotensin II on adrenal corticosteroid secretions in the freshwater turtle Pseudemys scripta.

This study examined the effects of angiotensin II (ANG II) and mammalian adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) on adrenal corticosteroid secretions in the freshwater turtle, Pseudemys scripta. Synthetic turtle ANG 11 ([Asp1, Val5] ANG II) was infused at rates of 1, 10, and 100 ng/kg/min in conscious turtles while monitoring blood pressure (BP). One 60-min saline (0.6%) infusion preceded the ANG II infusions; two followed. Blood samples were collected at 30- and 60-min intervals and the plasma was frozen at −20° until assay. Mammalian ACTH was infused at doses of 0.1 and 1.0 IU/min; the procedures were followed as delineated above. The plasma was assayed for corticosterone, cortisol, and aldosterone utilizing radioimmunoassay techniques. Infusions of exogenous, native ANG II at subpressor and pressor rates elicited dose-dependent increases in BP, which rose from a control mean of 22.6 ± 5.8 mm Hg to a maximum mean value of 38.2 ± 11.0 mm Hg (P < 0.05 compared to control), and plasma corticosterone concentrations, which rose from a control mean of 6.6 ± 2.8 ng/ml to a maximum mean value of 27.2 ± 2.6 ng/ml (P < 0.05 compared to control). Furthermore, both BP and corticosterone levels returned toward control levels during the final saline recovery period, suggesting that neither physical stress suffered by the animal nor blood volume changes due to infusions and blood sampling affected these parameters. ACTH failed to alter either BP or corticosterone. Neither ANG II nor ACTH had any effect on plasma cortisol or aldosterone concentrations—which fell below the minimal detection levels for these assays. The results suggest that corticosterone may be a primary mineralocorticoid in P. scripta, and perhaps in reptiles in general.
Sex role self schema and psychological adjustment in coupled homosexual and heterosexual men and women

This study examined the relation between dimensions of sex role self schema (assessed by four factor scores of the Bem Sex Role Inventory: Instrumentality, Expressiveness, Autonomy, and Masculinity-Femininity) and psychological adjustment (assessed by the Symptom Checklist-90-R) in 366 homosexuals (230 males and 136 females) and 241 heterosexuals (124 males and 117 females). All subjects were in a cohabitating relationship. Homosexuals and heterosexuals did not differ in psychological adjustment, but men were found to be more distressed by paranoid symptoms than women. Dimensions of sex role self schema varied by an interaction between gender and sexual orientation. Gender differences on Instrumentality, Expressiveness, and Masculinity-Femininity were more pronounced for heterosexuals than for homosexuals. Further, homosexual women were more Instrumental than heterosexual women, while homosexual and heterosexual men were equivalent; homosexual men were more Expressive than heterosexual men, while homosexual and heterosexual women were equivalent; and the discrepancy between homosexual and heterosexual women's Masculinity-Femininity score was greater than that between homosexual and heterosexual men. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that only education and the Autonomy dimension of sex role self scheme were the best nonredundant predictors of psychological adjustment, although the relations were weak. Findings are discussed in terms of current theory and research on sex role self schemas.
A solid-phase immunoadsorbent assay for serum prostatic acid phosphatase.

Abstract A solid-phase immunoadsorbent assay for serum prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) measurement has been developed as modified from our previously reported immunofluoroassay, utilizing the specific anti-PAP antibodies conjugated to CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B. The serum prostatic acid phosphatase was bound, and separated from other acid phosphatases and serum proteins, by the solid-phase anti-PAP IgG Sepharose 4B. The enzyme activity was quantitated by measuring the enzyme hydrolytic product, α-naphthol, from a primary standard solution. The entire procedure could be performed within four hours. The sensitivity of this method was 0.22 I.U./l of enzyme activity or 0.88 ng of prostatic acic phosphatase protein per ml of serum. Normal range of serum prostatic acid phosphatase as determined by this assay was found to be 0.4–2.4 I.U./l of enzyme activity (or 1.60–9.60 ng of enzyme protein per ml of serum). Initial clinical evaluation showed that 19 of 25 patients with early stages of prostatic cancer and 12 of 14 patients with metastatic prostatic cancer exhibited an elevated enzyme level (overall 79%), as compared with only six and eight patients, respectively (overall 36%), by a conventional chemical method.
Estimates of total quantity of meteorites in the East Antarctic ice cap

Based on a steady-state model of the East Antarctic ice cap, and current estimates of meteorite influx, a model is developed which predicts that the steady-state number of meteorites being carried in or on the ice is at least 760,000. This large meteorite population does not require unusual influx conditions, since the cold, dry climate preserves virtually all meteorites that fall with the exception of the fragile, porous carbonaceous chondrites. Application of the model to the Greenland ice cap yields a steady-state population of about 61,000 meteorites.
Exploring State-Level Variation in Juvenile Incarceration Rates Symbolic Threats and Competing Explanations

Despite large-scale increases in juvenile incarceration rates nationally, relatively little attention has been given to explaining why some states invest more heavily than others in the long-term confinement of young offenders. This article explores four potential explanations. First, investment in juvenile incarceration may be greater where symbolic threats to social order are higher. Second, it may be greater in states where crime, especially juvenile violent crime, is more prevalent. Third, juvenile incarceration practices may simply reflect those deemed suitable for adult offenders; thus, states with higher adult incarceration rates may incarcerate more juveniles. Finally, cultural acceptance of punitive policies, as in the South, may contribute to higher rates of juvenile incarceration. Using state-level data, the article focuses primarily on the first explanation and the extent to which the alternatives can account for any observed symbolic threat effect. The study’s implications for policy and rese...
Measurable Effect of General Relativity in Satellite Orbits

General relativistic gravitational red shift effect on frequency transmitted from satellite orbits, noting possibility of measurement
Hypoxia and the expression of HIF-1α and HIF-2α in the retina of streptozotocin-injected mice and rats

Decreases in retinal blood flow in diabetics could render the retina hypoxic. In mouse and rat models of diabetes, a decrease in retinal blood flow occurs early, within 3–4 weeks of the induction of hyperglycemia, although information is scarce on whether this early decrease in flow induces hypoxia. The purpose of the current study was to determine whether hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) levels increase following 4 and/or 12 weeks of hyperglycemia in streptozotocin (STZ)-injected mouse (C57BL/6) and rat (Wistar) retinas. Additionally, retinal tissue hypoxia was measured with pimonidazole following 12 weeks of hyperglycemia. These aims were accomplished via immunostaining of cross-sections from enucleated eyes. In mice, staining for HIF-1α and HIF-2α showed a contrasting pattern, with HIF-1α higher in the inner retina than outer, but HIF-2α higher in the outer retina than inner. However, in rats, staining for both HIF-1α and HIF-2α was more intense in the inner retina. The HIF-1α staining intensities and patterns were similar between diabetic animals and their non-diabetic counterparts following 4 and 12 weeks of hyperglycemia. The same was true for HIF-2α except for a trend toward an increase following 12 weeks of hyperglycemia in mice. Pimonidazole staining showed significant decreases throughout all layers of the central retina and most layers of the peripheral retina of rats (but not mice), following 12 weeks of hyperglycemia. In summary, despite early decreases in flow in rats and mice, retinal HIF-1α and HIF-2α were not found to be increased, and the extent of hypoxia may even decrease after 12 weeks of hyperglycemia in rats.
The MSUS/PALS Acquisitions Subsystem Vendor File

The Vendor File associated with the MSUSPALS Acquisitions Subsystem is far more than an online file of addresses for brders and payments. This article discusses the statistical information contained in the vendor records. It also explains the effect of a positive or negative vendor discount in a vendor record upon purchise order encumbrances. The effects of Vendor File statistics upon vendors are considered. Whether or not there are distortions in the Vendor File statistics is also considered through analysis of statistical fluctuations. Seven selected American vendors are compared using two statistical fields from their vendor records: average discount and average fill days. The MSUSPALS Acquisitions Advisory Group has agreed to follow certain procedures in order to ensure that the vendor statistics remain as accurate as possible. MSUS/PALS programmers also maintain the integrity of the Vendor File database.
Effects Of Case Management And New Drugs On Medicaid AIDS Spending

This study evaluates the effects of Florida's participation in the Medicaid acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) home and community-based waiver and the use of recently developed AIDS drugs on spending per Medicaid beneficiary. We find that monthly Medicaid spending for waiver non-participants was significantly higher than was spending for waiver nonparticipants. The major reason for the cost difference is that nonwaiver enrollees incurred significantly higher inpatient costs than did those enrolled in the waiver. Although waiver enrollees had higher drug spending, these represent only a fraction of the higher inpatient costs incurred by nonwaiver enrollees. Thus, it appears that adherence to appropriate medications reduces the need for inpatient care. The case management approach of the AIDS waiver may have similar effects for persons with other chronic diseases.
ON SOME INLAND CRUSTACEA AND THEIR HABITATS OF MONA ISLAND IN THE NORTHERN CARIBBEAN REGION

A recent extensive survey of Mona Island, an unihabited island between Puerto Rico and Hispaniola, has revealed the presence of four inland crustacean species previously unreported from the island, a new genus and species of terrestrial amphipod, Cariborchestia xerophila, a clam shrimp in the genus Eulimnadia, a terrestrial isopod, Venezillo culebrae, and a subterranean shrimp, Macrobrachium faustinum var. A few of these species are briefly discussed with respect to their systematics and their habitats. The three taxa other than the new amphipod are taxonomically poorly understood. The habitats all species occur in are small, isolated, and ephemeral to varying degrees and very susceptable to alteration. Such habitats are now rare or have been destroyed in larger developed islands of the region. Protection of these remaining habitats is neccessary to allow study of inhabitants and their role in the ecology of limestone islands. Une etude extensive recente de Mona Island, une ole inhabitee entre Puerto Rico et Hispaniola, a revele la presence de quatre especes auparavant non signalees des eaux interieures de cette ole, un genre et une espece nouveaux d'amphipode terrestre, Cariborchestia xerophila, un branchiopode Spinicaudata du genre Eulimnadia, un isopode terrestre, Venezillo culebrae, et une crevette souterraine, Macrobrachium faustinum var. Quelques-unes de ces especes sont discutees brievement quant a leur systematique et leurs habitats. Les trois taxa autres que l'amphipode nouveau sont peu connus sur le plan systematique. Les habitats qui abritent ces especes sont petits, isoles et ephemeres a des degres divers, et susceptibles d'etre exposes a des modifications. La protection de ces habitats survivants est necessaire pour permettre l'etude des organismes qui y vivent et leur role dans l'ecologie des oles calcaires.
Interfacing the DEC LPS 11 to electromechanical laboratory apparatus

A hardware-software extension to the DEC LPS 11 facilitates interfacing the PDP 11 to external instruments. The hardware component consists of eight relay drivers and relays, four contact conditioners, and an interrupt pulse former. FORTRAN-callable RT-11 MACRO subroutines control the device, service interrupts, and transfer control to FORTRAN completion routines.
Chondromyxoid fibroma of the upper thoracic spine in a 7-year-old patient. A case report and review of the literature.

Background: We report a case of a 7-year-old white female who presented with acute, progressive bilateral lower extremity weakness over 48 h. Methods: Case report
Collective excitations at the boundary of a four-dimensional quantum Hall droplet

In this work we investigate collective excitations at the boundary of a recently constructed four-dimensional (4D) quantum Hall state. Local bosonic operators for creating these collective excitations can be constructed explicitly. Massless relativistic w
Mir-206 Regulates Pulmonary Artery Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation and Differentiation

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is a progressive devastating disease characterized by excessive proliferation of the Pulmonary Arterial Smooth Muscle Cells (PASMCs). Studies suggest that PAH and cancers share an apoptosis-resistant state featuring excessive cell proliferation. MicroRNA-206 (miR-206) is known to regulate proliferation and is implicated in various types of cancers. However, the role of miR-206 in PAH has not been studied. In this study, it is hypothesized that miR-206 could play a role in the proliferation of PASMCs. In the present study, the expression patterns of miR-206 were investigated in normal and hypertensive mouse PASMCs. The effects of miR-206 in modulating cell proliferation, apoptosis and smooth muscle cell markers in human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (hPASMCs) were investigated in vitro. miR-206 expression in mouse PASMCs was correlated with an increase in right ventricular systolic pressure. Reduction of miR-206 levels in hPASMCs causes increased proliferation and reduced apoptosis and these effects were reversed by the overexpression of miR-206. miR-206 over expression also increased the levels of smooth muscle cell differentiation markers α-smooth muscle actin and calponin implicating its importance in the differentiation of SMCs. miR-206 overexpression down regulated Notch-3 expression, which is key a factor in PAH development. These results suggest that miR-206 is a potential regulator of proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation of PASMCs, and that it could be used as a novel treatment strategy in PAH.
Effect of hydraulic retention time on inorganic nutrient recovery and biodegradable organics removal in a biofilm reactor treating plant biomass leachate

A fixed-film (biofilm) reactor was designed and its performance was determined at various retention times. The goal was to find the optimal retention time for recycling plant nutrients in an advanced life support system, to minimize the size, mass, and volume (hold-up) of a production model. The prototype reactor was tested with aqueous leachate from wheat crop residue at 24, 12, 6, and 3 h hydraulic retention times (HRTs). Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), nitrates and other plant nutrients, carbohydrates, total phenolics, and microbial counts were monitored to characterize reactor performance. BOD removal decreased significantly from 92% at the 24 h HRT to 73% at 3 h. Removal of phenolics was 62% at the 24 h retention time, but 37% at 3 h. Dissolved oxygen concentrations, nitric acid consumption, and calcium and magnesium removals were also affected by HRT. Carbohydrate removals, carbon dioxide (CO2) productions, denitrification, potassium concentrations, and microbial counts were not affected by different retention times. A 6 h HRT will be used in future studies to determine the suitability of the bioreactor effluent for hydroponic plant production.
Implementation and performance of a parallel file system for high performance distributed applications

Dedicated cluster parallel computers (DCPCs) are emerging as low-cost high performance environments for many important applications in science and engineering. A significant class of applications that perform well on a DCPC are coarse-grain applications that involve large amounts of file I/O. Current research in parallel file systems for distributed systems is providing a mechanism for adapting these applications to the DCPC environment. We present the Parallel Virtual File System (PVFS), a system that provides disk striping across multiple nodes in a distributed parallel computer and file partitioning among tasks in a parallel program. PVFS is unique among similar systems in that it uses a stream-based approach that represents each file access with a single set of request parameters and decouples the number of network messages from details of the file striping and partitioning. PVFS also provides support for efficient collective file accesses and allows overlapping file partitions. We present results of early performance experiments that show PVFS achieves excellent speedups in accessing moderately sized file segments.
Precipitation and Cloud Structure in Midlatitude Cyclones

Composite mean fields and probability distribution functions (PDFs) of rain rate, cloud type and cover, cloud-top temperature, surface wind velocity, and water vapor path (WVP) are constructed using satellite observations of midlatitude cyclones from four oceanic regions (i.e., the North Pacific, South Pacific, North Atlantic, and South Atlantic). Reanalysis surface pressure fields are used to ascertain the locations of the cyclone centers, onto which the satellite fields are interpolated to give a database of 1500 cyclones from a two-year period (2003–04). Cyclones are categorized by their strength, defined here using surface wind speed, and by their WVP, and it is found that these two measures can explain a considerable amount of the intercyclone variability of other key variables. Composite cyclones from each of the four ocean basins exhibit similar spatial structure for a given strength and WVP. A set of nine composites is constructed from the database using three strength and three WVP ranges and is used to demonstrate that the mean column relative humidity of these systems varies only slightly (0.58–0.62) for a doubling in WVP (or equivalently a 7-K rise in sea surface temperature) and a 50% increase in cyclone strength. However, cyclone-mean rain rate increases markedly with both cyclone strength and WVP, behavior that is explained with a simple warm conveyor belt model. Systemwide high cloud fraction (tops above 440 hPa) increases from 0.23 to 0.31 as cyclone strength increases by 50%, but does not vary systematically with WVP. It is suggested that the composite fields constitute useful diagnostics for evaluating the behavior of large-scale numerical models, and may provide insight into how precipitation and clouds in midlatitude cyclones respond under a changed climate.
Lack of correlation between extracellular polysaccharide and nodulation ability in Rhizobium

Rhizobia are Gram-negative bacteria normally capable of nodulating the roots of leguminous plants, and the failure of five EPS (extracellular polysaccharide)-deficient mutants to nodulate suggested that EPS is required for this nodulation. However, we report here that among a larger sample of mutants with altered EPS production, isolated from two species of Rhizobium (including one of the original set plus 34 new ones), production of EPS is not correlated with ability to nodulate appropriate hosts. Therefore, although involvement of a minor EPS component cannot be ruled out, there is no evidence that gross EPS is required for nodulation.
Effective Teaching of Adults: Themes and Conclusions.

The discussion examines several key themes emerging across the chapters: multiple perspectives on teaching adults, reflecting on beliefs and practices, and transforming teaching practices.
Filarin, a novel invertebrate intermediate filament protein present in axons and perikarya of developing and mature leech neurons

The lan 3–8 monoclonal antibody recognizes a 63 kD antigen that is associated with the cytoskeleton in leech neurons. We have used this antibody to clone a novel invertebrate neuronal intermediate filament protein, filarin, by screening an expression vector library. A full-length clone of 2.2 kb identified by the antibody was isolated and sequenced. The protein contains a coiled-coil rod domain typical of the superfamily of intermediate filament proteins flanked by unique N- and C-terminal domains. The highest homology of filarin is to the alternatively spliced squid brain intermediate filament protein (Szaro et al., 1991, J. Biol. Chem. 266:15035–15041), the only other invertebrate neuronal intermediate filament in the data bank. However, apart from extensive homology in the two end regions of the rod domain, the similarity of the two proteins is limited to the general coiled-coil structure of intermediate filaments. Thus, filarin may represent a novel type of invertebrate neuronal intermediate filament protein. Filarin contains the extra 6 heptads characteristic of lamins and of all cytoplasmic invertebrate intermediate filaments analyzed so far. By Northern analysis, it appears that filarin is not alternatively spliced, since only a single transcript of 2.2 kb is recognized by the clone. Using the lan 3–8 antibody to follow its developmental expression, we found that filarin is present in all known neurons in the central and peripheral nervous system. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Effects of CO on the electrocatalytic activity of Ni (cyclam)2+ toward the reduction of CO2

Abstract The high electrocatalytic activity of the Ni(cyclam)2+ complex for the reduction of CO2 at mercury electrodes originates in the strongly adsorbed Ni(cyclam)+ complex produced by reductive adsorption. The catalytic activity is severely diminished in the presence of CO at unstirred mercury electrodes. As CO is the primary product of the reduction of CO2, this behavior limits the long-term effectiveness of the catalyst. The origin of the decrease in activity is proposed to be an insoluble complex of Ni(0), Ni(cyclam)CO, which is formed during the reduction of CO2. A mechanistic scheme which accounts for the electrochemical responses obtained at mercury electrodes in solutions containing Ni(cyclam)2+ and CO2 is presented. It shares some features with previously proposed schemes but also contains some new interpretations and proposals.
Stochastic switching circuit synthesis

Shannon in his 1938 Masterpsilas Thesis demonstrated that any Boolean function can be realized by a switching relay circuit, leading to the development of deterministic digital logic. Here, we replace each classical switch with a probabilistic switch (pswitch). We present algorithms for synthesizing circuits closed with a desired probability, including an algorithm that generates optimal size circuits for any binary fraction. We also introduce a new duality property for series-parallel stochastic switching circuits. Finally, we construct a universal probability generator which maps deterministic inputs to arbitrary probabilistic outputs. Potential applications exist in the analysis and design of stochastic networks in biology and engineering.
Document analysis issues in reading optical scan ballots

Optical scan voting is considered by many to be the most trustworthy option for conducting elections because it provides an independently verifiable record of each voter's intent. While op-scan technology has been in use for decades, attempts to improve the machine-reading of ballots raise a range of interesting issues in document image analysis. Work thus far has been hindered by a lack of real-world data, however, since ballots associated with actual elections are kept secure from the public and normally destroyed after a period time. Fortunately, as a result of a recent challenged federal election in Minnesota, a large number of op-scan ballot images were made available for public inspection on the Web.In this paper, we present the Minnesota op-scan ballot collection as a unique resource to the document analysis community. We discuss important considerations regarding the definitions of a legal vote and a valid ballot which cannot be ignored for the purposes of technical expediency. Our efforts to annotate the collection are also described, including the development of a graphical tool for collecting ground-truth interpretations and the protocol now being employed. The collection, consisting of ballot images, file formats, and associated truth data for part of the set, is being made openly available to facilitate research in this important area.
Bridging the Research-Practice Gap in Climate Communication: Lessons From One Academic-Practitioner Collaboration

Recent evidence suggests that a research-practice gap exists for climate change communication, whereby practitioners are not making optimal use of knowledge that exists and scholars are not answering questions most relevant to practitioners. Closer collaboration between academics and practitioners is one way to close this gap. We recount our collaboration with a group of Sierra Club staff and volunteers working to improve their climate advocacy and organizing activities. From our collaboration, four ways of improving future collaborations emerged, relating to broad versus narrow applicability of communication recommendations, strategy versus tactics, academic versus experiential knowledge, and proactive versus reactive support.
Life Satisfaction in the Minority Elderly

(1984). Life Satisfaction in the Minority Elderly. Issues in Mental Health Nursing: Vol. 6, No. 1-2, pp. 189-207.