cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effects of task dimensionality, endpoint deviation, throughput calculation, and experiment design on pointing measures and models

Fitts' law (1954) characterizes pointing speed-accuracy performance as throughput, whose invariance to target distances (A) and sizes (W) is known. However, it is unknown whether throughput and Fitts' law models in general are invariant to task dimensionality (1-D vs. 2-D), whether univariate (SDx) or bivariate (SDx,y) endpoint deviation is used, whether throughput is calculated using the mean-of-means approach or the slope-inverse approach, or whether Guiard's (2009) Form - Scale experiment design is used instead of fully crossed A-W factors. We empirically investigate the confluence of these issues, finding that Fitts' law is largely invariant across 1-D and 2-D, provided that univariate endpoint deviation (SDx) is used in both, but that for 2-D pointing data, bivariate endpoint deviation (SDx,y) results in better Fitts' law models. Also, the mean-of-means throughput calculation exhibits lower variance across subjects and dimensionalities than the slope-inverse calculation. In light of these and other findings, we offer recommendations for pointing evaluations, especially in 2-D. We also offer an evaluation tool called Fitts Study to facilitate comparisons.
Total and methyl mercury accumulation in 1994–1995 Lake Michigan lake trout and forage fish

As part of the Lake Michigan Mass Balance Project, total and methyl mercury were determined for lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) and five forage fish species collected from Lake Michigan near Saugatuck, Michigan, and Port Washington, Sheboygan Reef, and Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, between 1994 and 1995. With a mean concentration of 179 ng/g wet wt., whole lake trout total mercury (HgT) concentrations ranged between 27.6 and 348 ng/g wet wt. For combined sites, 1–4 yrs, 5–6 yrs, 7–11 yrs, and 12–15 yrs lake trout mean HgT concentrations were 73.7, 130, 212, and 280 ng/g, respectively. Forage fish species alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), bloater (Coregonus hoyi), slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus), deepwater sculpin (Myoxocephalus thompsoni), and rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) had mean HgT concentrations of 63.8, 55.3, 36.7, 51.4, and 35.2 ng/g wet wt., respectively. With the exception of alewife, bloater, and slimy sculpin, all fish species contained approximately 100% methyl mercury (MeHg). Field bioaccumulation factors (BAF) were consistent with a Lake Michigan food chain that is more efficient at transferring MeHg to higher trophic levels than some inland lakes. This and other studies of lake trout from Lake Michigan document decreasing HgT concentrations in lake trout from 1971 to 1985 and constant or increasing concentrations between 1985 and 2000. These observations were supported by a similar trend in Lake Michigan Hg sediment fluxes. To our knowledge, this is the most intense two year study of mercury in fish for any Great Lake or other large fresh water system and is one of the most complete studies of mercury cycling in the Lake Michigan food chain.
Mitigating Excessive Drying from the Use of Observations in Mesoscale Modeling

AbstractObservations can be used to enhance mesoscale model forecasts by both improving the initial conditions and adjusting the model state toward the observations during its forward integration. Since observations are not available at the same density as the model grid points, spatial and temporal error correlations must be specified in order to effectively assimilate the observations into the model. Overdrying is found while applying the Weather Research and Forecasting Model to five cases centered over Southern California. This overdrying is caused by incorporation of observations in the initial conditions both at a discrete time and over a preforecast data assimilation period. Nonphysical dryness results from the assumption that model moisture error at the observation location is correlated with model moisture error at other locations in the model without regard to the relative magnitude of the moisture at those two locations. Modifying the model and its preprocessor to remove this assumption greatly...
ACCIDENTAL POISONING IN PRE‐SCHOOL CHILDREN IN THE STOCKHOLM AREA: Medical, Psychosocial and Preventive Aspects

Accidental poisoning in pre-school children requiring hospital admission has increased sixfold from 1955 to 1975 in the Stockholm area. The mortality from this accident has decreased from 0.5 to less than 0.1 per 100 000 pre-school children in the whole of Sweden during the same period. Medical and psychosocial background factors were investigated in 104 consecutive in-patients (0--6 years old) with accidental poisoning and compared to an out-patient group, a group of patients who only had called the poison control centre, and a matched control group from Child Health Centres. There were no difference between the groups regarding health and history of earlier accidents except that 20--25% of the families of the poisoned children and 7% of the control families had called the Poison Control Centre before. Change of residence during the last 6 months was much commoner among families of poisoned children than of nonpoisoned. Other social stress factors were more common among in-patients than out-patients. The measures taken by the parents to combat the poisoning were adequate in most cases. The decrease in mortality inspite of the increase in potentially dangerous accidental poisonings may be attributed to a good knowledge among parents about adequate measures and where to seek advice resulting in early treatment, and to intensive care and antidote therapy. Language: en
Microfluidic end effector for manufacturing of nano devices

In this paper, a new pneumatic end effector system for micro/nano fluidic handling, nanomanufacturing, and micro/nano manipulation is presented. The new micro pneumatic end-effector system consists of a DC micro-diaphragm pump and compressor, one region of flexible latex tube, a Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) sensor for in-situ measurement of micro force, and a micro steel tip. The micro steel tip of the new pneumatic end effector system has an internal diameter (ID) of 20 mum used for handling nano entities such as carbon nanotubes, DNA, micro/nano particles as well as for microfluidic handling and droplet control. The DC micro-diaphragm pump is automatically controlled via a voltage driver interfaced with a computer in order to effectively and efficiently control suction force and pressure during microfluidic handling and droplet control in nano manufacturing. The new pneumatic end effector system with force sensing can significantly improve the success rate for handling/depositing micro/nano entities in the case of carbon nanotubes. The experimental results show the success rate of placing carbon nanotubes between electrodes can reach close to 80%. Ultimately, the technology will provide a critical and major step towards the development of automated manufacturing process for batch assembly of micro devices, manufacturing of nano devices, microfluidic droplet control, and drug delivery
Salvinicins A and B, new neoclerodane diterpenes from Salvia divinorum.

Two new neoclerodane diterpenes, salvinicins A (4) and B (5), were isolated from the dried leaves of Salvia divinorum. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic techniques, including 1H and 13C NMR, NOESY, HMQC, and HMBC. The absolute stereochemistry of these compounds was assigned on the basis of single-crystal X-ray crystallographic analysis of salvinicin A (4) and a 3,4-dichlorobenzoate derivative of salvinorin B.
Path integrals and instantons in quantum gravity: Minisuperspace models.

While there does not at this time exist a complete canonical theory of full 3+1 quantum gravity, there does appear to be a satisfactory canonical quantization of minisuperspace models. The method requires no `choice of time variable' and preserves the systems' explicit reparametrization invariance. In the following study, this canonical formalism is used to derive a path integral for quantum minisuperspace models. As it comes from a well-defined canonical starting point, the measure and contours of integration are specified by this construction. The properties of the resulting path integral are analyzed, both exactly and in the semiclassical limit. Particular attention is paid to the role of the (unbounded) Euclidean action and Euclidean instantons are argued to contribute as $e^{-|S_E|/\hbar}$.
Improved constraint for multipath mitigation in constrained MOE multiuser detection

Constrained optimization method has been shown to be applicable for multiuser detection in the presence of multipath distortion. The performance of the constrained minimum output energy (MOE) detector is close to the minimum mean-square-error (MMSE) detector. However, due to additive noise, optimal constraints are biased estimates for channel parameters, resulting in some performance loss in multiuser detection. This loss becomes more significant when the communication channel has larger background noise (low SNRs). It is revealed in this paper that constrained optimization is closely related to subspace method which provides good estimate for the channel. Motivated by this result, the constrained cost function is modified to improve the channel estimate and thus better detection performance than the previously proposed constrained method. Detailed performance analysis and simulation results are also presented.
Non-Contentious Jurisdiction and Consent Decrees: A Reply to Professors Pfander & Birk

Professors James E. Pfander’s and Daniel D. Birk’s bold reinterpretation of Article III’s justiciability requirements in their recent article, "Article III Judicial Power, the Adverse-Party Requirement, and Non-Contentious Jurisdiction," 124 YALE L.J. 1346 (2015), challenges the widely accepted principle that federal courts may adjudicate only live disputes between adverse parties. Pfander and Birk provide a fascinating analysis of the various roles that federal judges and courts have played throughout American history, and offer an elegant reinterpretation of the distinction between "cases" and "controversies" under Article III. While many of their conclusions are sound, this Response contends that their proposed reinterpretation of Article III goes too far. Even assuming that Article III grants federal courts non-contentious jurisdiction to hear certain ex parte matters, it should not extend so far as to allow federal courts to become or remain involved in matters where all interested parties affirmatively agree and seek the same relief. In other words, despite their historical pedigree, Article III should not be read as conferring non-contentious jurisdiction upon federal courts to enter consent decrees. This Response begins by questioning the utility of Pfander and Birk’s primary methodology — a largely historical analysis — in the context of Article III. It goes on to argue that Pfander and Birk erred in concluding that consent decrees are a valid exercise of the judicial power under Article III. The historical and current practices from which they derive their conclusions are susceptible to an alternate analysis: for a case or controversy to exist, the interested parties must not have not reached a complete accord on all issues in a legal dispute. Indeed, even if one accepts Pfander and Birk’s arguments, consent decrees are not justiciable under their own proposed conception of non-contentious jurisdiction. This Response concludes by demonstrating that their proposed distinction between “cases” and “controversies” can have profound effects on Supreme Court jurisdiction that may, in themselves, constitute a basis for rejecting or modifying their proposal.
Virtual Team Networks: How Group Social Capital Affects Team Success in a Massively Multiplayer Online Game

Virtual teams have become a ubiquitous form of organizing, but the impact of social structures within and between teams on group performance remains understudied. This paper uses the case study of a massively multiplayer online game and server log data from over 10,000 players to examine the connection between group social capital (operationalized through guild network structure measures) and team effectiveness, given a variety of in-game social networks. Three different networks, social, task, and exchange networks, are compared and contrasted while controlling for group size, group age, and player experience. Team effectiveness is maximized at a roughly moderate level of closure across the networks, suggesting that this is the optimal level of the group's network density. Guilds with high brokerage, meaning they have diverse connections with other groups, were more effective in achievement-oriented networks. In addition, guilds with central leaders were more effective when they teamed up with other guild leaders.
Hairy-cell leukemia. A clinicopathologic and ultrastructural study.

Hairy-cell leukemia is a neoplastic disorder of lymphoreticular cells which has been reported under a variety of names, including “leukemic reticuloendotheliosis,” “chronic reticulolymphocytic leukemia, ” and “ reticulumcell leukemia. ” Clinically, it is characterized by insidious onset, splenomegaly, little or no lymph node involvement, and the presence of characteristic hairy cells in the blood and bone marrow. In this study we present the clinical and morphologic findings of five cases of hairy-cell leukemia, and we describe the ultrastructure of hairy cells from one case. Only one patient was frankly leukemic, and in all but one case, the bone marrow aspirates contained few marrow particles which were mixed with blood. In four cases, a bone marrow biopsy was necessary in order to obtain an adequate specimen. The histologic picture of the marrow biopsy appears to be distinctive and diagnostic. Enzyme cytochemical methods for esterases gave reactions similar to those seen in monocytes and reticulum cells; however, morphologically by light and electron microscopy, the cells were different from lymphocytes, monocytes, and reticulum cells. Hairy-cell leukemia should be differentiated from other types of leukemia and lymphoma. The exact nature and origin of the hairy cell remain unknown.
Absorption, Excretion, and Toxicity of Milibis∗ (Bismuthoxy-p-N-glycolyl-arsanilate) Following Oral Administration:

SummaryMilibis is almost completely non-toxic when administered orally to rats. A dose of 10 g/kg/day for 18 of 21 days inhibited growth only slightly, and at this dose level the mortality was 20%; with smaller doses there was no inhibition of growth, and no mortality attributable to the drug. Absorption was studied in human subjects and rats, during and following repeated oral administration. Both species excreted in the urine at most 2 to 4% of the ingested As. Human subjects excreted no detectable Bi in the urine, but the rats excreted about 1% of the amount ingested. In the rats tissue concentrations of both As and Bi were negligible, as was the As concentration in blood.
Abstract 5431: Histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDAC) panobinostat (LBH589) enhances the antiproliferative effect of a topoisomerase II (topo II) inhibitor in doxorubicin-resistant HL-60 cells, despite high MDR expression

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is difficult to treat, particularly in the relapsed or refractory setting due to drug resistance. Topo II inhibitors are effectively used to treat AML, and histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors have been used pre-clinically and clinically with some success. We previously reported that vorinostat (SAHA) was effective in combination with topo II inhibitors in AML cells (Proc. AACR, 2009, Abstract 4567). In the present study we evaluate LBH589, a novel class I/II HDAC inhibitor. Since resistance to HDAC inhibitors has not been well described, we hypothesized that LBH589 would be effective in combination with a topo II inhibitor in a doxorubicin-resistant AML cell line that expresses MDR and resistant by MDR-independent mechanism. A sensitive HL60 parent line (S) and the doxorubicin-resistant sub-line (R) were used. Early studies revealed that vorinostat (SAHA) had comparable anti-proliferative effects in S & R cells but the R cells were relatively more resistant to LBH589. This resistance was likely MDR-mediated. We then tested whether sub-lethal doses of SAHA or LBH589, used in combination with sub-lethal doses of etoposide (VP-16), would be effective. S and R cells were treated with VP-16 for 1 h, washed, and re-incubated with SAHA or LBH, or drug-free media, for a total of 144 hours. Cell viability and apoptosis were measured at 72 h and 144 h following treatment. At 72 h and at 144 h, the combination of VP-16 and LBH was significantly more effective (p Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5431.
Levels of Dopamine and Its Metabolites in the Extracellular Medium of the Striatum of Newborn Piglets during Graded Hypoxia

Neuronal injury resulting from ischemic/hypoxic episodes is thought to be mediated in part by a variety of monoamines and amino acid neurotransmitters. The contribution of the cytotoxicity of the excitatory amino acids (aspartate,glutamate) to ischemic/hypoxic injury has been well documented. More recently, several studies have provided evidence for a role of catecholamines in mediation of postischemic damage. Phebus et al (1986), Globus et al (1988), Kavano et al (1988), Slivka et al (1988), Vulto et al (1988), Damsma et al (1990), Obrenovitch et al (1990), Baker et al (1991) and others have demonstrated that dopamine is released in the striatum during ischemic/hypoxic episodes. Globus and colleagues (1987) suggested that dopamine release may contribute to the selective striatal vulnerability to ischemia. They reported that lesion of substantia nigra protects against development of striatal injury when animals are exposed to ischemia/hypoxia. This protective effect was related by the authors to inhibition of extracellular release of dopamine during ischemic/hypoxic episode. Additionally, Weinberger et al (1985) showed that, in gerbils, depletion of catecholamines by pretreatment with α-methyl-p-tyrosine greatly decreased the damage to nerve terminals induced by ischemia.
Design for Hardware Platform of Signal Monitoring System

With large scale network and rich carrying resources,traditional signal monitoring system used by telecoms operators popularly hasn't met the demands.Trends and characters with multi-protocol,larger traffic,multi-interface and multi-service of network tested are summarized,hardware architecture is discussed,separation between collecting and business processing and importance of collecting platform based on hardware are emphasized,and architecture,performance and scenario of ZTE signal monitoring system are introduced.
A method of quantifying the retention of PM_(2. 5) and other atmospheric particulates by plant leaves

Taking seven keynote tree species in urban afforestation of Chongqing as research objects,we established a new method for quantifying fine particulate matters( PM2. 5,d ≤ 2. 5 μm) and other atmospheric particulates retained by tree leaves. The previously commonly used of method simply weighing filtrated membranes( SWFM) was modified by combining weighing several levels( 10,2. 5 μm)of filtrated membranes,and conversion of mathematical proportion relationship was also applied. With the modified method we do not need to directly collect and weigh the amount of PM2. 5,and therefore may avoid the disadvantage of not completely collecting and accurately weighing PM10 or PM2. 5by SWFM,because by SWFM very tiny particulates among PM10 or PM2. 5might be lost in the filtration. The new method only demands simple equipments such as electronic balance and glassware that are easily found in ordinary laboratories,and also overcomes the limitations of using microscopes for observing,measuring and calculating the weight of retained particulates by leaves. The method is accurate,reliable and feasible after validating the accuracy and stability with soil samples filtered by a 120-mesh sieve. By using this modified method,PM2. 5and other atmospheric particulates retained by seven keynote tree species for urban afforestation in Chongqing were measured. Our study provides basic technological support for evaluating capacities of forests with different tree species and different structures to retain PM2. 5and other atmospheric particulates.
Modes of Mindfulness: Prophetic Critique and Integral Emergence

As mindfulness becomes more secular and popular, there are more arguments about its purpose and use value. Because of its disparate uses, many proponents of any one side often talk past each other and miss their mark. This paper employs an integral meta-theory that accounts for subjective, inter-subjective, objective, inter-objective, and developmental perspectives on mindfulness. This helps categorize modes of mindfulness in order to clarify their purposes and functions within a society characterized by neoliberal principles and structures. It adopts the standpoint of a prophetic critique similar to those critiques of McMindfulness and insists on the inseparability of both universal self-development and social justice. The approach expands on a taxonomy developed by the socially engaged Buddhist scholar, Bhikkhu Bodhi. The modes of mindfulness are classical, secular therapeutic, secular developmental, secular instrumental, secular interpersonal, and socially transformative mindfulness. It proposes that a prophetic integral mindfulness employs all modes of mindfulness in order to do justice to as many perspectives as possible and thereby contribute to human evolution.
The Method to the Madness: The 2012 United States Presidential Election Twitter Corpus

Social media provides a rich environment for understanding social connections, interactions and information sharing across many aspects of society. The relative ease of access to social media data through provision of application program interface's (API) by social media companies has led to a significant number of studies that attempt to understand how social media fits into society and how the public uses it for discourse and information sharing. One of the existing gaps in these studies is the lack of extensive description of the data collection and processing methods. These gaps exist as a result of word limits in existing publication venues and a lack of appropriate publication venues to share this type of fundamental research. The following paper provides extensive detail as to how a 52 million corpus of Twitter data on the 2012 Presidential Election in the United States was collected, parsed and analyzed. This level of detail is imperative in studies of social media as small choices in what data to collect can have material effect on the findings. In addition to the description of the methods, the following paper provides a contribution to knowledge in providing basic characteristics of one of the largest research datasets of social media activity compiled to study political discourse.
Human Anti-Gal and Anti-Non-Gal Immune Response to Porcine Tissue Implants

The natural anti-Gal antibody and anti-non-gal antibodies are detrimental to porcine implants in humans. Anti-Gal constitutes approximately 1% of immunoglobulins in humans and binds to α-gal epitopes which are abundant in porcine tissues and in other nonprimate mammals. Anti-non-gal antibodies are produced against most pig proteins in implants since these proteins are immunogenic in humans. Prevention of anti-Gal effects is feasible by destruction of α-gal epitopes with α-galactosidase or by using α1,3galactosyltransferase knockout pigs lacking α-gal epitopes. Prevention of anti-non-gal antibodies effects may be achieved by incorporation of α-gal nanoparticles into implants. These nanoparticles bind anti-Gal and activate the complement system to produce chemotactic factors that rapidly recruit macrophages. The recruited macrophages are activated following interaction with anti-Gal coating α-gal nanoparticles. These activated macrophages secrete cytokines/growth factors that may recruit stem cells into implants prior to the formation of anti-non-gal antibodies, thereby avoiding detrimental effects of these antibodies.
Abstract B18: MicroRNA-21 is involved in pancreatic cancer fibroblast tumor supportiveness

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by poor survival despite current medical and surgical therapies and has a propensity towards subclinical metastasis even with resectable disease. The tumor microenvironment consists of a network of supporting cells, including tumor-associated fibroblasts (TAFs), which promote tumor invasion and metastasis, and contribute to PDAC’s extremely poor prognosis. MicroRNAs (miRs) have recently emerged as critical players in post-transcriptional regulation of pathways in cancer biology. In this study, we identified miRs in fibroblasts induced by PDAC tumor cells (TCs). Further, we study the stable suppression of one of these miRs in TAFs and the effects upon fibroblast migration and invasion, as well as tumor cell proliferation. Methods: Primary pancreatic fibroblasts were cultured with MIA PaCa-2 TC conditioned media and RNA was analyzed by the NanoString MicroRNA Expression Assay. Stable miR knockdown (KD) was achieved with a stably expressed shRNA anti-microRNA by lentiviral vector. Migration was determined by an 18 hour scratch assay and 24 hour invasion by modified Boyden chamber. TC proliferation was measured by MTT assay. In vivo tumor growth was evaluated by subcutaneous TC and TAF co-implantation in NSG mice. Results: In primary pancreatic fibroblasts, MIA PaCa-2 tumor cells induced 62 miRs >50% increase or 30% decrease in expression. The most prevalent induced miR with 2-fold increase in expression was miR-21. miR-21 KD in TAFs was achieved by introducing stable expression of anti-miR-21, which resulted in a 75% decrease in expression (P 50% decreased ability to migrate (p Conclusions: Pancreatic cancer TCs can induce tumor supportive miRs in TAFs. miR-21 KD in PDAC TAFs results in decreased TAF migration and invasion, as well as reduced ability to support in vitro and in vivo tumor growth. Citation Format: Andrew Hieu Nguyen, Luyi Li, Paul Toste, Nanping Wu, Timothy R. Donahue. MicroRNA-21 is involved in pancreatic cancer fibroblast tumor supportiveness. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer: Innovations in Research and Treatment; May 18-21, 2014; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(13 Suppl):Abstract nr B18.
STI571 Suppresses Proliferation by Restoring Nuclear Cyclin Dependent Kinase Inhibitors (CDKIs) while STI571+TRAIL Promotes Cell Death by Decreasing Cytoplasmic CDKIs.

Abstract Cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors (CDKIs), p27Kip1 and p21Cip1, function as cell cycle inhibitors when located in the nucleus. When localized to the cytoplasm, these CDKIs can function as anti-apoptotic molecules by sequestering/preventing the activation of pro-apoptotic proteins such as ASK1 and procaspase-3. Our lab has reported elevated cytoplasmic CDKIs and decreased nuclear CDKIs in hematopoietic cells expressing BCR/ABL, the oncogene found in more than 90% of cases of chronic myeloid leukemia. Within the past decade, STI571 has been shown highly promising for CML treatment. However, there is increasing evidence suggesting that the drug might function more as a suppressor of proliferation and less as a promoter of cell death. In the current studies, we differentiate the effect of STI571 on proliferation vs. survival by tracking the subcellular increase/decrease in CDKIs using MO7e cells engineered to express BCR/ABL. To determine if a correlation exists between STI571 resistance and levels of cytoplasmic anti-apoptotic CDKIs, we also investigated changes in levels of nuclear vs. cytoplasmic CDKIs in LAMA84 -S (sensitive to STI571) vs. LAMA84-R (resistant to STI571). And lastly, we tested whether activation of TRAIL would enhance cell death in STI571-resistant cells. STI571 treatment increases nuclear CDKIs, correlating directly with a decrease in proliferation of MO7e/p210 cells. However, the high levels of cytoplasmic CDKIs in MO7e/p210bcr/abl was not modulated following STI571 treatment and cell death was not prominent, unless growth factors were removed. Moreover, cytoplasmic p21Cip co-immunoprecipitated with ASK1 and procaspase 3. When compared with LAMA-S cells, LAMA-R cells expressed even higher levels of cytoplasmic CDKIs. Treatment with STI571 decreased cytoplasmic CDKIs in LAMA84-S cells and resulted in cell death. As hypothesized, LAMA84-R cells did not show reduction in cytoplasmic CDKIs and did not enter apoptosis. However, when treated with STI571 and TRAIL, LAMA84-R cells showed a decrease in cytoplasmic CDKIs, and increase in apoptosis. Based on these observations, we conclude that: 1. BCR/ABL expression reduces nuclear CDKIs but increases cytoplasmic CDKIs. 2. STI571 treatment restores nuclear CDKIs and reduces cell proliferation of BCR/ABL expressing cells under physiological conditions. 3. Treatment of STI571+TRAIL reduces cytoplasmic CDKIs and increases cell death of BCR/ABL expressing cells, most notably, the STI571-resistant cells. In conclusion, we show that the imbalance between nuclear (cell cycle inhibitor) and cytoplasmic (cell survival enhancer) CDKIs exist in BCR/ABL-hematopoietic cells.
Too Big to Disclose: Firm Size and Materiality Blindspots in Securities Regulation

This Article argues that the securities disclosure regime contains previously unexamined structural deficiencies, which pertain to the information provided by the largest public companies. These deficiencies arise from the operation of the materiality standard, a core element of the disclosure regime that is used in a number of disclosure rules. The materiality standard is designed to limit firms’ disclosure to information that would be of importance to investors, and to prevent the overproduction of information. I argue, however, that in the case of large firms the materiality standard can also lead to the underproduction of information — or to “materiality blindspots.” Since the threshold for what is material increases as firms get bigger, at the very largest firms even matters that are significant or sizeable in absolute terms may be deemed immaterial and remain undisclosed. Such firms are “too big to disclose” and, in a perfectly legal manner, take advantage of the materiality standard to avoid disclosure.I illustrate the materiality blindspots phenomenon by analyzing the disclosure rules in three key areas (material contracts, material legal proceedings, and material business spending) and presenting original case studies of the disclosure practices of large firms. After revisiting accepted theory on disclosure regulation through the prism of firm size and analyzing examples from the case studies, I identify two sets of potential harms. First, materiality blindspots may undermine investor protection and corporate governance, including by diminishing stock price accuracy and making inside and outside monitoring for fraud, waste, or suboptimal management practices more difficult. Second, the materiality standard may give systematic advantages to large firms and lead to market distortions, in effect serving as a regulatory subsidy for bigness. I suggest that certain disclosure requirements that currently rely only on the materiality standard should be supplemented with targeted rules employing quantitative thresholds. This could provide a safety net against materiality blindspots by requiring large firms to disclose additional information that is not caught by the existing materiality standard, but that is significant or sizeable in absolute terms.
The effect of variable rest intervals and chronic ankle instability on triplanar ankle motion during performance of the Star Excursion Balance Test

Abstract Inadequate rest intervals may contribute to impaired performance during functional tests. However, the effect of different rest intervals on performance of the SEBT in individuals with and without CAI is not known. Our purposes were to determine whether different rest intervals impact ankle kinematics during the SEBT and whether there differences between those two populations. 24 controls and 24 CAI completed 3 trials in 3 reach directions (anteromedial; AM, medial; M, posteromedial; PM). The order of rest intervals and reach distance were randomized and counterbalanced. Three visits were required to complete the 3 rest interval conditions (10, 20, 40 s). Rest interval did not impact ankle kinematics between controls and CAI during the SEBT. Dorsiflexion (DF) (AM:partial η2 = 0.18; M:partial η2 = 0.23; PM:partial η2 = 0.23) for all directions and tibial internal rotation (TIR) excursions (AM:partial η2 = 0.20) for AM direction were greater in individuals with CAI regardless of rest interval length. Rest intervals ranging from 10 to 40 s did not influence ankle kinematics. Differences exist in DF and TIR between controls and CAI during the SEBT. These findings suggest that clinicians can use any rest interval between 10 and 40 s when administrating the SEBT. However, triplanar motion differs during a complex functional movement in controls compared to CAI.
The History of NOTES

Natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES™) was officially born in 2005 when a forward thinking group of gastroenterologists and surgeons convened to discuss, organize, codify, and elucidate concerns about this potential new disruptive surgical idea. This meeting came on the heels of a report of “flexible transgastric peritoneoscopy” from Johns Hopkins University [1] and several subsequent experiments in animal models expanding upon the possibilities this technique represented [2]. The NOTES moniker was adopted at this meeting, as was the formation of the Natural Orifice Surgery Consortium for Assessment and Research (NOSCAR®) [2]. But a peek into the history of surgery via the natural orifice reveals that the idea was an old one, dating back into the 1800s in some cases. Many animal experiments were performed, demonstrating many new and novel techniques to commonly performed operations, and scientific investigation was undertaken to determine the safety and feasibility of these approaches. Human work began to emerge in 2005 and continues to develop; in some cases, becoming widely adopted.
A quantitative inference model for conductivity using non-marine ostracode assemblages on San Salvador Island, Bahamas: Paleosalinity records from two lakes

Abstract Quantitative records of past environments are needed to understand natural variability in ecosystems and their responses to climate change. Changes in ostracode assemblages through time can provide such records as ostracode species are sensitive to changes in their local environments. Before they can be used to indicate past environments, however, is it necessary to understand how distributions of assemblages change across environmental gradients. To that end, thirty-two lakes on San Salvador Island, Bahamas were sampled for both ostracodes and nineteen limnological variables. Multivariate fuzzy set ordination indicates that change in ostracode assemblages is significantly and independently correlated with three environmental variables: electrical conductivity (salinity), dissolved oxygen and alkalinity. A transfer function was created to reconstruct past conductivity since changing conductivity of lakes on San Salvador is influenced by changes in climate and sea-level. A 2-component weighted-averaging partial least squares model performed best as a transfer function for conductivity with an apparent r2 of 0.76 and an r2 of 0.69 between observed and predicted conductivity, as assessed by leave-one-out cross validation. The resulting transfer function was then applied to two mid- to late-Holocene sediment cores from which ostracode assemblages were sampled. The late Holocene conductivity records show that changes in conductivity of lakes on San Salvador are broadly synchronous with times of enhanced ENSO activity corresponding to elevated conductivity in response to lower Atlantic hurricane occurrence. These results demonstrate that changing ostracode assemblages through time provide a reliable means to reconstruct past salinity and demonstrates the strong effect of ENSO on Bahamian aridity.
Combustion Physics: LAMINAR NONPREMIXED FLAMES

Either by nature or design, in most combustion systems fuel and oxidizer are initially spatially separated. If the subsequent mixing between them is not sufficiently fast before chemical reaction is initiated, then the mixing and reaction will take place only in thin reaction zones that separate them. Examples are a wood panel on fire, an oil spray burning in a furnace, a candle flame, and the sparks (i.e., burning metal particles) generated when a metal surface is abraded. The structure of a nonpremixed flame therefore consists of three zones, with a reaction zone separating a fuel-rich zone and an oxidizer-rich zone. Figure 6.1.1a shows a typical configuration for the model problem to be studied in the next section. As the fuel and oxidizer are transported toward each other, through diffusion as well as whatever convective motion the system may have, they become heated and eventually meet and mix within the reaction zone. Reaction between them subsequently takes place rapidly. The combustion products together with the heat of combustion are then transported away from the reaction zone in both directions. Since reaction occurs at a finite rate and the reaction zone has a finite thickness, complete reaction cannot be accomplished. Small amounts of fuel and oxidizer invariably leak through the reaction zone, as shown in Figure 6.1.1b.
Sequential dynamical systems and simulation

The generic structure of computer simulations motivates a new class of discrete dynamical systems that captures this structure in a mathematically precise way. This class of systems consists of (1) a loopfree graph {Upsilon} with vertex set {l_brace}1,2,{hor_ellipsis},n{r_brace} where each vertex has a binary state, (2) a vertex labeled set of functions (F{sub i,{Upsilon}}:F{sub 2}{sup n} {r_arrow} F{sub 2}{sup n}){sub i} and (3) a permutation {pi} {element_of} S{sub n}. The function F{sub i,{Upsilon}} updates the state of vertex i as a function of the states of vertex i and its {Upsilon}-neighbors and leaves the states of all other vertices fixed. The permutation {pi} represents the update ordering, i.e., the order in which the functions F{sub i,{Upsilon}} are applied. By composing the functions F{sub i,{Upsilon}} in the order given by {pi} one obtains the dynamical system (equation given in paper) which the authors refer to as a sequential dynamical system, or SDS for short. The authors will present bounds for the number of functionally different systems and for the number of nonisomorphic digraphs {Gamma}[F{sub {Upsilon}},{pi}] that can be obtained by varying the update order and applications of these to specific graphs and graph classes. This will be done using both combinatorial/algebraicmore » techniques and probabilistic techniques. Finally the authors give results on dynamical system properties for some special systems.« less
The Galton-Watson Process

A Galton-Watson process is a Markov chain {Zn; n=0,1,2,...} on the nonnegative integers. Its transition function is defined in terms of a given probability function {pk; k=0,1,2,...}, pk≥0, Σpk=1, by $$ P(i,j) = P\{ {Z_{n + 1}} = j\left| {{Z_n}} \right. = i\} = \{ _{{\delta _{0j}}\;if\;i = 0,\;j = 0,}^{p_j^{*i}\;if\;i \geqslant 1,\;j \geqslant 0,} $$ (1) δij being the Kronecker delta and {p k *i ; k=0,1,2,...} being the i-fold convolution of {pk; k=0, 1, 2,...}.
The Geography of Stigma: Experimental Methods to Identify the Penalty of Place

The United States remains a spatially segregated nation by many measures including race, income, wealth, political views, education , and immigration status. Scholars have, for many years, grappled with questions stemming from spatial inequality and have come to recognize the neighborhood in which an individual lives as a socially organizing unit of space, predictive of many individual-level outcomes. The mechanisms that underlie the relationship between neighborhoods and outcomes for residents, however, remain relatively underexplored. In this chapter, we show how the use of audits and field experiments can help uncover one such mechanism—place-based stigma in social interactions. Specifically, we describe the methodology of a previous study (Besbris M, Faber JW, Rich P, Sharkey P, Effect of neighborhood stigma on economic transactions. Proc Nat Acad Sci 112:4994–4998, 2015) that revealed how signaling residence in a poor community of color negatively affected sellers’ ability to attract buyers in a classified marketplace. We focus on the study’s operationalization of neighborhoods and show how future research can use non-individual-level treatment characteristics such as units of space. Doing so helps us better understand the causal relationship between space and individual-level outcomes, as well as better parse the effects of individual-level variables versus non-individual-level variables, which are often conflated in non-experimental research. We close by suggesting the implementation of field experiments in testing for effects at other geographic scales, such as metropolitan area, state, region, country, or continent.
Measuring Teacher Practices to Inform Student Achievement in High Poverty Schools: a Predictive Validity Study

The present study examined the predictive validity of a classroom observation measure, the Classroom Strategies Assessment System (CSAS)-Observer Form, as a predictor of student performance on statewide tests of mathematics and English language arts. The CSAS is a teacher practice assessment that measures evidence-based instructional and behavioral management practices (Reddy and Dudek 2014). This study presents a sample of 35 teachers and 829 third through eighth grade students from six urban high poverty schools. Six school administrators trained to criterion on using the CSAS conducted three classroom observations for each teacher as part of their yearly evaluation process. Zero-order correlations revealed negative relationships between CSAS Rating Scale discrepancy scores (i.e., ∑ | recommended frequency-frequency ratings |) and mathematics and English language arts proficiency scores. A series of two-level hierarchical generalized linear models were fitted to data to assess whether CSAS Instructional Strategy and Behavioral Management Strategy Rating Scale Total and Composite discrepancy scores predicted statewide mathematics and English language arts proficiency scores. Results indicated that CSAS Total and Instructional and Behavior Management Composite discrepancy scores significantly predicted both mathematics and English language arts proficiency scores, suggesting that larger discrepancies on observer ratings of what teachers did versus what should have been done were associated with lower proficiency scores. Results offer evidence of the utility of measuring teacher practices via the CSAS to inform student achievement in high poverty settings. Implications for school psychological practice, teacher evaluation, and professional development are discussed.
Displaced pilon fractures. An update

In the past, displaced pilon (hammer) fractures were considered to be inoperative. When principles for open reduction and internal fixation of pilon fractures were developed, encouraging surgical results emerged. This article deals with the classification, treatment, technique of fixation, and care of this type of fracture.
Urban/Rural Differences in the Structure and Consequences of Social Support

Perhaps no pattern in psychiatric epidemiology has received as much attention as the inverse relationship between socioeconomic variables such as poverty and unemployment, and mental disorder. Nevertheless, the relationship between economic and psychological distress can scarcely be described as invariant; the extensive literature on social support makes it clear that an individual’s coping resources modify the relationship between negative economic events and mental health. Curiously, researchers on coping and support have not made a sustained effort to identify cultural or structural variables that may further impact the association between economic and social resources and psychological well-being.
Segmentation techniques for expanding a library instruction market: Evaluating and brainstorming

Abstract This article describes a two-part segmentation technique applied to an instruction program during a strategic planning process. This technique was used to better understand the characteristics and needs of the instruction program audiences. First described is the brainstorming technique used to create a comprehensive segment list of the existing and potential audiences of the instruction program. Second is a description of the follow up review session that evaluated past years' efforts using this new language of segmentation.
Passivation and thickness control of highly efficient kesterite solar cells

Kesterite Cu2ZnSn(SxSe1−x)4 (CZTSSe) is an attractive photovoltaic absorber material because of its tunable bandgap, earth abundance, and low toxicity. However, efficiency and open circuit voltage remain significantly below theoretical limits. We recently showed that back-contact engineering with MoO3/Au on exfoliated vapor-deposited kesterite solar cells can improve device performance. Here, we demonstrate more promising results, which translate into high power conversion efficiencies of up to 12.2% for solution-deposited CZTSe with thicknesses as low as 1.1 μm. Time-resolved terahertz spectroscopy of exfoliated films showed significantly faster recombination at the back surface than at the front. When atomic layer deposited Al2O3 was used to passivate the exposed back surface of exfoliated films, front and back surfaces showed nearly identical recombination dynamics. After thermally depositing high work function MoO3 and reflective Au as the back contact on the Al2O3-passivated absorber, we obtained devices with efficiencies of up to 11.6%. Applying the same strategy of exfoliating working devices and engineering the back contact resulted in efficiencies of up to 12.2% for passivation with a 10 nm layer of Se instead of Al2O3. Further development of such passivation and back-contact engineering approaches may lead to higher efficiency devices with absorber thicknesses below 1 μm.
The influence of deep mantle compositional heterogeneity on Earth's thermal evolution

Abstract The seismically-observed large low shear velocity provinces in the Earth's lowermost mantle have been hypothesized to be caused by thermochemical piles of compositionally distinct, more-primitive material which may be remnants of Earth's early differentiation. However, one critical question is how the Earth's thermal evolution is affected by the long-term presence of the large-scale compositional heterogeneity in the lowermost mantle. Here, we perform geodynamical calculations to investigate the time evolution of the morphology of large-scale compositional heterogeneity and its influence on the Earth's long-term thermal evolution. Our results show that a global layer of intrinsically dense material in the lowermost mantle significantly suppresses the CMB heat flux, which leads to faster cooling of the background mantle relative to an isochemical mantle. As the background mantle cools, the intrinsically dense material is gradually pushed into isolated thermochemical piles by cold downwellings. The size of the piles also decreases with time due to entraining of pile material into the background mantle. The morphologic change of the accumulations of intrinsic dense material eventually causes a gradual increase of CMB heat flux, which significantly reduces the cooling rate of Earth's mantle.