cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluating computer lab modules for large biology courses

This paper describes the first phase of a study to investigate students' evaluations of computer laboratory modules in a universitylevel, non-majors biology course. The National Science Foundation-funded project has two primary goals: (1) to develop programmable, multifunctional Bio LabStations for data collection and analysis, lab extensions, simulations, and student assessment; and (2) to implement, evaluate, revise, and finalize a series of laboratory exercises under actual classroom conditions. Field observations of the labs and student responses to a written survey administered at the end of the first year of the project indicate: (1) the computer modules are helpful in understanding the lab because the students receive a strong visual/mental image of the experiment or simulation; (2) a general approval of using computers in the lab because computers are perceived to be a necessary component of modern science; and (3) strong preferences and dislikes for particular lab modules based on each module's perceived ease of use and the importance of the topic to the student. Appendices include a description of computer lab module activities, survey questions, and computer hardware and software used in Biology 110 and Biology 111 at Purdue University. Contains 21 references. (Author/JRH) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** EVALUATING COMPUTER LAB MODULES FOR LARGE BIOLOGY COURSES PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) David C. Eichinger Mary B. Nakhleh
Behavioral and socioemotional competence problems of extremely low birth weight children.

To examine behavioral and social–emotional problems in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) children and to assess factors associated with behavioral and social competency outcomes at 30 to 36 months adjusted age. A total of 696 ELBW (401 to 1000 g) children from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network were included. Behavioral and social–emotional problems were assessed using the Brief Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment administered to parents. Unadjusted comparisons were performed between children with or without behavioral or social–emotional problems. Logistic regression was used to examine factors associated with behavioral outcomes. Parents reported behavioral problems in 46.8%, deficits in social–emotional competence in 20.4% and having both behavioral and social–emotional competence problems in 15.4% of ELBW children. Characteristics associated with behavioral problems in logistic regression included female gender, lower household income and a Bayley Psychomotor Developmental Index (PDI)<70. Deficits in social competence were associated with Bayley Mental Developmental Index (MDI) and PDI scores<70 and Hispanic or Other races compared with White non-Hispanic. Half of the (51.9%) ELBW children showed behavioral or social–emotional competence problems at 30 months. Low socioeconomic status and low Bayley MDI and PDI scores were associated with behavioral and socioemotional difficulties.
Steps Toward Pan-African Exchange: Translation and Distribution of Television Programs Across Africa's Linguistic Regions

The dignity of Africans, the political independence of the African continent, and inter-African unity were the driving principles behind early Pan-Africanist thought. Cultural self-expression and cross-fertilization of the African peoples was also one of the main aims of Pan-Africanism. Indeed, a cultural thread runs through all the Pan-African Congresses that took place from 1919 to 1945. In a goodwill message to the Pan-African Congress of 1945, Kwame Nkrumah wrote that imperialism would not be allowed to remain in Africa to plunder Africa's rightful heritage: He foresaw an Africa "free in the fullest sense of a continent holding itself politically sovereign, ordering its economic destiny, and achieving its own cultural and spiritual personality" (cited in Padmore, 1963, p. vi). In its "Declaration of the Colonial Workers, Farmers and Intellectuals," the Pan-African Congress of 1945 noted that freedom of the press and the freedom to print and read literature, among other freedoms, were the means by which liberties could be won and maintained. The Congress raised these same issues in a memorandum to the United Nations Organization. The Pan-African Congress of 1945 stated that
A simple procedure for the preparation of tritiated homovanillic acid

Homovanillic acid (4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylacetic acid) was labeled with tritium by exchange reaction in tritiated water catalyzed by sulfuric acid. The product was obtained in good yield and specific activities sufficient be utilized in metabolic experiments. Reactions carried out under identical conditions, but in the presence of deuterated water gave a product in which all the aromatic hydrogens and those α - to the carboxyl group were replaced with deuterium indicating that the tritium-labeled homovanillic acid was labeled in these positions.
Effects of Chronic Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor Administration to Rats with Partial Flmbrial Transections on Presynaptic Cholinergic Parameters and Muscarinic Receptors in the Hippocampus: Comparison with Nerve Growth Factor

The present study compares the effects of chronic administration of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) on various hippocampal cholinergic parameters in rats with partial unilateral fimbrial transections. Lesions resulted in marked reductions of several presynaptic cholinergic parameters: choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity (by 50%), [3H]-acetylcholine ([3H]ACh) synthesis (by 59%), basal and veratridine (1 microM)-evoked [3H]ACh release (by 44 and 57%, respectively), and [3H]vesamicol binding site densities (by 35%). In addition, [3H]AF-DX 116/muscarinic M2 binding site densities were also modestly decreased (by 23%). In contrast, [3H]pirenzepine/muscarinic M1 and [3H]AF-DX 384/muscarinic M2/M4 binding site densities were not altered by the lesions, nor were they affected by any of the treatments. Intracerebroventricular administration of bFGF (10 ng, every other day, for 21 days) partially prevented the lesion-induced deficit in hippocampal ChAT activity, an effect that was not markedly different from that measured in the NGF-treated (1 microgram, intracerebroventricularly, every other day, for 21 days) rats. In rats treated with a combination of bFGF and NGF, ChAT activity was not different from that in rats treated with the individual factors alone. In contrast, the lesion-induced deficits in the other cholinergic parameters were not attenuated by bFGF treatment, although they were at least partially prevented by NGF administration. To determine whether higher concentrations of bFGF are necessary to affect cholinergic parameters other than hippocampal ChAT activity, rats were treated with 1 microgram (every other day, 21 days) of the growth factor. In this group of rats, detrimental effects of bFGF, manifested by an increased death rate (46%), and marked reductions in body weight of the survivors, were observed. In addition, this concentration of bFGF appeared to exacerbate the lesion-induced reduction in [3H]ACh synthesis by hippocampal slices; [3H]ACh synthesis in lesioned hippocampi represented 36 and 52% of that in contralateral unlesioned hippocampi for the bFGF-treated and control groups, respectively. In conclusion, although bFGF administration attenuates the deficit in hippocampal ChAT activity induced by partial fimbrial transections, this does not appear to translate into enhanced functional capacity of the cholinergic terminals. This is clearly in contrast to NGF, which enhances not only hippocampal ChAT activity, but also other parameters indicative of increased function in the cholinergic terminals.
Lipid class and glycogen content of the lugworm Abarenicola pacifica in relation to age, growth rate and reproductive condition

We measured the levels of lipid classes (wax esters, triacylglycerides, free fatty acids, sterols, phospholipids) and levels of glycogen in a population of Abarenicola pacifica over a one-year period beginning shortly after recruitment. Glycogen and lipid contents were unrelated to growth rates as estimated by changes in average size of individuals in the cohort. There was no indication of seasonality in levels of any component, consistent with the hypothesis of Slobodkin and Richman that animals living in environments where food supplies are likely to be stable, such as subsurface deposit-feeders like A. pacifica, do not accumulate energy reserves. Instead, glycogen content increased gradually and most lipid classes decreased gradually over time. A notable exception was the triacylglyceride content, which showed a large increase associated with the formation of eggs. Triacylglyceride levels in older A. pacifica and in two other species of depositfeeding polychaetes showed similar trends. Measurement of triacylglyceride levels may provide an additional objective method, supplementing egg counts and egg size, of quantifying reproductive effort in deposit-feeders.
Large particle fluxes and the vertical transport of living carbon in the upper 1500 m of the northeast Pacific Ocean

Abstract The distribution, production, and flux of organic carbon were measured at a station in the eastern North Pacific Ocean, off Point Sur, California. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and total adenine nucleotide (A T ) concentrations were measured to estimate the contribution of biomass (living) carbon to the total particulate organic pools. Two separate classes of particulate materials were considered: (1) ‘suspended’ or the relatively abundant, low density, fine-grained particles commonly collected in standard water bottles and (2) sediment trap particles, which represent the larger, relatively rare particles not usually sampled (in a statistical sense) when using standard water bottle collections and which require the use of in situ particle traps. The study indicates that living organisms associated with the sedimenting particles can contribute more than 100 times the biomass carbon normally associated with the ‘suspended’ fraction. The significance of the downward vertical flux of viable organisms associated with large particles may require that we alter our present concepts of the production and cycling of carbon in the open ocean.
Online Access to Doctors' Notes: Patient Concerns About Privacy

Background: Offering patients online access to medical records, including doctors’ visit notes, holds considerable potential to improve care. However, patients may worry about loss of privacy when accessing personal health information through Internet-based patient portals. The OpenNotes study provided patients at three US health care institutions with online access to their primary care doctors’ notes and then collected survey data about their experiences, including their concerns about privacy before and after participation in the intervention. Objective: To identify patients’ attitudes toward privacy when given electronic access to their medical records, including visit notes. Methods: The design used a nested cohort study of patients surveyed at baseline and after a 1-year period during which they were invited to read their visit notes through secure patient portals. Participants consisted of 3874 primary care patients from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Boston, MA), Geisinger Health System (Danville, PA), and Harborview Medical Center (Seattle, WA) who completed surveys before and after the OpenNotes intervention. The measures were patient-reported levels of concern regarding privacy associated with online access to visit notes. Results: 32.91% of patients (1275/3874 respondents) reported concerns about privacy at baseline versus 36.63% (1419/3874 respondents) post-intervention. Baseline concerns were associated with non-white race/ethnicity and lower confidence in communicating with doctors, but were not associated with choosing to read notes or desire for continued online access post-intervention (nearly all patients with notes available chose to read them and wanted continued access). While the level of concern among most participants did not change during the intervention, 15.54% (602/3874 respondents, excluding participants who responded “don’t know”) reported more concern post-intervention, and 12.73% (493/3874 respondents, excluding participants who responded “don’t know”) reported less concern. Conclusions: When considering online access to visit notes, approximately one-third of patients had concerns about privacy at baseline and post-intervention. These perceptions did not deter participants from accessing their notes, suggesting that the benefits of online access to medical records may outweigh patients’ perceived risks to privacy. [J Med Internet Res 2013;15(9):e208]
Recovery of the rectoanal inhibitory reflex after restorative proctocolectomy: does it correlate with nocturnal continence?

PURPOSE: The rectoanal inhibitory reflex has an important role in fecal sampling and discrimination of rectal contents. The aim of this study was to determine the significance of rectoanal inhibitory reflex after restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for mucosal ulcerative colitis. METHODS: The medical records of 345 patients who underwent ileal pouch-anal anastomosis from September 1988 to May 1999 were retrospectively reviewed. One hundred patients who underwent double-stapled ileal pouch-anal anastomosis and had anorectal physiology testing within 3 months before surgery as well as after ileostomy closure (mean, 23.1; range, 3–77 months) were analyzed. Anorectal physiology testing included detecting the presence of the rectoanal inhibitory reflex, sensory threshold volume, and rectal or pouch capacity and compliance. Parameters to determine incontinence included daytime and nocturnal bowel movement frequency, nocturnal spotting, status of continence for solid or liquid stool, gas, use of pads, and lifestyle alteration were surveyed in 62 of the 100 patients at a mean of 3.9 (range, 1–9.1) years to determine the incontinence score. RESULTS: Whereas the rectoanal inhibitory reflex was noted in 96 (96 percent) patients before surgery, it was found in only 53 (53 percent) after ileostomy closure (P < 0.0001). Incontinence status data was available in only 62 of the 100 patients (32 RAIR-positive; 30 RAIR-negative). There were no significant differences between the rectoanal inhibitory reflex-positive and the rectoanal inhibitory reflex-negative groups relative to the interval between surgery and manometry (22 vs. 25 months), postoperative threshold sensation volume (32 vs. 31 ml), postoperative compliance (19 vs. 12 cm H2O/ml), postoperative capacity (85 vs. 66 ml), daytime/nighttime stool frequency (6.2/2 vs. 5.5/1.5), or postoperative incontinence score (3.9 vs. 1.8). However, there were significant differences relative to the incidence of nocturnal soiling (12/30 (40 percent) vs. 23/32 (72 percent), P = 0.0012) favoring the presence of the rectoanal inhibitory reflex. CONCLUSION: Preservation of the rectoanal inhibitory reflex correlated with a decrease in the incidence of nocturnal soiling after double-stapled ileoanal reservoir construction.
Detection and enumeration of a genetically modified fungus in soil environments by quantitative competitive polymerase chain reaction

A procedure of quantitative competitive polymerase chain reaction was developed for detection and quantitation of a genetically modified strain of Trichoderma virens (GvT6) in the soil environment. A 1.0-kb coding region of the opd (organophosphate degrading) gene on GvT6 genomic DNA was co-amplified with a standard DNA. The standard DNA was a 1.5-kb fragment of the gpd (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) gene of T. virens containing opd-primer-binding sites on the ends. Soil samples containing various types of propagules of GvT6 were treated with a combined procedure of SDS-heating and bead-beating and the released nucleic acids were extracted and purified. Relative efficiency of T. virens DNA recovery from soil samples was about 85–95% compared with DNA yield from spore suspensions. Following the PCR, the product ratio between the target and the standard was plotted against a dilution series of the standard which was added into the amplification reaction. Then, the concentration of the opd gene and the GvT6 in the soil sample were estimated. Despite the differences in size and nucleotide sequences between the target and the standard, they were amplified with similar efficiency. The detection limit of the PCR was 10–1000 times lower compared to traditional dilution plating. The quantitative competitive PCR technique will enhance our ability to understand the ecology of soilborne fungi in the soil environment.
Topographic and laminar organization of the vagal gustatory system in the goldfish, Carassius auratus

The large majority of intraoral taste buds in goldfish are located on the gill arches and on the palatal organ, a muscular organ situated on the roof of the mouth. These taste buds are innervated by branches of the vagus nerve which terminate in a laminated vagal lobe, itself being an enlargement of the special visceral sensory column of the medulla. The tracer horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was used to determine the connectivity of the various branches of the vagus nerve that innervate the oropharyngeal gustatory surfaces. The entire oral cavity is mapped onto the vagal lobe so that the anterior end of the palatal organ and the most anterior gill arch are represented anteriorly in the vagal lobe; progressively more posterior oral structures are represented progressively more posteriorly in the lobe. The medial part of the palatal organ and the opposing gill arch surface, i.e., the ventromedial portion, are represented ventrally in the vagal lobe. The dorsolateral portions of the palatal organ and gill arches are represented dorsomedially in the vagal lobe. The topographic representation of the oral structures is similar for both the motor and sensory systems. In addition to this overall topographic organization, the different oropharyngeal structures are represented differentially in the layers of the vagal lobe. Palatal organ inputs reach layers VI and IX while gill arch inputs terminate in layers II, IV, and IX. The overall organization of the vagal lobe suggests a highly organized reflex system which is involved in the separation of food from substrate, especially during bottom feeding.
Light and dark uptake of nitrate and ammonium by large oceanic dinoflagellates: Pyrocystis noctiluca, Pyrocystis fusiformis, and Dissodinium lunula1

In 4-h experiments, N-depleted cells of Pyrocystis and Dissodinium species took up NO3− and NH4+ at almost equal rates both day and night when preconditioned on 12 : 12 LD cycle at light intensities sufficient to saturate division (42–67 µEin m−2 s−1).Pyrocystis fusiformis but not Pyrocystis noctiluca took up NO3 at a high rate when grown at 3 µEin m−2 s−1. There was no increase in the concentration of NH4+ within the large vacuoles of Pyrocystis cells during uptake of NH4+, but both NO3 and NH4+ were accumulated in the vacuole when external NO3− was supplied. In contrast, inorganic N did not accumulate in Dissodinium lunula cells during either NO3− or NH4+ uptake. Nutrient-replete cells of P. noctiluca, P. fusiformis, and D. lunula stored in their vacuoles as inorganic N ca. 30, 5, and 2% of their cellular-N requirements.
Optimal and efficient adaptation in distributed real-time systems with discrete rates

Many distributed real-time systems face the challenge of dynamically maximizing system utility and meeting stringent resource constraints in response to fluctuations in system workload. Thus, online adaptation must be adopted in face of workload changes in such systems. We present the MultiParametric Rate Adaptation (MPRA) algorithm for discrete rate adaptation in distributed real-time systems with end-to-end tasks. The key novelty and advantage of MPRA is that it can efficiently produce optimal solutions in response to workload variations caused by dynamic task arrivals and departures. Through offline preprocessing MPRA transforms an NP-hard utility optimization problem to the evaluation of a piecewise linear function of the CPU utilization. At run time MPRA produces optimal solutions by evaluating the function based on the CPU utilization. Analysis and simulation results show that MPRA maximizes system utility in the presence of varying workloads, while reducing the online computation complexity to polynomial time. The advantages of MPRA have been validated through the implementation in a real-time middleware system and experiments on a physical testbed.
Rate‐equilibrium LFER characterization of transition states: The interpretation of α

The effect of substituents on the rate of a reaction and the effect of the same substituents on the equilibrium can often be related by a linear free energy relation (LFER): log k− = α log K= + constant, where k+ and K= are the rate constant and the equilibrium constant, respectively. This review, concentrating on group transfers, adds to many studies describing the use of α to describe the transition state. Although the use of α to describe transition states is general, group transfers constitute a simple class allowing a fairly complete description yet illustrating two often neglected contributions. Group transfers can be described by the Marcus equation relating rate to an average identity rate and the equilibrium constant; a major contributor to the slope, α, of the rate-equilibrium LFER is the variation of identity rates with substituent, rather than reflecting product-like character. Substituent effect LFERs are predominantly attributable to interaction of charges with the substituent. However, α is not an exact measure of the charge on the substituent-containing group, because in a transition state, but often not in a reaction product, there are more remote centers of charge which exert a smaller attenuated effect. A simple treatment of this attenuation for group transfers is proposed. The possibility of application of these ideas to proton transfer reactions and the interpretation of the Bronsted α (or β) is proposed.
Variation in Activities of Amylase Allozymes Associated with Chromosome Inversions in DROSOPHILA PSEUDOOBSCURA, D. PERSIMILIS and D. MIRANDA

Different electrophoretic alleles of amylase show associations with particular chromosome 3 inversions in D. pseudoobscura and D. persimilis. Relative adult amylase activities were compared in 37, 37 and 10 strains of D. pseudoobscura, D. persimilis and D. miranda, respectively. Strains carrying the same electrophoretic allele were compared by crossing these lines individually to a reference strain carrying a different electrophoretic mobility allele. This procedure allows comparisons among species, inversions, electromorphs and strains for genetic variation in amylase activity. F2 analysis established that the activity variation co-segregates with the structural amylase locus. This type of variation could be due to either structural gene differences or differences in closely linked, cis-acting regulatory regions. Variation has been detected among and within electrophoretic mobility classes. Moreover, this variation is clearly nonrandom and reveals more of the genetic structure associated with the chromosomal inversion phylogeny of D. pseudoobscura and D. persimilis. ----Some of the findings are: (1) Similar electromorphs in D. pseudoobscura and D. persimilis usually show different activities. These species show nearly complete differentiation of amylase alleles, based on activities. (2) D. persimilis has the broadest range of variation in amylase activity, about four-fold between the highest and lowest alleles. D. pseudoobscura and D. miranda are also polymorphic for activity, but have more constrained ranges of variation. D. miranda alleles show on the average about four times the activity of D. pseudoobscura alleles. (3) Some association of electrophoretic mobility and activity has been found. Alleles 1.09 of D. persimilis, as well as 1.43 and 1.55 of D. miranda, have relatively high activity. It may be that these high activity alleles are part of an adaptation to cooler habitats. (4) Within electrophoretic classes, associations of activities with inversions have been found. These are especially strong in D. persimilis. The 1.00 alleles in the ST, KL, MD and WT inversions, the 0.92 allele in the ST and MD inversions and the 1.09 allele in the WT and KL inversions have levels of activities that depend upon the arrangement in which they are located. These results demonstrate that suppression of recombination in inversion heterokaryotypes can result in extensive genic divergence between inversions.
Efficient large-scale power grid analysis based on preconditioned krylov-subspace iterative methods

In this paper, we propose preconditioned Krylov-subspace iterative methods to perform efficient DC and transient simulations for large-scale linear circuits with an emphasis on power delivery circuits. We also prove that a circuit with inductors can be simplified from MNA to NA format, and the matrix becomes an s.p.d. matrix. This property makes it suitable for the conjugate gradient with incomplete Cholesky decomposition as the preconditioner, which is faster than other direct and iterative methods. Extensive experimental results on large-scale industrial power grid circuits show that our method is over 200 times faster for DC analysis and around 10 times faster for transient simulation compared to SPICE3. Furthermore, our algorithm reduces over 75% of memory usage than SPICE3 while the accuracy is not compromised.
Nutrition as Medical Therapy in Pediatric Critical Illness

In this month's Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology , work by Kyle et al. titled “Nutrition Support among Critically Ill Children with AKI” found that children in the intensive care unit (ICU), especially those with AKI, have nutritional deprivation before and during their ICU
Measurements and Factorial Analysis of Micron-Sized Particle Adhesion Force to Indoor Flooring Materials by Electrostatic Detachment Method

Airborne concentration of micron-sized particulate matter (PM) is an important index of indoor air quality. While human activity is considered the main reason causing indoor particle resuspension, theoretical particle adhesion force models give predictions of adhesion force much larger than the disturbance forces introduced by human activity. This work suggests that the imperfect contact between particles and surfaces can greatly reduce the adhesion bond. Electrostatic detachment method is used to measure the actual adhesion force distribution of micron-sized particles to such common indoor flooring materials as vinyl and rubber. Comparisons are made between the theoretical predictions and experimental measurements. Factorial experiments are also designed to study the influence of particle type, flooring type and contact time on particle adhesion force.
Phosphorylation of SNAP-23 Regulates Exocytosis from Mast Cells

Regulated exocytosis is a process in which a physiological trigger initiates the translocation, docking, and fusion of secretory granules with the plasma membrane. A class of proteins termed SNAREs (including SNAP-23, syntaxins, and VAMPs) are known regulators of secretory granule/plasma membrane fusion events. We have investigated the molecular mechanisms of regulated exocytosis in mast cells and find that SNAP-23 is phosphorylated when rat basophilic leukemia mast cells are triggered to degranulate. The kinetics of SNAP-23 phosphorylation mirror the kinetics of exocytosis. We have identified amino acid residues Ser(95) and Ser(120) as the major phosphorylation sites in SNAP-23 in rodent mast cells. Quantitative analysis revealed that approximately 10% of SNAP-23 was phosphorylated when mast cell degranulation was induced. These same residues were phosphorylated when mouse platelet degranulation was induced with thrombin, demonstrating that phosphorylation of SNAP-23 Ser(95) and Ser(120) is not restricted to mast cells. Although triggering exocytosis did not alter the absolute amount of SNAP-23 bound to SNAREs, after stimulation essentially all of the SNAP-23 bound to the plasma membrane SNARE syntaxin 4 and the vesicle SNARE VAMP-2 was phosphorylated. Regulated exocytosis studies revealed that overexpression of SNAP-23 phosphorylation mutants inhibited exocytosis from rat basophilic leukemia mast cells, demonstrating that phosphorylation of SNAP-23 on Ser(120) and Ser(95) modulates regulated exocytosis by mast cells.
Transition from identity to bioactivity-guided proteomics for biomarker discovery with focus on the PF2D platform

Proteomic strategies provide a valuable tool kit to identify proteins involved in diseases. With recent progress in MS technology, high throughput proteomics has accelerated protein identification for potential biomarkers. Numerous biomarker candidates have been identified in several diseases, and many are common among pathologies. An overall strategy that could complement and strengthen the search for biomarkers is combining protein identity with biological outcomes. This review describes an emerging framework of bridging bioactivity to protein identity, exploring the possibility that some biomarkers will have a mechanistic role in the disease process. A review of pulmonary, cardiovascular, and CNS biomarkers will be discussed to demonstrate the utility of combining bioactivity with identification as a means to not only find meaningful biomarkers, but also to uncover functional mediators of disease.
An Examination of the Effect of Consultation Review and Fee Size on Auditor Judgments

Prior research has shown that direct and indirect incentives in the audit environment can influence auditor judgment. The auditing profession suggests that certain firm-level quality control structures can reduce the effect that potential environmental biases can have on judgment-based decisions. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of a firm-level quality control, consultation review requirement, on auditor judgment where the auditor has incentives to be biased toward accepting the client’s aggressive accounting method. Fifty-two experienced auditors were given a case study where an audit client was proposing an aggressive change in estimate. Consultation review requirement (required, not required) and fee size (high, low) were manipulated in the case materials. Three judgments were examined: allowability of the proposed accounting treatment under GAAP; assessment of the appropriateness of the proposed accounting treatment in the circumstances; and the likelihood of accepting the client-proposed accounting treatment. The results indicate that consultation review requirement resulted in more conservative judgments regarding the appropriateness of the accounting treatment. In addition, results show that, contrary to the audit profession’s suggestion, consultation review requirement reduced the likelihood of accepting the aggressive accounting treatment when fees were low, but not when fees were high.
Snyder v. Phelps: Protecting the Process of Persuasion

(2012). Snyder v. Phelps: Protecting the Process of Persuasion. Free Speech Yearbook: Vol. 46, No. 1, pp. 33-37.
Horticultural Growers’ Willingness To Adopt Recycling Of Irrigation Water

Recycling irrigation water can provide water during periods of drought for horticulture operations and can reduce nonpoint-source pollution, but water recycling increases production costs and can increase risk of disease infestation from waterborne pathogens such as Pythium and Phytophthora. This study of water recycling adoption by horticultural growers in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania finds that the potential for increased disease infestation would reduce growers’ probability of adopting water recycling. Widespread adoption of recycling irrigation water would require government incentives or coercion or growers’ ability to pass cost increases on to customers.
The Social Responsibility of Boards of Directors and Stockholders in Charge of Control Transactions: Is There Any 'There' There?

In this speech, Vice Chancellor Strine analyzes a corporate law hypothetical that (1) raises some of the tough ethical choices that must be made by legislators and judges forging the Delaware corporation law; (2) is designed to stimulate thought about the social role of the corporation in our society, and to raise questions about the extent to which corporation law can wish away the difficult moral choices that corporate boards and stockholders often face, simply by creating doctrinal boxes in which real-world moral concerns are thought to be of no relevance; and (3) presents a challenge to those scholars who have embraced an optimistic view of the extent to which Delaware corporation law protects the interests of rank-and-file employees and communities affected by the fate of American corporations.
Does VC Fundraising Respond to Hot IPO Markets

This paper investigates to what extent venture capital fundraising depends on IPO market valuations. Controlling for demand-side factors and VC reputation variables, we find that the amount of money left on the table in the IPO market positively explains the probability that a fund is raised as well as its size. Given the fact that IPO valuations are generally prone to stock market sentiment during hot issue periods, our results suggest that VC fundraising positively reacts to overvaluation on the stock market. Besides, the aforementioned relation is found to be statistically more significant and economically more pronounced for low reputation VCs.
Sally Hines and Tam Sanger, eds. Transgender Identities: Towards a Social Analysis of Gender Diversity. New York: Routledge, 2010. Lori B. Girshick. Transgender Voices: Beyond Women and Men. Hanover, MA: UP of New England, 2008.

In addition to the developments in masculinities and intersectionality, transgender studies has provided the most influential theoretical advancement of gender theory in the last two decades. In th...
Angular distributions for the 9 Be( 6 Li, 7 Li) 8 Be reaction

Angular distributions for the $^{9}\mathrm{Be}$($^{6}\mathrm{Li}$, $^{7}\mathrm{Li}$)$^{8}\mathrm{Be}$ neutron-transfer reaction to form the lowest two states in $^{7}\mathrm{Li}$ have been measured for laboratory energies of 5.5 and 6.5 MeV. Elastic scattering cross sections for $^{6}\mathrm{Li}$ on $^{9}\mathrm{Be}$ were measured at laboratory energies of 4.0 and 6.0 MeV in order to determine optical potentials for the theoretical analysis of the transfer cross section. Distorted-wave-Born-approximation calculations were found to be in reasonable agreement with the data while Hauser-Feshbach calculations were not. This indicates that the reaction is primarily a direct process.NUCLEAR REACTIONS $^{9}\mathrm{Be}$($^{6}\mathrm{Li}$, $^{7}\mathrm{Li}$), $E=5.5,6.5$ MeV; measured $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\theta})$ $^{7}\mathrm{Li}$ states at 0.0, 0.48 MeV; DWBA analysis. $^{9}\mathrm{Be}$($^{6}\mathrm{Li}$, $^{6}\mathrm{Li}$), $E=4,6$ MeV; measured $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\theta}$; deduced optical-model parameters.
Accuracy of Stroke Identification by EMS Dispatch Units: An Analysis of National Emergency Medical Services Information System Data (NEMSIS) (P02.221)

Objective: To determine the accuracy of stroke identification by the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) dispatch center as the first responder and to identify barriers to the accurate diagnosis. Background The accuracy of stroke identification by dispatch units is an important determinant for directing appropriate level of EMS and response times. Design/Methods: We used the 2009 National Emergency Medical Services Information System (NEMSIS) Research Dataset, which is representative of 26 states in the US. We compared the diagnosis for dispatch based on ascertainment by dispatch staff with the diagnosis made by EMS after arrival at scene for identification of stroke/cerebrovascular accident (CVA) and determined the reasons for false diagnosis. We also estimated the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of dispatch diagnosis of stroke/CVA. Results: Among the 58013 patients identified by the dispatch center as stroke/CVA, 35118(60.5%) were diagnosed as stroke/CVA by EMS after evaluation at scene. Among the patients with false dispatch diagnosis, the EMS diagnosis was as follows: 8401(14.5%) altered level of consciousness, 4107(7.1%), syncope/fainting, 2391(4.1%) diabetic symptoms-hypoglycemia, 917(1.6%) seizures and 7079(12.2%) other. Identification of stroke by dispatch unit showed a sensitivity of 57%, specificity of 99.03%, positive predictive value of 60.5%, negative predictive value of 98.8%, positive likelihood ratio of 59 (95% CI 58-60) and negative likelihood ratio of 0.43(95% CI 0.43-0.44). Conclusions: The complaint of stroke/CVA reported by dispatch unit to EMS seems to have low sensitivity but high specificity. Efforts are required to increase the sensitivity of dispatch unit diagnosis of stroke to ensure appropriate level of EMS care is dispatched and reduce response times. Disclosure: Dr. Jadhav has nothing to disclose. Dr. Pawar has nothing to disclose. Dr. Chaudhry has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hassan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Namasaka has nothing to disclose. Dr. Suri has nothing to disclose. Dr. Qureshi has nothing to disclose. Tuesday, April 24 2012, 07:30 am-12:00 pm
Diabetes treatment intensification and associated changes in HbA1c and body mass index: a cohort study.

To describe common type 2 diabetes treatment intensification regimens, patients’ characteristics and changes in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and body mass index (BMI). We constructed a national retrospective cohort of veterans initially treated for diabetes with either metformin or sulfonylurea from 2001 through 2008, using Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and Medicare data. Patients were followed through September, 2011 to identify common diabetes treatment intensification regimens. We evaluated changes in HbA1c and BMI post-intensification for metformin-based regimens. We identified 323,857 veterans who initiated diabetes treatment. Of these, 55 % initiated metformin, 43 % sulfonylurea and 2 % other regimens. Fifty percent (N = 89,057) of metformin initiators remained on metformin monotherapy over a median follow-up 58 months (interquartile range [IQR] 35, 74). Among 80,725 patients who intensified metformin monotherapy, the four most common regimens were addition of sulfonylurea (79 %), thiazolidinedione [TZD] (6 %), or insulin (8 %), and switch to insulin monotherapy (2 %). Across these regimens, median HbA1c values declined from a range of 7.0–7.8 % (53–62 mmol/mol) at intensification to 6.6–7.0 % (49–53 mmol/mol) at 1 year, and remained stable up to 3 years afterwards. Median BMI ranged between 30.5 and 32 kg/m2 at intensification and increased very modestly in those who intensified with oral regimens, but 1–2 kg/m2 over 3 years among those who intensified with insulin-based regimens. By 1 year post-intensification of metformin monotherapy, HbA1c declined in all four common intensification regimens, and remained close to 7 % in subsequent follow-up. BMI increased substantially for those on insulin-based regimens.
Abstract 271: Lack Of Prognostic Value Of High Ankle Brachial Pressure Index (ABI) In Patients With Advanced Heart Failure

Introduction: Ankle brachial pressure index (ABI) is a noninvasive test to diagnose peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Abnormally high ABI has been associated with increased LV mass and mortality in patients free of cardiovascular disease, while low ABI is often indicative of PAD that portends poor prognosis. But the prognostic significance of high ABI in advanced heart failure patients has not been studied. Methods: We reviewed 342 consecutive patients with advanced heart failure who underwent transplant evaluation between 2007 and 2011. Patients with history of PAD or ABI < 0.9 on either side were excluded. ABI values on both sides were added to create total ABI. Based on this total ABI, patients were divided into tertiles. Survival (death or heart transplant) analysis was assessed by Kaplan-Meier curves in different tertiles. Results: Mean total ABI was 2.29 ± 0.39. Mortality/transplant rates were 52.4%, 43.2% and 50.4% in increasing ABI tertiles. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis did not show any statistically significant prognostic importance (log rank, p = 0.39, Figure.1). Similar results were obtained when patients with ischemic (p = 0.094) and non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (p =0.899) were analyzed separately. ABI was not an independent predictor of mortality in Cox regression analysis (HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.66, 1.36). Conclusion: Higher tertiles of ABI were not associated with poor prognosis in patients with stage D heart failure. This remained true for both ischemic and non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. ![Graphic][1] [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif
Market Behavior Towards Remanufactured Products

This chapter provides an overview of recent empirical research on market behavior towards remanufactured products. We focus on three key themes: factors influencing the differences in consumer valuation of new and remanufactured products, differences in perceived valuation of seller signals for new and remanufactured products, and impact of the presence of remanufactured products on consumer valuation of new products. The results point to the unique properties of remanufactured products and how they differ from new products. We posit that considering these findings could lead to an increase in the profit-generating capability of remanufactured products.
Improving Sensitivity of Electrochemical Sensors with Convective Transport in Free-Standing, Carbon Nanotube Structures

Abstract High-aspect-ratio, porous membrane of vertically-aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were developed through a templated microfabrication approach for electrochemical sensing. Nanostructured platinum (Pt) catalyst was deposited onto the CNTs with a facile, electroless deposition method, resulting in a Pt-nanowire-coated, CNT sensor (PN-CNT). Convective mass transfer enhancement was shown to improve PN-CNT sensor performance in the non‐enzymatic, amperometric sensing of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ). In particular, convective enhancement was achieved through the use of high surface area to fluid volume structures and concentration boundary layer confinement in a channel. Stir speed and sensor orientation especially influenced the measured current in stirred environments for sensors with through-channel diameters of 16 μm. Through-flow sensing produced drastically higher signals than stirred sensing with over 90% of the H 2 O 2 being oxidized as it passed through the PN-CNT sensor, even for low concentrations in the range of 50 nM to 500 μM. This effective utilization of the analyte in detection demonstrates the utility of exploiting convection in electrochemical sensing. For through‐flow at 100 μL s −1 , a sensitivity of 24,300 μA mM −1 cm −2 was achieved based on the frontal projected area (871 μA mM −1 cm −2 based on the nominal microchannel surface area), with a 0.03 μM limit of detection and a linear sensing range of 0.03–500 μM.
History and lore of sesame in Southwest Asia

The crop’s domestication and subsequent dispersal are reviewed from the archaeological literature and early texts. The introduction of sesame represents an agricultural innovation in Southwest Asia, since as a ‘ropical’ warm weather crop, sensitive to freezing temperatures, it is successfully grown in the region as a summer crop, by selecting cultivars that mature early. Its seeds are used as food and flavoring. The chief constituent of the seed is its prized oil, 45–60 % by weight that resists oxidative rancidity. It is used as a salad or cooking oil, an ingredient in cosmetics, in the manufacture of soaps, Pharmaceuticals, and lubricants, and was formerly used as a lamp oil. The press cake remaining after the oil is expressed is a nutritious livestock meal. Information about medieval cultivation practices and evidence of its use in early centuries is extracted from historical manuscripts. Examples of sesame in art, myth, proverb and riddle from Southwest Asia provide a comparative, cross-cultural view of its service as a symbol. A survey of culinary, medicinal and linguistic data is presented. The status of its cultivation in the last century is represented by a rare look at practices in Armenia, Syria and Yemen.
Does Creation of a Grantor Retained Annuity Trust Provide Information to the Market

This study uses publicly-available information to examine the information content of executive-created Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs) using executive corporate stock. GRATs have the potential to transfer excess returns tax-free to beneficiaries and hence many GRATs may be funded with executives’ shares when the executives have inside knowledge regarding future company performance. We find that executives securities placed in a GRAT earn mean returns that significantly outperform the market over one and two year holding periods. Our findings are more pronounced for executive securities for smaller firms placed in a GRAT, consistent with more information being available to the market for larger firms. Consistent with our expectations, the highest returns are earned in industries with greater business opportunities or investment in research and development. These results are of interest to finance and accounting academics as it demonstrates that information regarding future stock returns can be learned from the estate planning of a firm's executives. In addition, these results are of interest to policy-makers as they consider how GRATS should be regulated in the future.
Examining the Case of an Academic Library’s Student-Focused, Patron-Satisfaction Approach to Organizational Transformation for Student Retention

This article serves as a case study of an academic library’s student-focused management decisions, including the concept of relationship-marketing- and reputation-management in relation to their perceived impact on student retention. After realizing the library had developed a negative reputation, the director of SUNY Canton’s Southworth Library integrated a multi-pronged strategic plan to improve the perceived reputation of the library while cultivating student loyalty. The library had to make the firm decision on what it determined to be “about,” and whether what the library was “about” was its collections - the traditional library-centric identity - or about student success. Southworth Library Learning Commons had to make a collective determination to reject tradition and choose the latter. That meant altering course in terms of collection activities, redefining priorities and making non-traditional choices. The article illustrates strategies and actions that can be similarly replicated as part of a student-focused strategic plan. More broadly, other academic libraries and higher education institutions should consider the relationship-marketing approach in decision making and sustainability planning.