cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Possible Solution to the Shortage of Scientists

An operations-research approach to the problem of the growing shortage of scientists is described. Of the many factors contributing to the shortage, the one chosen for pilot experiment concerns the high-school students' interest in and attitude toward science. High school students were given an opportunity to observe scientists at work, get to know scientists and how they think, and actually to complete an operations-research study. Although the success of the program, in terms of its ultimate aim to motivate students toward a science career, cannot be measured for many years, certain qualitative evaluations can be made in terms of changing student attitude, educational advantage, and the research product.
Sex redefined: the reclassification of oral-genital contact.

CONTEXT: Although partially anecdotal, some evidence suggests that oral-genital contact is increasingly excluded from young people's notions of what behaviors constitute sex. Such a shift may have implications for STD prevention. METHODS: In 2007, a convenience sample of 477 university students participated in a survey that included the question “Would you say you ‘had sex’ with someone if the most intimate behavior you engaged in was” each of 11 behaviors. Chi-square tests and independent samples t tests were used to assess gender differences, and chi-square analyses were used to compare the data with similar data collected in 1991. Predictors of beliefs concerning the classification of oral-genital contact were assessed using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The majority of respondents indicated that penile-vaginal intercourse and penile-anal intercourse constitute sex (98% and 78%, respectively), but only about 20% believed the same was true of oral-genital contact. The proportion classifying oral-genital contact as sex in 2007 was about half that in 1991. This difference was consistent for both sexes and for both giving and receiving oral-genital stimulation. Responses did not vary by respondents’ sexual experience or demographic characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Sociocultural conceptualizations of oral-genital contact have shifted in a way that may leave people who engage in this activity unmindful of its potential health risks. Sex education programs, which generally focus on penile-vaginal contact, could help STD prevention efforts by explaining the risks associated with oral-genital stimulation and the measures that can be taken to minimize those risks.
Improved Specificity of Nrbc Detection in Cvs Supernatant Fluids Using An Anti-ζ Monoclonal Antibody 70

Improved Specificity of Nrbc Detection in Cvs Supernatant Fluids Using An Anti-ζ Monoclonal Antibody 70
Evaluation of compost/mulch as highway embankment erosion control in Louisiana at the plot-scale

Summary Total suspended solids (TSS) and associated turbidity in runoff water are considered the most problematic nonpoint source pollutant of Louisiana surface waters. With high precipitation in Louisiana, attention should be given to controlling highway right-of-way erosion. The use of compost/mulch for erosion control enhances soil conservation and substantially reduces erosion. The main objective of this study was to assess the effect of compost/mulch placement on runoff water quality on roadsides. Our hypothesis was that the use of compost/mulch would significantly reduce TSS and turbidity in runoff from highway right-of-ways in Louisiana. Two locations constituting four sites and eight individual plots were chosen; one in an active highway construction area and another in an established area plagued by continual rill and sheet erosion. Thicknesses of compost/mulch (5 and 10 cm), slope inclination (10–34%), and tillage practices (till vs. no-till) were evaluated. Runoff, triggered by storm water events, was collected using ISCO auto-samplers from June 2010 to August 2011 and the samples were analyzed for TSS, turbidity, biochemical oxygen demand, electrical conductivity, and pH. The results of factor analysis showed that the compost/mulch thickness was the most influential variable affecting water quality. Two samples t -test results indicated that TSS and turbidity were significantly different across all comparative variables; construction activities, compost/mulch applications, and tillage practices. The results confirmed the effectiveness of compost/mulch cover as a successful best management practice. Specifically decreases in TSS of 70% and 74% were achieved for the 5 cm and 10 cm compost/mulch application when compared to no compost/mulch, respectively. Light tillage application increased TSS as much as 67%. Therefore, light tillage is not recommended since it decreased the effectiveness of compost/mulch in reducing runoff and sediment losses.
Simulation scenarios for rapid reduction in carbon dioxide emissions in the western electricity system

This paper describes a computer simulation analysis of carbon dioxide emissions in the electric power system in the western United States. Legislation at both the state and federal level would impose a price on emissions via cap-and-trade in allowances for carbon dioxide emissions. The simulation scenarios for the western system indicate that dramatic reductions in emissions are possible with generating technologies that exist today. Wind and biomass generators play a key role even with conservative assumptions about their future costs. In contrast, generation from advanced technologies provide only a minor contribution by the year 2025. These scenarios provide support to those who argue that the US should move expeditiously to put a price on carbon dixoide emissions.
Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) glucuronidation in vitro : assay development, human liver microsome activities and species differences

1. The main purpose was to develop a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-based method to assay serotonin glucuronidation activity using liver microsomal fractions. Application of this method was then demonstrated by determining serotonin UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) enzyme kinetics using human liver microsomes and recombinant human UGT1A6. Interspecies differences were also evaluated using liver microsomes from 10 different mammalian species. 2. Incubation of liver microsomes with serotonin, UDP-glucuronic acid and magnesium resulted in the formation of a single product peak using HPLC with fluorescence and ultraviolet absorbance detection. This peak was confirmed as serotonin glucuronide based on sensitivity to beta-glucuronidase and by obtaining the expected mass of 352 with positive-ion mass spectrometry. 3. Following a preparative HPLC isolation, the structure of this metabolite was established as serotonin-5-O-glucuronide by (1)H-NMR spectroscopy. 4. Enzyme kinetic studies showed apparent K(m) and V(max) of 8.8 +/- 0.3 mM and 43.4 +/- 0.4 nmoles min(-1) mg(-1) protein, respectively, for human liver microsomes, and 5.9 +/- 0.2 mM and 15.8 +/- 0.2 nmoles min(-1) mg(-1), respectively, for recombinant UGT1A6. 5. The order of serotonin-UGT activities in animal liver microsomes was rat > mouse > human > cow > pig > horse > dog > rabbit > monkey > ferret. Cat livers showed no serotonin-UGT activity. Heterozygous and homozygous mutant Gunn rat livers had 40 and 13%, respectively, of the activity of the normal Wistar rat, indicating a significant contribution by a rat UGT1A isoform to serotonin glucuronidation. 6. This assay provides a novel sensitive and specific technique for the measurement of serotonin-UGT activity in vitro.
Developing Heuristics to Estimate the Impact of Postponement on Safety Stock

The Principle of Postponement suggests that the final configuration of a Product be delayed until a customer order is received, thus reducing a firm's need to forecast demand for every product variation in its product line. Four heuristics which facilitate the identification of postponement opportunities are developed in this paper. These heuristics estimate percent safety stock saving from postponement. The analysis shows that these savings are explained by the correlation of sales among items in the firm's product line, the number of items in the product line, and magnitude, which is the ratio of standard deviations for every pair of items in the product line. An actual example of the application of these heuristics is presented at the end of the paper.
A genetic discontinuity in moose (Alces alces) in Alaska corresponds with fenced transportation infrastructure

The strength and arrangement of movement barriers can impact the connectivity among habitat patches. Anthropogenic barriers (e.g. roads) are a source of habitat fragmentation that can disrupt these resource networks and can have an influence on the spatial genetic structure of populations. Using microsatellite data, we evaluated whether observed genetic structure of moose (Alces alces) populations were associated with human activities (e.g. roads) in the urban habitat of Anchorage and rural habitat on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. We found evidence of a recent genetic subdivision among moose in Anchorage that corresponds to a major highway and associated infrastructure. This subdivision is most likely due to restrictions in gene flow due to alterations to the highway (e.g. moose-resistant fencing with one-way gates) and a significant increase in traffic volume over the past 30 years; genetic subdivision was not detected on the Kenai Peninsula in an area not bisected by a major highway. This study illustrates that anthropogenic barriers can substructure wildlife populations within a few generations and highlights the value of genetic assessments to determine the effects on connectivity among habitat patches in conjunction with behavioral and ecological data.
Penetration of Aromatic Residues into Membrane Bilayers: A New Approach

Penetration of Aromatic Residues into Membrane Bilayers: A New ApproachLipid bilayers are characterized by a unique molecular motional regime that makes it possible to apply both solid-state NMR and solution-state NMR methods together for structural studies. The combination of magic angle spinning (MAS) with the high-resolution 1H NOESY NMR experiment is an established method for measuring through-space 1H¼1H dipolar couplings in biological membranes, and has been applied extensively in the past to biological membranes to determine the location of bound drugs and peptides. The segmental motion of the lipid acyl chains along with the overall rotational diffusion of the lipids provides sufficient motion to average the 1H dipolar interaction to within the range where MAS can be effective. One drawback of the approach is the relatively long NOESY mixing times needed for relaxation processes to generate significant crosspeak intensity. In order to drive magnetization transfer more rapidly, we introduce the use of solid-state radiofrequency driven dipolar recoupling (RFDR) pulses during the mixing time. We compare the established 1H MAS NOESY experiment with a new 1H MAS RFDR experiment on dimyristoylphosphocholine, a bilayer forming lipid, and show that the 1H MAS RFDR experiment provides considerably faster magnetization exchange than the 1H MAS NOESY experiment. We apply the method to model compounds containing basic and aromatic amino acids bound to membrane bilayers to illustrate the ability to locate the position of aromatic groups that have penetrated to below the level of the lipid headgroups.
Starch digestion and digesta kinetics in the small intestine of steers fed on a maize grain and maize silage mixture

Abstract An attempt was made to overcome incomplete starch digestion in the small intestine of ruminants by exogenous amylase and/or sodium bicarbonate additions into the small intestine of steers fed on a diet of 60% cracked maize grain and 30% maize silage. Four Hereford × Angus steers were cannulated in the rumen, duodenum, jejunum and ileum. Ytterbium-marked maize was given daily and a liquid phase marker, Cr-EDTA, was infused into the rumen continuously. Treatments (amylase, bicarbonate, amylase plus bicarbonate or distilled water) were individually infused into the jejunal cannula at an average rate of 190 ml day−1 for four 7-day periods in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Duodenal and ileal composite samples were analyzed for dry matter (DM), starch and marker contents to determine ruminal and small intestinal digestibility. Digesta kinetics for the small intestine indicated that the particulate and liquid phases flowed together with little separation. The pH of the duodenal, jejunal and ileal digesta prior to any treatment infusions averaged 2.5, 4.8 and 7.3, respectively. Starch flow to the small intestine averaged 1000 g day−1 with 350 g passing to the large intestine. Nutrient digestibility was not affected by the infusion treatments. The results were interpreted to suggest that amylase and probably digesta pH are not the first limiting factors in the digestion of maize starch in the small intestine of cattle adapted to starch diets.
Harvesting aware power management for sensor networks

Energy harvesting offers a promising alternative to solve the sustainability limitations arising from battery size constraints in sensor networks. Several considerations in using an environmental energy source are fundamentally different from using batteries. Rather than a limit on the total energy, harvesting transducers impose a limit on the instantaneous power available. Further, environmental energy availability is often highly variable and a deterministic metric such as residual battery capacity is not available to characterize the energy source. The different nodes in a sensor network may also have different energy harvesting opportunities. Since the same end-user performance may be achieved using different workload allocations at multiple nodes, it is important to adapt the workload allocation to the spatio-temporal energy availability profile in order to enable energy-neutral operation of the network. This paper describes power management techniques for such energy harvesting sensor networks. Platform design considerations as well as power scaling techniques at the node-level and network-level are described.
Shifts in phytoplankton size structure and community composition during grazing by contrasting zooplankton assemblages

Contrasting zooplankton assemblages consistently produced different compositional shifts in a phytoplankton community. Two experiments in 120-liter enclosures were used to assess the responses of the algae to two different-sized zooplankton communities. Grazing by a mixture of small copepods, Bosmina longirostris, and rotifers led to increased growth of phytoplankters with greatest axial linear dimensions < 25 pm and ratios of surface area to volume ~2.6, such as Chlamydomonas and Chlorococcales. Larger phytoplankton taxa such as Asterionellafirmosa, Closteriopsis Iongissimus, and Synedra sp. declined in the presence of small zooplankters. In contrast, a mixture of large zooplankters dominated by Daphnia pulex and Diaptomus oregonensis caused declines in phytoplankters with greatest axial linear dimensions ~60 pm and ratios of surface area to volume ~2.75, while larger algae such as Aphanocapsa and Dinobryon increased. Discriminant analyses showed that volume and surface area were the most effective characters for determining the response of algae to grazers. Zooplankton community structure was important in determining the responses of algal assemblages to-grazing.
A review of freshwater gastropod conservation: challenges and opportunities

AbstractNorth American freshwater gastropods remain an understudied, yet critically imperiled, fauna. As part of a larger discussion on freshwater mollusks in this special issue, we review 4 specific areas of concern regarding freshwater gastropods and discuss how best to address those concerns in the context of conservation. Areas of concern include freshwater gastropod conservation strategies, taxonomy and systematics, ecological research, and conservation challenges. We illustrate how each of these topics relates to conservation efforts and discuss opportunities to improve our baseline knowledge of freshwater gastropod taxonomy, ecology, and conservation. We emphasize throughout that effective conservation strategies require the participation of as many affected and interested groups, from local communities to governmental agencies, as possible for successful implementation and management. We offer suggestions for the direction of cooperative conservation with regard to freshwater gastropods.
An approximation technique for suboptimal control

This paper presents a new technique for generating an approximation to the minimum performance functional V for optimization of dynamic systems. Convergence of the technique is shown and the results from two example systems are given. The resultant approximation V is shown to be useful over a significant region in state space for 1) generating a near optimal control law, 2) determining regions of stability, and 3) defining useful bounds associated with the system performance.
A Protein Methylation Pathway in Chlamydomonas Flagella Is Active during Flagellar Resorption

During intraflagellar transport (IFT), the regulation of motor proteins, the loading and unloading of cargo and the turnover of flagellar proteins all occur at the flagellar tip. To begin an analysis of the protein composition of the flagellar tip, we used difference gel electrophoresis to compare long versus short (i.e., regenerating) flagella. The concentration of tip proteins should be higher relative to that of tubulin (which is constant per unit length of the flagellum) in short compared with long flagella. One protein we have identified is the cobalamin-independent form of methionine synthase (MetE). Antibodies to MetE label flagella in a punctate pattern reminiscent of IFT particle staining, and immunoblot analysis reveals that the amount of MetE in flagella is low in full-length flagella, increased in regenerating flagella, and highest in resorbing flagella. Four methylated proteins have been identified in resorbing flagella, using antibodies specific for asymmetrically dimethylated arginine residues. These proteins are found almost exclusively in the axonemal fraction, and the methylated forms of these proteins are essentially absent in full-length and regenerating flagella. Because most cells resorb cilia/flagella before cell division, these data indicate a link between flagellar protein methylation and progression through the cell cycle.
Automated Detection and Location of Leaks in Water Mains Using Infrared Photography

Leakage of water distribution networks is the most common reason of undesirable losses of potable water. Problems associated with water main leaks pose growing concern around the globe. These problems include water and energy loss, in addition to the risk it poses to structural damage of adjacent properties. In current practice, not all water leaks can be detected in a timely and cost effective manner. This paper presents a study conducted for detection of water leaks in underground pipelines, and identification of their respective locations using thermography infrared camera. The paper describes the field work and the experimental protocol which were carried out over 2 years in three different locations in greater Montreal (Canada) area in order to investigate factors that affect the applicability and limitations of using IR camera in water leak detection. These factors beyond those studied in previous work carried out by American Water Works Association and National Research Council. The paper presents ...
A Stochastic Model Relating the Number of Cells at X‐Inactivation to the Allelic Ratio in Normal Heterozygous Adult Females

Early in development, one X-chromosome in each cell of the female embryo is inactivated. Knowing the number of certain human tissue cells at the time of X-inactivation can improve our understanding of certain diseases such as cancer or genetic disorders as well as cellular development. However, the moment of X-inactivation in humans is difficult to observe directly. In this study, we developed a mathematical model using branching processes and asymptotic normal approximation that will more accurately determine a relationship between the number of cells at X-inactivation with the proportion of one allele found in normal heterozygous adult females. We then conducted computer simulations to show the adequacy of this model. Finally, this model was used to more accurately estimate the number of hemopoietic stem cells at X-inactivation using a real life data set.
Growth versus the Quality of Life

In its time the treadmill pattern of growth was progress enough and served us well. But as the relationships change between human numbers and the total environment we must abandon unregulated growth before it strangles us. The essential tasks ahead are to stabilize human population levels and to learn to recycle as much of our material abundance as possible. Ideally the change to new ways would be by incremental evolutionary and perhaps experimental steps although some writers believe an incremental approach may not work. But if steps of some kind are not started soon they may well be outrun the pace of events. Unless we can slow the treadmill on which we have been running faster and faster we may stumble--and find ourselves flung irretrievably into disaster. (excerpt)
DETERMINATION OF TRACE ELEMENTS IN TEA AND COFFEE BY NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS.

Abstract Thermal neutron activation analysis, a high-resolution Ge(Li) gamma-ray spectrometer, and an IBM 360/67 digital computer were used to determine the concentration of Na, K, Sc, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Se, Br, Rb, Sb, Cs, and Hg in ground coffee and tea. This nondestructive multielement technique requires neither pre- nor postirradiation chemistry and eliminates problems of reagent contamination. The method is simple, precise and sensitive to 15 elements. Interferences from fast neutron (n, p) and (n, α) reactions are small and, if necessary, corrections may be applied easily. This technique can be applied to percolated tea and coffee.
Parental Voices: “Adjustment Reactions to Children’s Adult Life”

In this chapter, the findings of interviews conducted with 30 parents of emerging and young adults are presented. Included is a discussion of their experiences and the meaning they attribute to their parental role. Identified themes include: (a) high expectations, paucity of opportunities; (b) negotiation of finances; (c) standing by, letting it be, and letting go; (d) finding balance, the “delicate dance”; (e) acceptance of the other, co-creating a “new” relationship; (f) having faith; and (g) solicited advice. Both the interview results and examined literature suggest that close family ties and frequent communication across generations may be the protective quality against the fluctuating social demands and contextual realities. Coming to terms with differences across generational expectations, understanding current contexts of personal and professional development, and accepting the views and struggles of the other, is identified as key to fostering and maintaining healthy relationships between Boomer parents and their Millennial adult children.
Surface Modification with Chemically Modified Synovial Fluid for Flexor Tendon Reconstruction in a Canine Model in Vivo.

Background: Functional restoration is the major concern after flexor tendon reconstruction in the hand. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of modifying the surface of extrasynovial tendon autografts with carbodiimide-derivatized synovial fluid with gelatin (cd-SF-G) on functional outcomes of flexor tendon reconstruction using a canine model. Methods: The second and fifth flexor digitorum profundus tendons from eleven dogs were transected and repaired in zone II. The dogs then had six weeks of free activity leading to tendon rupture and scar formation (the repair-failure phase). In the reconstruction phase, two autologous peroneus longus tendons from each dog were harvested; one tendon was coated with cd-SF-G and the other, with saline solution, as a control. A non-weight-bearing rehabilitation protocol was followed for six weeks after reconstruction. The digits were then harvested and evaluations of function, adhesion status, gliding resistance, attachment strength, cell viability, and histology were performed. Results: The tendons coated with cd-SF-G demonstrated significantly lower values (mean and standard deviation) compared with the saline-solution group for work of flexion (0.63 ± 0.24 versus 1.34 ± 0.42 N-mm/deg), adhesion score (3.5 ± 1.6 versus 6.1 ± 1.3), proximal adhesion breaking force (8.6 ± 3.2 versus 20.2 ± 10.2 N), and gliding resistance (0.26 ± 0.08 versus 0.46 ± 0.22 N) (p 0.05) in distal attachment-site strength (56.9 ± 28.4 versus 77.2 ± 36.2 N), stiffness (19 ± 7.5 versus 24.5 ± 14.5 N/mm), and compressive modulus from indentation testing (4.37 ± 1.26 versus 3.98 ± 1.24 N/mm). Histological analysis showed that tendons coated with cd-SF-G had smoother surfaces and demonstrated tendon-to-bone and tendon-to-tendon incorporation. No significant difference in viable cell count between the two groups was observed on tendon culture. Conclusions: Modification of the flexor tendon surface with cd-SF-G significantly improved digital function and reduced adhesion formation without affecting graft healing and stiffness. Clinical Relevance: This study used native synovial fluid as a basic lubricating reagent to treat a tendon graft in vivo, a novel avenue for improving clinical outcomes of flexor tendon reconstruction. This methodology may also apply to other surgical procedures where postoperative adhesions impair function.
Four new species of Philodendron (Araceae) from South America

Abstract Croat, T. & Yu, G.: Four new species of Philodendron (Araceae) from South America. — Willdenowia 36: 885–894. — ISSN 0511-9618; © 2006 BGBM Berlin-Dahlem. doi:10.3372/wi.36.36220 (available via http://dx.doi.org/) Four species of Philodendron sect. Macrobelium, namely P. huaynacapacense from Peru and Bolivia, P. rimachii from Peru, P. ushanum from French Guiana and P. wadedavisii from NW Brazil and SE Colombia, are described as species new to science and illustrated.
When Munchausen Becomes Malingering: Factitious Disorders That Penetrate the Legal System

Psychiatrists and other physicians are usually familiar with factitious disorders, but attorneys and judges usually are not. Cases involving factitious disorders may enter the civil legal system in a number of ways and cause incorrect judgements, financial costs, and inappropriate medical care if these disorders are not identified. Psychiatric consultants may play a key role in identifying these cases and educating legal personnel about factitious disorders. This article describes three cases in which persons with factitious disorders entered the civil litigation system. The role of the psychiatrist in these cases is discussed. Clues to the identification of factitious disorders are described. The article also discusses the differentiation of factitious disorders from malingering and other forms of abnormal illness behavior, such as conversion, hypochondriasis, and somatization disorders. The concepts of primary and secondary gain in relationship to illness behaviors are elaborated.
Who Seeks Abortions at or After 20 Weeks

Context Recent years have seen the introduction of state bills seeking to ban abortions after 20 weeks, but little empirical data exist on who is affected when such bans become law. Methods As part of a larger study, 272 women who received an abortion at or after 20 weeks’ gestation and 169 who received first-trimester abortions at 16 facilities across the country in 2008–2010 were interviewed one week after the procedure. Mixed effect logistic regression analyses were used to determine the characteristics associated with later abortion (i.e., at 20 weeks or later). Causes of delay in obtaining abortion were assessed in open- and closed-ended questions; profiles of women who received later abortions were identified through factor analysis. Results Women aged 20–24 were more likely than those aged 25–34 to have a later abortion (odds ratio, 2.7), and women who discovered their pregnancy before eight weeks’ gestation were less likely than others to do so (0.1). Later abortion recipients experienced logistical delays (e.g., difficulty finding a provider and raising funds for the procedure and travel costs), which compounded other delays in receiving care. Most women seeking later abortion fit at least one of five profiles: They were raising children alone, were depressed or using illicit substances, were in conflict with a male partner or experiencing domestic violence, had trouble deciding and then had access problems, or were young and nulliparous. Conclusion Bans on abortion after 20 weeks will disproportionately affect young women and women with limited financial resources.
Conservation, Rearrangement, and Deletion of Gene Pairs During the Evolution of Four Grass Genomes

Gene order and content differ among homologous regions of closely related genomes. Similarities in the expression profiles of physically adjacent genes suggest that the proper functioning of these genes depends on maintaining a specific position relative to each other. To better understand the results of the interaction of these two genomic forces, convergent, divergent, and tandem gene pairs in rice and sorghum, as well as their homologs in rice, sorghum, maize, and Brachypodium were analyzed. The status of each pair in all four species: whether it was conserved, inverted, rearranged, or missing homologs was determined. We observed that divergent gene pairs had lower rates of conservation than convergent or tandem pairs, but higher rates of rearranged pairs and missing homologs in maize than in any other species. We also discovered species-specific gene pairs in rice and sorghum. In rice, gene pairs with strongly correlated expression levels were conserved significantly more often than those with little or no correlation. We assigned three types of gene pair to one of 14 possible evolutionary history categories to uncover their evolutionary dynamics during the evolution of grass genomes.
Abstract 1311: Expression and activity of nuclear factor TOX3 in breast cancer

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Our laboratory has shown that thymocyte selection-associated HMG-box protein (TOX) is a member of a small subfamily of DNA binding factors, and a key regulator of multiple aspects of immune system development. Recently, genome wide association studies have mapped a breast cancer susceptibility locus to the gene encoding the TOX-family member TOX3. However, little is known concerning the pattern of expression or biological functions of TOX3 in breast cancer and normal mammary epithelial cells. We find that TOX3 is specifically expressed in estrogen receptor (ER+) mammary luminal epithelial cells. Interestingly, using a TOX3 monoclonal antibody developed by our laboratory, we identify a subset of breast tumors that highly express TOX3. Moreover, using the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line, we find that TOX3 regulates a subset of ER target genes in an estrogen independent but ER dependent manner, potentially revealing a novel mechanism of ER target gene activation. In addition, TOX3 enhances cell migration. Together, these studies lend support to the idea of altered TOX3 expression influencing breast cancer development and/or progression. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1311. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-1311
Decadal Declines of Mercury in Adult Bluefish (1972-2011) from the Mid-Atlantic Coast of the U.S.A.

Concentrations of total mercury were measured in muscle of adult bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) collected in 2011 off North Carolina and compared with similar measurements made in 1972. Concentrations of mercury decreased by 43% in the fish between the two time periods, with an average rate of decline of about 10% per decade. This reduction is similar to estimated reductions of mercury observed in atmospheric deposition, riverine input, seawater, freshwater lakes, and freshwater fish across northern North America. Eight other studies between 1973 and 2007 confirm the decrease in mercury levels in bluefish captured in the Mid-Atlantic Bight. These findings imply that (1) reductions in the release of mercury across northern North America were reflected rather quickly (decades) in the decline of mercury in adult bluefish; (2) marine predatory fish may have been contaminated by anthropogenic sources of mercury for over 100 years; and (3) if bluefish are surrogates for other predators in the Mid-Atlantic Bight...
Granulocyte bactericidal capacity and chemotaxis as affected by continuous-flow centrifugation and filtration leukapheresis, steroid administration, and storage.

While granulocyte transfusions have been shown to be effective in the treatment of patients with infections, the effects of the leukapheresis collection procedure on certain granulocyte functions remain in question. We studied the bactericidal function of granulocytes collected by continuous-flow centrifugation (CFC) and filtration leukapheresis (FL) with 5. aureus, E. coli, and S. typhimurium. Killing of all organisms was normal with CFC and FL cells if the medium in which the cells were suspended was buffered. Low pH suspension medium had an adverse effect on bactericidal function. Chemotaxis of FL cells was slightly but not significantly reduced. Adrenocorticosteroids are frequently administered to white blood cell donors in order to increase the yield of collected cells. Granulocytes collected by routine venipuncture from subjects who had taken a single dose of prednisone or dexamethasone had normal bactericidal function. Prednisone administration appeared to increase migration of granulocytes in vitro. Evaluation of function of FL granulocytes stored at 4°C showed significant decrease in bactericidal function at 72-96 hr with a more rapid and significant decrease in chemotactic function at 24 hr. These studies provide guidelines for methods of collection and storage of granulocytes that will preserve optimal cell function.
The NASA Volcano Sensor Web, advanced autonomy and the remote sensing of volcanic eruptions: a review

Abstract The Volcano Sensor Web (VSW) is a globe-spanning net of sensors and applications for detecting volcanic activity. Alerts from the VSW are used to trigger observations from space using the Earth Observing-1 ( EO-1 ) spacecraft. Onboard EO-1 is the Autonomous Sciencecraft Experiment (ASE) advanced autonomy software. Using ASE has streamlined spacecraft operations and has enabled the rapid delivery of high-level products to end-users. The entire process, from initial alert to product delivery, is autonomous. This facility is of great value as a rapid response is vital during a volcanic crisis. ASE consists of three parts: (1) Science Data Classifiers, which process EO-1 Hyperion data to identify anomalous thermal signals; (2) a Spacecraft Command Language; and (3) the Continuous Activity Scheduling Planning Execution and Replanning (CASPER) software that plans and replans activities, including downlinks, based on available resources and operational constraints. For each eruption detected, thermal emission maps and estimates of eruption parameters are posted to a website at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, in Pasadena, CA. Selected products are emailed to end-users. The VSW uses software agents to detect volcanic activity alerts generated from a wide variety of sources on the ground and in space, and can also be easily triggered manually.
Coital activity and premature delivery.

The coital activities of 111 patients who delivered after spontaneous premature labor were compared to a matched group of patients who subsequently delivered at term. The percentage of patients who were sexually active, the mean coital frequency, and the incidence of orgasm with coital activity were not significantly different between the two groups. Coital activity in the group delivering prematurely was significantly greater (p
The motion of airborne particles

The physical processes governing the motion of airborne particles are highly relevant to workplace aerosols. Therefore, a working appreciation of the mechanisms underlying the transport and deposition of particles in ventilation ducts, deposition onto workplace surfaces, inhalation into and deposition inside the human respiratory tract, and sampling and filtration, is clearly important to the industrial hygienist. This chapter reviews the important elements of the mechanics of individual particle motion. It begins with the interaction by a moving particle and its surroundings, leading to the concept of a drag force. This force represents the resistance to particle motion, which in turn is driven by external and inertial forces. It is the competition between these two types of force that governs the outcome of the motion in terms of transport and deposition. These concepts are developed in the chapter.
Increased Total Anesthetic Time Leads to Higher Rates of Surgical Site Infections in Spinal Fusions.

STUDY DESIGN A retrospective review of a consecutive series of spinal fusions comparing patient and procedural characteristics of patients who developed surgical site infections (SSIs) after spinal fusion. OBJECTIVE It is known that increased surgical time (incision to closure) is associated with a higher rate of postoperative SSIs. We sought to determine whether increased total anesthetic time (intubation to extubation) is a factor in the development of SSIs as well. SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND DATA In spine surgery for deformity and degenerative disease, SSI has been associated with operative time, revealing a nearly 10-fold increase in SSI rates in prolonged surgery. Surgical time is associated with infections in other surgical disciplines as well. No studies have reported whether total anesthetic time (intubation to extubation) has an association with SSIs. METHODS Surgical records were searched in a retrospective fashion to identify all spine fusion procedures performed between January 2010 and July 2012. All SSIs during that timeframe were recorded and compared with the list of cases performed between 2010 and 2012 in a case-control design. RESULTS There were 20 (1.7%) SSIs in this fusion cohort. On univariate analyses of operative factors, there was a significant association between total anesthetic time (Infection 7.6 ± 0.5 hrs vs. no infection -6.0 ± 0.1 hrs, P < 0.001) and increasing operative time (infection 5.5 ± 0.4 hrs vs. no infection - 4.4 ± 0.06 hrs, P < 0.01) with infections, whereas level of pathology and emergent surgery were not significant. On multivariate logistic analysis, BMI and total anesthetic time remained independent predictors of SSI whereas ASA status and operative time did not. CONCLUSION Increasing BMI and total anesthetic time were independent predictors of SSIs in this cohort of over 1000 consecutive spinal fusions. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 3.
Analysis of FH/MFSK Systems in Non-Uniform Rayleigh Fading Channels

This paper examines several FH/MFSK systems in a noise jammed channel consisting of many sub-bands. In each sub-band there is independent Rayleigh fading and distinct noise and propagation parameters. General expressions for bit error bounds and cutoff rates are presented and plotted for the special case of worst jammer noise distribution and identical sub-bands.
EliIE: An open-source information extraction system for clinical trial eligibility criteria.

Objective To develop an open-source information extraction system called Eligibility Criteria Information Extraction (EliIE) for parsing and formalizing free-text clinical research eligibility criteria (EC) following Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model (OMOP CDM) version 5.0. Materials and methods EliIE parses EC in 4 steps: (1) clinical entity and attribute recognition, (2) negation detection, (3) relation extraction, and (4) concept normalization and output structuring. Informaticians and domain experts were recruited to design an annotation guideline and generate a training corpus of annotated EC for 230 Alzheimer's clinical trials, which were represented as queries against the OMOP CDM and included 8008 entities, 3550 attributes, and 3529 relations. A sequence labeling-based method was developed for automatic entity and attribute recognition. Negation detection was supported by NegEx and a set of predefined rules. Relation extraction was achieved by a support vector machine classifier. We further performed terminology-based concept normalization and output structuring. Results In task-specific evaluations, the best F1 score for entity recognition was 0.79, and for relation extraction was 0.89. The accuracy of negation detection was 0.94. The overall accuracy for query formalization was 0.71 in an end-to-end evaluation. Conclusions This study presents EliIE, an OMOP CDM-based information extraction system for automatic structuring and formalization of free-text EC. According to our evaluation, machine learning-based EliIE outperforms existing systems and shows promise to improve.
"Good Will to all men... from the King on the throne to the begger on the dunghill": William Penn, the Roman Catholics, and Religious Toleration

a o speak the whole truth concerning Penn is a task which requires some courage," the great English historian Thomas Babington Macaulay wrote, "for he is rather a mythical than a historical person." 1 Macaulay had no idea how difficult subsequent historians would find the task of discerning "the whole truth." Many have praised Penns liberal thought and actions concerning religious toleration so highly that the results verge on hagiography.2 Others have studied Penn the propri etor, writing countless books and articles on his "Holy Experiment" in Pennsylva nia.3 Considering this multitude of Penn studies it would appear that historians have answered all of the important questions about the Great Quaker. Neverthe less, few of these publications analyze both his religious and political thought within a transatlantic historical context. Therefore, at least one major question remains a mystery. Until the accession of James II, Penn spent his entire religious and political career striving for religious toleration which most emphatically excluded Roman Catholics. Like most English people, Penn loathed the rituals of Catholicism and suspected that the Pope was plotting to restore Roman Catholicism as die estab lished church of England.4 During the seventeenth century, Parliament sought to protect the nation from Popery and to fortify the Church of England by enacting the Test and Corporation Acts. This legislation compelled conformity to the estab lished Anglican Church by demanding oaths, enforcing penal laws, and excluding dissenters from political participation. Yet while these laws focused primarily on Papists, they also afflicted the various non-conforming Protestant sects that had erupted both during the Civil War and under the Protectorate. The Corporation Act of 1661 hit the Quakers especially hard for their refusal to swear oaths. High Church Anglicans had long suspected that Quakers were actually recusant Catho
Physician Impairment and Safety to Practice Medicine

Physicians have a responsibility to treat their patients in a safe manner. When unable to do so based on a health condition, physicians may become “impaired.” As a fluid concept, the term impairment warrants better guidelines that support the medical community in identifying who is impaired and what steps should be taken to identify, report, and address impairment. Uniform regulations should be put in place in the United States to protect and support physicians. In addition, a regulated reporting system has the potential to safeguard both physicians and their patients. An evaluation system independent from—yet recognized by—medical boards, physician health organizations, credentialing agencies, and insurance companies could offer guidance in the process of identifying, evaluating, and treating impaired physicians.
The Zone of Proximal Development and the Twin Poles of Teaching and Assessing in Vygotsky’s Developmental Education

During the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, the continued exploration of the natural world centered in large part around the goal of reaching the North and South Poles.
Measuring and Improving the Viewing Experience of First-person Videos

First-person videos (FPVs) captured directly from wearable cameras are usually too shaky for humans to watch comfortably. Existing video stabilization methods can solve the problem but remove important First-person motion information (FPMI) from the FPVs. FPMI contains both subjective and objective information: First-person feeling (FPF) and First-person motion range (FPMR), respectively. In this paper, we propose measurement of both the stability and FPMI of FPVs. To improve the viewing experience of FPVs, which includes both video stability and FPMI, we develop a video processing system based on these measurements. Objective experiments show that the measurement we propose is robust under time shift, angular estimation drifting and white noise. Our subjective tests show that (1) our measurement can correctly compare the stability and FPMI of a FPV across different versions of the same content, and (2) our video processing system can effectively improve the viewing experience of FPVs.
Divine Punishment or Disease? Medieval and Early Modern Approaches to the 1518 Strasbourg Dancing Plague

Using writings from observers of the 1518 Strasbourg dancing plague, this article explores the various understandings of dancing mania, disease, and divine judgment applied to the dancing plague's ...
Reinterpreting the gender gap in household pro-environmental behaviour

ABSTRACTResearch has identified a gender gap in household-level environmental protection, with women engaging more frequently than men. However, this gender gap is rarely seen as problematic; envir...
That Most Dangerous, Sacred American Space, the Bathroom

Spoiler alert: In Hitchcock's masterpiece Psycho, Janet Leigh was not savagely murdered in the living room, but we'll get to that.Culture wars can erupt anywhere, including in the bathroom. These s...