cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Whistling Dixie About the IRS Whistleblower Program Thanks to the IRC Confidentiality Restrictions

The Internal Revenue Service has been authorized for many years to pay awards to individuals who blow the whistle on those who do not pay their taxes. But the whistleblower program was underused and ineffective. In 2006, Congress modified the whistleblower program to boost the IRS’s authority to pay cash awards to tax whistleblowers. The premise of the article is that Congress did not go far enough in 2006 in light of the confidentiality restrictions in Internal Revenue Code Section 6103. As currently written, Section 6103 essentially prohibits the IRS from disclosing to the whistleblower tax information of the purportedly non-compliant taxpayer upon whom the whistle was blown, which creates at least three problems that the article addresses. The article examines the tension between the confidentiality provisions in Section 6103 and the IRS’s whistleblower program and attempts to balance the competing interests of taxpayer privacy and tax administration.
Involvement of superoxide in pathogenic action of mutations that cause Alzheimer's disease.

Publisher Summary The chapter presents methods that lead to the establishment of the involvement of superoxide, and reactive oxygen species derived therefrom, in the pathogenesis of neuronal degeneration in Alzheimer's disease. The chapter includes the methods that describe the application of findings in the area of the molecular genetics of inherited forms of Alzheimer's disease in humans to the development of cell culture and mouse models that allow direct observation and manipulation of living neurons. Similar approaches may be applicable to many different neurodegenerative disorders, as well as inherited diseases that primarily affect other organ systems. The identification of genetic mutations that cause rare inherited forms of Alzheimer's disease are presented in the chapter. They can lead to the development of cell culture and animal models that can be used to establish the molecular and cellular alterations, which lead to the disease in humans. These same approaches and specific methods can be, and in several cases have been, applied to other diseases. The development of cell culture and animal models to elucidate roles for superoxide and/or other reactive oxygen species in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease, and Parkinson's disease are also discussed.
Resection of large hepatocellular carcinoma (≥10 cm): a unique western perspective.

Background and Objectives Few Western centers have surgically treated a high volume of large hepatocellular carcinoma 10 cm or more in diameter. The study aim was to analyze a large Western cohort of these patients, and to present our outcomes in the context of the more extensive Eastern experience. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all patients at our center receiving partial hepatectomy from January 1992 to August 2010, and analyzed a cohort with hepatocellular carcinoma ≥10 cm in diameter. Results One hundred thirty patients comprised the cohort. One hundred three (79.2%) of the patients received major anatomic resections, and 23 (17.7%) patients underwent tumor thrombectomy as an adjunct procedure. Perioperative mortality was observed in 9 (6.9%) of cases, but from January 2002 onward, only 2 (2.3%) of the 86 resections performed resulted in a mortality. The survival rate at 1, 3, and 5 years was 56.9%, 30.3%, and 18.8%, respectively; the median survival was 17.0 months. The subgroup of 39 patients without gross vascular invasion and satellite nodules achieved a median survival of 40.3 months. Conclusions Resection of large hepatocellular carcinoma can be done with safety at a large Western center, and a subgroup of patients will achieve long-term survival. J. Surg. Oncol. 2013;107:111–117. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
New SME Financial Access Initiatives: Private Foundations’ Path to Donor Partnerships

In recent years, a number of private foundations and organizations have launched ambitious initiatives to support promising entrepreneurs in developing countries, on both a for-profit and not-for-profit basis. Many of these programs have focused exclusively on building business capacity. While these tailored programs play an important role in supporting small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) development, their overall effectiveness remains hamstrung in part by continuing constraints on entrepreneurs’ access to expansion and operating capital. Simultaneously, the U.S. government, other bilateral donors, and international financial institutions (IFIs) have launched a series of initiatives that provide both financial and technical assistance to SMEs in developing countries. Surprisingly, collaboration or formalized partnerships between private foundations and donor agencies has been somewhat limited - particularly on a strategic or globalized basis.This paper is targeted for these private foundations, especially those focused on women entrepreneurship. First, it provides a brief literature review of the rationale for and against SME initiatives. Second, it presents an overview of existing targeted USG and IFI programs. Lastly, it offers several new, incremental options for private foundations to establish focused partnerships with donor agencies in support of their ongoing organizational goals.
Uncertainty in estimates of the number of extraterrestrial civilizations

Estimation of the number N of communicative civilizations by means of Drake’s formula involves the combination of several quantities, each of which is to some extent uncertain. The uncertainty in any quantity may be represented by a probability distribution function, even if that quantity is itself a probability. The uncertainty of current estimates of N is derived principally from uncertainty in estimates of the lifetime of advanced civilizations. It is argued that this is due primarily to uncertainty concerning the existence of a “Galactic Federation” which is in turn contingent upon uncertainty about whether the limitations of present-day physics are absolute or (in the event that there exists a yet-undiscovered “hyperphysics”) transient. It is further argued that it is advantageous to consider explicitly these underlying assumptions in order to compare the probable numbers of civilizations operating radio beacons, permitting radio leakage, dispatching probes for radio surveillance or dispatching vehicles for manned surveillance. The Master said, Yu, shall I tell you what knowledge is? When you know a thing, to know that you know it, and when you do not know a thing, to recognize that you do not know it. This is knowledge. Analects of Confucius (Waley’s translation).
Modeling interventions to improve access to public health information.

In a Robert Wood Johnson funded project, we are establishing a model-based means for automatically analyzing and representing grey literature that reports on public health (PH) interventions We summarize the development of an intervention mo del for public health documents and provide a project update on the implementation of natural language technology to improve access to difficult to find public health information.
Testicular microlithiasis: prevalence and association with primary testicular neoplasm.

Purpose To assess the prevalence of testicular microlithiasis and its association with primary testicular neoplasm. Methods Evaluated were 6,002 patients undergoing scrotal ultrasound at our institution. Data recorded included age, ultrasound date, presence of microlithiasis, presence of testicular mass on ultrasound, and pathologic diagnosis for those who had subsequent orchiectomy. Results Four hundred fifty-six of 6,002 patients (7.6%) demonstrated testicular microlithiasis. The prevalence increased from 4.6% for those examined before 2001 to 9.02% for those examined since 2001 (p < 0.001). The prevalence of primary testicular neoplasm in patients without microlithiasis was 1.5% (84/5,546), whereas in those with microlithiasis it was 12% (53/456) (p < 0.001). The prevalence of pure seminoma was 39% (33/84) in the nonmicrolithiasis group with tumor versus 64% (34/53) in the microlithiasis group with tumor (p < 0.001). Germ cell tumors made up 98% of neoplasms in patients with microlithiasis, but only 85% in patients without microlithiasis (p = 0.009). Conclusions Advances in ultrasound technology have led to an increased detection of testicular microlithiasis. We observed an eight-fold increased prevalence of primary testicular neoplasm in patients with microlithiasis than in those without as well as an increased prevalence of germ cell tumors, particularly pure seminoma. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 42:423–426, 2014
Mindfulness in Organizations: A Cross-Level Review

In recent years, research on mindfulness has grown rapidly in organizational psychology and organizational behavior. Specifically, two bodies of research have emerged: One focuses on the intrapsychic processes of individual mindfulness and the other on the social processes of collective mindfulness. In this review we provide a pioneering, cross-level review of mindfulness in organizations and find that mindfulness is neither mysterious nor mystical, but rather can be reliably and validly measured, linked to an array of individual and organizational outcomes, and induced through meditative and nonmeditative practices and processes at the individual and collective levels. Our analysis of the combined literatures further reveals that although each literature is impressive, there is a significant need for multilevel mindfulness research that simultaneously examines individual and collective mindfulness and broadens its conception of context. This research agenda provides a more robust understanding of the ant...
Analytical model of skew effect in digital press characterization

In this paper we propose an analytical model of the skew effect in digital press characterization. Digital press characterization gives critical information based on which one can predict how a certain layout, images, and text will be rendered by the press on a particular substrate. Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) analysis characterizes the digital press of interest using MTF test patches designed with different spatial frequencies, tone levels, angles, and colors. These patches are printed and then scanned. However, at high spatial frequencies, a small mis-registration in the scanned image can produce large distortion. Skew is a common image misregistration introduced in image analysis processes due to the imperfect alignment between the scan target media and the scanning device. The conventional method of de-skewing by rotating the scanned image is not desirable because of the large amount of data in high resolution scans. We present a strategy for rejecting skewed images based on the skew angle and the error tolerance so that they can be rescanned and also a simple procedure to correct the skew effect based on our analytical model. With our scheme, special marks are designed and printed along with the MTF test target page to aid the calculation of the skew angle. A threshold for the acceptable maximum skew angle is calculated using the properties of the MTF test target page pattern and the error tolerance. An image with skew angle larger than the threshold will be rejected. A look-up table can be generated to compensate for the skew effect on the MTF measurement.
Transient periodicity in chaos

Chaotic time series can exhibit rare bursts of “periodic” motion. We discuss one mechanism for this phenomenon of “transient periodicity”: the trajectory gets temporarily stuck in the neighborhood of a semiperiodic “semi-attractor” (or “chaotic saddle”). This can provide insight for interpreting such phenomena in empirical time series; it also allows for a novel partition of the phase space, in which the attractor may be viewed as the union of many such chaotic saddles.
The evolution of vertebral pneumaticity in sauropod dinosaurs

ABSTRACT The vertebrae of sauropod dinosaurs are characterized by complex architecture involving laminae, fossae, and internal chambers of various shapes and sizes. These structures are interpreted as osteological correlates of an intricate system of air sacs and pneumatic diverticula similar to that of birds. In basal sauropods pneumatic features are limited to fossae. Camerae and camellae are internalized pneumatic chambers independently acquired in neosauropods and some Chinese forms. The polycamerate and camellate vertebrae of higher neosauropods are characterized by internal pneumatic chambers of considerable complexity. The independent acquisition of these derived morphologies in Mamenchisaurus, derived diplodocids, and most titanosauriforms is correlated with increasing size and neck length. The presacrai vertebrae of basal sauropods were probably pneumatized by diverticula of cervical air sacs similar to those of birds. Although pneumatic characters in sauropods are most extensive and complex in p...
BEHAVIORAL ASPECTS OF SLEEP IN PACIFIC WHITE‐SIDED DOLPHINS (LAGENORHYNCHUS OBLIQUIDENS, GILL 1865)

Dolphin sleep is unlike typical mammalian sleep in that slow wave sleep occurs in one hemisphere at a time and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is apparently reduced or absent (Mukhametov 1987). Lilly (1964) observed that bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) sleep with one eye open and one eye closed and suggested that the open eye monitored the immediate area for predators. Mukhametov (1987) and Supin et al. (1978) found no physiological correlation between the active brain hemisphere and the open eye, and suggested that no sentinel function exists. I describe the behavioral and social aspects of sleep in a captive school of four Pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) at Long Marine Lab at the University of California at Santa Cruz for 32 nights. As the animals swam in formation, I recorded their positions and eye condition. Dolphins did not close their eyes or switch positions in the school randomly. While in formation, dolphins switched positions in bouts while concurrently changing eye condition. This resulted in a sleeping formation in which the dolphins likely had the eye open towards schoolmates, not toward the external environment. I suggest that this allows sleep to proceed while allowing dolphins to maintain visual contact with group members.
Care and feeding of a staff for filmless radiology.

Texas Children’s Hospital, a definitive care pediatric hospital located in the Texas Medical Center, has been constructing a large-scale picture archival and communications system (PACS) including ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR), and computed radiography (CR). Developing staffing adequate to meet the demands of filmless radiology operations has been a continuous challenge. Overall guidance for the PACS effort is provided by a hospital-level PACS Committee, a department-level PACS Steering Committee, and an Operations Committee. Operational Subcommittees have been formed to address service-specific implementations, such as the Emergency Center Operations Subcommittee. These committees include membership by those affected by the change, as well as those effecting the change. Initially, personnel resources for PACS were provided through additional duties of existing imaging service personnel. As the PACS effort became more complex, full-time positions were created, including a PACS Coordinator, a PACS Analyst, and a Digital Imaging Assistant. Each position requires a job description, qualifications, and personnel development plans that are difficult to anticipate in an evolving PACS implementation. These positions have been augmented by temporary full-time assignments, position reclassifications, and cross-training of other imaging personnel. Imaging personnel are assisted by other hospital personnel from Biomedical Engineering and Information Services. Ultimately, the PACS staff grows to include all those who must operate the PACS equipment in the normal course of their duties. The effectiveness of the PACS staff is limited by their level of their expertise. This report discusses our methods to obtain training from outside our institution and to develop, conduct, and document standardized in-house training. We describe some of the products of this work, including policies and procedures, clinical competency criteria, PACS inservice topics, and an informal PACS newsletter. As the PACS system software and hardware changes, and as our implementation grows, these products must to be revised and training must be repeated.
Control of Fruit Patterning in Arabidopsis by INDEHISCENT

The Arabidopsis seedpod opens through a spring-loaded mechanism known as pod shatter, which is essential for dispersal of the seeds. Here, we identify INDEHISCENT (IND), an atypical bHLH protein, that is necessary for fruit opening and is involved in patterning each of the three fruit cell types required for seed dispersal. Previous studies suggested that FRUITFULL (FUL), a member of the MADS-domain transcription factor family, is required for fruit growth since ful mutant fruit fail to undergo the dramatic enlargement that normally occurs after fertilization. Here we show, however, that FUL is not directly required for fruit elongation and instead is required to prevent ectopic activity of IND. Our molecular and genetic studies suggest a model for the regulatory interactions among the genes that control fruit development and the mechanism that results in the expression of IND in a narrow stripe of cells.
Crossed fused renal ectopy in children with myelodysplasia.

Abstract The medical records of 151 patients with myelodysplasia ranging in agefrom 3 months to 22 years were reviewed to determine the incidence of crossed fused renal ectopy. Five patients (3.3%) were identified. This figure is considerably higher than the reported incidence of 1:200 (0.5%) to 1:7500 (0.013%) in the general population.
VIDEO-ASSISTED THORACIC SURGERY FOR DISEASES WITHIN THE MEDIASTINUM

The development of advanced video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) instrumentation and refinement of endoscopic surgical techniques have allowed for increasing VATS applications to disease processes of the mediastinum for diagnostic evaluation and definitive surgical treatment. VATS techniques have yielded decreased patient pain and morbidity while increasing patient and referring physician acceptance. 27,33,44,70 Thoracic surgeons have recognized VATS techniques as effective approaches for the diagnosis and treatment of many common mediastinal diseases, including: Accepted mediastinal indications for VATS Biopsy of mediastinal lymph nodes Biopsy of mediastinal masses Resection of benign germ cell tumors Resection of ectopic parathyroid Resection of thymus for thymic cyst, myasthenia gravis, stage I thymoma Resection of bronchogenic or pericardial cysts Esophageal cystectomy Enucleation of esophageal leiomyomata Esophagomyotomy for achalasia Resection of posterior mediastinal (neurogenic) tumors Thoracic dorsal sympathectomy for palmar or axillary hyperhidrosis Thoracic splanchnicectomy for chronic intractable abdominal pain Relative mediastinal indications for VATS Antireflux operation for gastroesophageal reflux disease Pericardiectomy and drainage of pericardial effusion VATS facilitated anterior approach to the thoracic spine Drainage of suppurative or descending necrotizing mediastinitis Sympathectomy for conditions other than upper-extremity hyperhidrosis Adjunctive dissection of intrathoracic goiter Preoperative lymph node biopsy and staging for esophageal cancer Esophagectomy In this article, the role of VATS in the diagnosis and therapy of mediastinal diseases is reviewed, together with the indications and results of VATS procedures for the mediastinum.
Soliloquy for linguistic investigation

This study advocates the investigation of soliloquy as a new approach in pragmatics research. The primary function of language is arguably to communicate with others, but language is also used to think. Thoughts constantly emerge in confluent streams of images, concepts, and ideas within the mind; to grasp and manage them, we need language. An analysis of soliloquy can open a window to a better understanding of our mental activities. Based on experimentally obtained soliloquy data in Japanese, three issues are considered: gendered language, the sentence-final particles ne and yo, and the ko-so-a demonstratives. It is demonstrated that soliloquy can shed new light on these widely studied topics. The conclusions reached include that (a) Japanese gendered language is more gendered than recent studies in the field claim, (b) ne and yo are used to monitor and control the speaker’s internal information processing, and (c) the deixis-anaphra distinction is not clear-cut.
Polygenic expression of somatostatin in lamprey

Previous studies have led to the identification of three biosynthetically related molecular forms of somatostatin (somatostatin-14, -34 and -37) from the pancreas of the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus). We have now isolated from the brain of the same species a second form of somatostatin-14 that is identical to mammalian somatostatin-14 and differs from lamprey pancreatic somatostatin-14 by the substitution Ser12 to Thr. Larger forms of somatostatin were not identified in lamprey brain in this study. These data suggest that the two molecular forms of lamprey somatostatin-14 are the products of different genes that are expressed in a tissue-specific manner.
An earthquake doublet in Ometepec, Guerrero, Mexico

On June 7, 1982 an earthquake doublet occurred in a gap near Ometepec, Guerrero, Mexico which had been given a high seismic potential. The two earthquakes (first event: M_s = 6.9, m_b = 6.0, 16.3°N, 98.4°W, d = 25 km; second event M_s = 7.0, m_b = 6.3, 16.4°N, 98.5°W, d = 8 km) of the doublet occurred within five hours of each other. We determine the source parameters of these events by inverting surface-wave data at a period of 256 s. The results are for the first event, strike = 116°, dip = 77°, slip = 88° and seismic moment of 2.8 × 10^(26) dyne • cm, and for the second event strike = 116°, dip = 78°, slip = 89° and seismic moment of 2.8 × 10^(26) dyne • cm. Modeling of long-period P waves suggests that the first event has a depth of 20 km and is represented by a single trapezoidal source time function, with an effective duration of 6 s. The second event is best modeled by two sources at depths of 15 and 10 km. The combined effective source duration time for the two sources is about 10 s. The ratio of the seismic moment, obtained from body waves to that from surface waves, is ∼ 0.5 for the first event and 1 for the second. Adding the seismic moment of the two events and considering the first week aftershock area, 3200 km^2, the stress drop is ∼4 bars. These results suggest that the first event, that involved a deeper asperity, caused an incremental stress change large enough to trigger the second event. If the two events of the doublet broke distinct areas of the subduction zone, the coseismic slip is 0.58 m, and accounts for about 25% of the total plate motion between the Cocos Plate and the North America Plate, accumulated since the last large earthquake in the region. Other doublets similar to the Ometepec doublet have occurred along the Middle America Trench during the past 70 years. A regional distribution of comparable-size asperities may be responsible for this relatively frequent occurrence of doublets and for the simplicity of earthquakes in the region. The high convergence rate, which produces rapid strain accumulation and short recurrence intervals for large earthquakes, and the smooth sea-floor subducted along the middle America Trench, may contribute to the homogeneous distribution of comparable size asperities. We found a relation, log T ≈ 1/3 log M_0 (T is the average recurrence time and M_0 is the average seismic moment) for large earthquakes along the subduction zone in the Guerrero-Oaxaca region, where the convergence rate and the properties of the subducted plate are considered relatively uniform. A simple asperity model predicts this relation.
Upwind differencing and LU factorization for chemical non-equilibrium Navier-Stokes equations

By means of either the Roe or the Van Leer flux-splittings for inviscid terms, in conjunction with central differencing for viscous terms in the explicit operator and the Steger-Warming splitting and lower-upper approximate factorization for the implicit operator, the present, robust upwind method for solving the chemical nonequilibrium Navier-Stokes equations yields formulas for finite-volume discretization in general coordinates. Numerical tests in the illustrative cases of a hypersonic blunt body, a ramped duct, divergent nozzle flows, and shock wave/boundary layer interactions, establish the method's efficiency.
Rapid cryopreservation of five mammalian and one mosquito cell line at −80°C while attached to flasks in a serum free cryopreservative

Cell culturing, and the requisite storage of cell lines at ultra-low temperatures, is used in most laboratories studying or using eukaryotic proteomics, genomics, microarray, and RNA technologies. In this study we have observed that A72(dog), CRFK(cat), NB324K(human), MCF7(human), WI38(human), and C636(mosquito) cells were effectively cryopreserved at −80°C while attached to the substratum of 25cm2 tissue culture flasks. This was accomplished using a serum free crypreservative recently developed by Corsini and co-workers. The technique allows for significant savings of time and money in laboratories that rapidly process numerous cell lines.
The pathway from the mediodorsal nucleus of thalamus to the hypothalamus in the cat.

Abstract Experiments were performed in cats to determine the pathway from the thalamic mediodorsal nucleus to the hypothalamus. In the first stage, lesions were placed in the mediodorsal nucleus and degenerating fibers were traced to the posterior half of the midline thalamus but not to the hypothalamus. In the second stage, lesions were placed within the posterior half of the midline thalamus and fibers were traced to the anterior half of midline thalamus, but not to any part of the hypothalamus. In the third stage, lesions were placed in the anterior half of midline thalamus and terminal degeneration was observed in the anterior portion of the perifornical lateral hypothalamus after short survival times were employed. These findings suggest the existence of a fine-caliber fiber system from the anterior midline thalamus to the hypothalamus. The results indicate a multisynaptic circuit from the mediodorsal nucleus of the thalamus to the hypothalamus which can be summarized as follows: mediodorsal nucleus → posterior midline thalamus → anterior midline thalamus → anterior lateral hypothalamus.
Probing ribosome structure using short oligodeoxyribonucleotides: the question of resolution

The structure of ribosomal RNA in situ can be probed using short, complementary DNA oligomers. As these oligomers bind to exposed, single-stranded regions of rRNA, the stability of the hybridized complex can be assayed. Differences in binding stability between cDNA probes of similar length and composition may be indicative of the presence of competing structure, such as base-paired rRNA regions, tRNA interactions or protein interactions. In this study the degree to which such interactions can be distinguished is studied. It is found that by using suitable controls, interactions between rRNA and tRNA or rRNA can be discriminated to a resolution of one or two bases. This resolution promises to be important in delineating the higher-order structure of the rRNA.
Thermal expansion coefficients for laminates obtained from invariant lamina properties

Abstract The coefficients of thermal expansion for laminates made from unidirectional, fibre-reinforced lamina are presented in terms of thermal expansion invariants of the orthotropic lamina, and certain lamination integrals. The results are arranged in tabular form which facilitates the optimisation procedures necessary to achieve the desired coefficients of thermal expansion for given design criteria. Coordinate transformations for the linear coefficients of thermal expansion of individual lamina are presented in terms of multiple angle relationships from which invariants for the expansion coefficients are identified. It is shown however, that, unlike laminate stiffness properties, the linear coefficients of thermal expansion for a laminate having a general lay-up sequencing do not conform to such invariant relationships. An equivalent isotropic coefficient of thermal expansion parameter for composite material is developed; it is suggested that this can be viewed as an intrinsic material property which can be used as a design tool for comparing the overall thermal strain response of composites to that of other materials. Characteristic values for this equivalent expansion parameter for several fibre-reinforced composite materials are presented.
Habilitating a Smile

The treatment of muscle dysfunction in the muscles around the face is particularly challenging. In addition to being the most observable muscles in the body, the limited area with which to work, the high firing rate, and the increased risk of picking up crosstalk from muscles in close proximity all add to the challenge. This case report describes the treatment of a young child with seventh cranial nerve palsy of the face.
Acute hemodynamic effects and blood pool kinetics of polystyrene microspheres following intravenous administration.

The acute hemodynamic effect of intravenous administration of polystyrene microspheres was investigated and correlated with their distribution pattern and kinetics. Microspheres of three diameters (3.4, 7.4, and 11.6 μm) were administered. The 7.4 and 11.6-μm diameter microspheres were filtered by the pulmonary capillary network following intravenous administration, the majority during the first pass. There was no significant hemodynamic effect following administration of the 7.4-and 11.6-μm diameter microspheres in doses as high as 3.0 × 109 and 6.1 × 108, respectively (total cross-sectional area of 1.3 × 1011 and 6.4 × 1010 μm2, respectively). Intravenous administration of 3.4-μm diameter microspheres produced significant dose-dependent systemic hypotension and depression of myocardial performance at dosages as low as 1.0 × 1010 (cross-sectional area of 9.1 × 1010 μm2). These differences in acute hemodynamic effect from the 7.4- and 11.6-μm diameter microspheres may be due to the differences in distribution kinetics and fate of the 3.4-μm diameter microspheres, which readily pass through the lungs to the systemic circulation, with late disposition primarily in the liver and spleen. Although elimination of the smaller spheres from the blood during the first 6-8 min was rapid, i.e., t 1/2 = 1.62 and 1.72 min from the venous and arterial blood circulation, respectively, levels of 103 spheres/g of blood were present in the circulation for >1 hr. These findings must be considered in the planning of intravenous administration of microspheres as a drug delivery system to target organs.
BMI is a predictor of periodontal therapy outcomes.

Article Title and Bibliographic Information Body mass index as a predictive factor of periodontal therapy outcomes. Suvan J, Petrie A, Moles DR, Nibali L, Patel K, Darbar U, Donos N, Tonetti M, D'Aiuto F. J Dent Res 2014;93(1):49-54. Reviewer Leena Palomo, DDS, MSD Purpose/Question Is overweight/obesity a predictor of clinical response following nonsurgical periodontal therapy in patients with severe periodontitis? Source of Funding Johnson & Johnson Consumer Services EAME Limited funded this project. The study center is partially funded by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR), the research arm of the Department of Health. The investigator has received a Clinical Senior Lectureship Award supported by the UK Clinical Research Collaboration Type of Study/Design This is a post-hoc, secondary analysis of data from 5 randomized clinical trials of nonsurgical periodontal therapy Level of Evidence Level 2: Limited-quality, patient-oriented evidence Strength of Recommendation Grade N/A, not applicable. Although the current study draws its sample from a database of other studies, it presents the outcome of a single evaluation
INFLUENCE OF THYROXIN ON THE GROWTH OF PLANTS.

The general action of thyroxin is probably as a catalyst in the process of combustion, increasing the rate of metabolism. Some work has been done on the effect of thyroxin upon the growth of plants. Abderhalden (1) found that alcoholic fermentation is usually accelerated by either synthetic thyroxin or that of natural origin. He noted, however, that at times the fermentation was retarded. These differences he believed due to the vari-
Branching ratios for the decay of n=3 hydrogen atoms in axial and transverse electric fields

The branching ratios for the n=3 to n=2 Balmer-\ensuremath{\alpha} decay of hydrogen atoms in axial and transverse electric fields in the range 0--1000 V/cm have been calculated with use of a density-matrix formalism to take into account the time evolution of the atomic states in the presence of an electric field. The branching ratios are useful when the production of 2s hydrogen atoms is measured with the use of an electric field and when it is desired to correct for cascade contributions from the n=3 level. The total n=3 to n=2 branching ratio is found to depend on each of the 14 independent quantities which determine the axially symmetric n=3 density matrix, thus emphasizing the need to determine the complete density matrix including the off-diagonal coherence terms. If the off-diagonal density-matrix elements are not known, it is preferable to use transverse electric fields since, in this configuration, the contributions to the branching ratios from the off-diagonal terms are less than with axial electric fields. For transverse fields of approximately 200 V/cm, the contribution from the off-diagonal terms are nearly zero.
Entitlement is about ‘others’, narcissism is not: Relations to sociotropic and autonomous interpersonal styles

Abstract Although narcissism and psychological entitlement are correlated, they may predict different patterns of interpersonal relationships. We hypothesized that narcissism is primarily about the self, while entitlement is about the self in relation to others. Therefore interpersonal relationships should play a minimal role in narcissism but should occupy a larger role in entitlement. To test this, we had 621 undergraduate students complete the Personal Style Inventory II which measures sociotropic (dependence) and autonomous (independence) interpersonal styles as well as the Psychological Entitlement Scale and the Narcissistic Personality Inventory. We analyzed the variance explained by entitlement and by narcissism for each interpersonal style and their subscales. Narcissism negatively predicted sociotropy and was unrelated to autonomy, indicating low levels of dependence without being overly-independent. Conversely, entitlement positively predicted both sociotropy and autonomy, revealing an inconsistent mix of dependence on others and a need for independence from them. Therefore, although psychological entitlement and narcissism share a self-centric orientation, the two constructs differ in terms of orientation to others.
Bendable Kirkpatrick-Baez mirrors for the ALS micro-diffraction beamline 12.3.2: optimal tuning and alignment for multiple focusing geometries

Using an example of Kirkpatrick-Baez mirrors for the micro-diffraction beamline 12.3.2, we present the recent development of bendable x-ray optics and experimental techniques used for focusing of beams of soft and hard x-rays at the Advanced Light Source (ALS). We briefly review the nature of the bending and analyze a generalized solution of the bending equation for a side-profiled elliptically bent mirror substrate. A scaling rule is derived to understand a range of reliable tunability of the bendable optics for different applications (e.g., different focal distances and grazing incidence angles). Original design approaches are developed for assembly of bendable mirrors with minimal spurious stress and misalignment and for final precision compensation of the residual stress, substrate twist, and roll-off misalignment of the mirrors. Procedures used for optimal shaping and alignment of bendable optics at the ALS optical metrology laboratory are also briefly reviewed.
Crossover to tricritical behavior at the nematic to smecticA transition: An x-ray scattering study

We have carried out a comprehensive x-ray scattering study of the nematic to smecticA transition in the alkylbenzoate (nCB) and thiosulfate $$\bar nS5$$ series. By changing the aliphatic chain lengthn (C n H2n+1) in these series, crossovers from critical to tricritical behavior are induced. We observe a smooth progression of effective exponents from the set,y≃1.5,v ‖≃0.80, andv ⊥≃0.67 toy=1.1,v ‖=0.6, andv ⊥=0.5 for the critical and tricritical regions respectively. In both cases the exponents are close to, but in disagreement with, values expected from current theoretical models. We conclude on an empirical basis that the varied exponents reported in the literature for other systems reflect the critical to tricritical crossover.
Folic acid fortification: Should oral contraceptives be next? Pro.

If OCPs contained folic acid they could provide the recommended 0.4 mg of folic acid daily to the approximately 17 million women in the United States who use this form of birth control. Even if these women took their OCP along with a daily multivitamin containing folic acid we would not need to be concerned about overdose of folic acid because even 1 g of folic acid is not considered an overdose (Institute of Medicine 1998). Combining folic acid and OCPs would afford NTD protection to the unplanned pregnancies occurring among OCP users each year. Because women who are taking OCPs do not expect to become pregnant while on them they are likely among the women who are not presently taking folic acid daily the target group we are trying to reach. Continuous use of such a product could increase serum folate levels and afford some level of protection against an NTD-affected pregnancy. Of course when women decide to stop taking OCPs and to become pregnant their healthcare providers would have a responsibility to counsel them about folic acid supplementation. The potential for an added few months of protection for a new contemplator of pregnancy may have an important impact on the prevention of NTDs. (excerpt)
Molecular identification of predation by carabid beetles on exotic and native slugs in a strawberry agroecosystem

Generalist predators have the capacity to exert significant pressure on prey populations. However, integrating them into biological control programs relies on a detailed understanding of their foraging behavior and the levels of trophic connectedness with pest species. Carabid beetles are important predators of slugs, pests of agricultural, floricultural and horticultural crops worldwide, but these interactions have been rarely studied outside the Western Palearctic ecozone. Diagnostic molecular gut-content analysis was used to examine the strength of trophic pathways between a community of carabid beetles and two slug species, the exotic Deroceras reticulatum and native Deroceras laeve, in strawberry agroecosystems. Strawberries were grown according to standard horticultural practices for central Kentucky, following traditional bare ground planting or with the addition of detrital subsidies, to quantify the impact of habitat management on the abundance of pests and the strength of these trophic pathways. Following laboratory characterization of species-specific molecular markers targeting both Deroceras species, carabid beetles collected from a strawberry agroecosystem were screened for slug DNA. Field collections revealed important food web pathways existed between Harpalus pensylvanicus and D. reticulatum, with 7.2% screening positive for these prey yet none screening positive for D. laeve. In contrast, Chlaenius tricolor was found to feed on both slug species in the field, with 16% screening positive for both Deroceras. Despite below normal rainfall limiting slug densities in the field, the results presented here reveal the potential importance of carabid beetles in slug population dynamics in the Nearctic.
Temporal and geographic size trends in Neogene Corbulidae (Bivalvia) of tropical America: using environmental sensitivity to decipher causes of morphologic trends

Abstract Because of their abundance and ubiquity, corbulid bivalves were significant components of the marine ecosystems affected by the environmental, oceanographic, climatic, and biotic changes that occurred during the Neogene in tropical America. Tropical American corbulids show dramatic changes in size over time and space. Eastern Pacific corbulids increase in size in the Holocene, whereas in the Caribbean and western Atlantic, size decreases from maxima in the middle and upper Miocene. As a result, size differences between living eastern Pacific and Caribbean/western Atlantic corbulids are statistically significant. Previously proposed causes of faunal trends in marine invertebrates of tropical America include changes in predation intensity, changes in productivity, and climatic cooling, all of which have been linked to the emergence of the Central American Isthmus (CAI). By comparing geographic and temporal patterns at both regional and local scales, it is possible to decipher the cause of corbulid size trends. Large corbulid species tend to occur in deposits that show evidence of increased nutrient availability, either from upwelling or coastal runoff, and tend to be excluded from units deposited under more oligotrophic conditions. Regional size trends in corbulid bivalves, therefore, are best explained by a general decrease in nutrient availability and productivity in the Caribbean/western Atlantic as the CAI emerged.
Random Induced Subgraphs of Generalizedn-Cubes

The subject of this paper is to analyse connectivity and paths in random induced subgraphs of generalizedn-cubes over an alphabet A with |A|=?,Q?n. The vertices of Q?naren-tuples (x1,?,xn), wherexi?A,i=1,?,n, and two vertices are adjacent if they differ in exactly one coordinate. Random induced subgraphs, ?n
Monitoring of invasive Tamarix distribution and effects of biological control with airborne hyperspectral remote sensing

Invasive exotic and native plants (weeds) cause huge losses to both agricultural production systems and to the natural environment. Damage to crops comes both from direct losses through yield reduc...
Closed-form solutions for surface location error in milling

This paper provides two new analytical solutions for the computation of surface location errors, or part geometry errors that arise due to forced vibrations of the cutting tool, during stable milling. Prior studies of surface location error have applied numerical simulation and semi-analytical methods (e.g., temporal finite element analysis) to this problem. This work provides new results that show analytical solutions for the problem of surface location error are possible. The analytical approaches are based on frequency domain and harmonic balance analyses. Comparisons between the analytical results, time domain simulation, and experiment are included.
Effects of convective adjustment time scale on the simulation of tropical climate

This paper describes the effects of convective adjustment time scale (τ) on the simulation of tropical climate. The NCAR-Community Atmosphere Model version 3 (CAM3) has been used for this study. In the default configuration of the model, the prescribed value of τ, a characteristic time scale with which convective available potential energy (CAPE) is removed at an exponential rate by convection, is assumed to be 1 h. However, some recent observational findings suggest that, it is larger by around one order of magnitude. In order to investigate the dependence of tropical climate simulation to this time scale, we conducted two simulations, one with a time scale of 1 h (CTRL) and another with 8 h (EXPT), and examined the differences in simulated climate. For this, we analyzed both the mean as well as transient features, viz., seasonal mean quantities, equatorial waves, and meridional migration of convective disturbances. The spatial distributions of seasonal mean precipitation are found to be better in EXPT. The spatial correlation coefficients of CTRL and EXPT with the observations are 0.79 and 0.83, respectively, for northern hemisphere winter. Similarly, for northern hemisphere summer, the values are 0.67 and 0.79, respectively. In addition, there is also an improvement in the simulation of equatorial waves, specifically, the Kelvin waves, Madden–Julian oscillation, and n = 1 equatorial Rossby waves become more realistic in EXPT. The characteristics of meridional migration of convective activity over tropics also become more reasonable in EXPT. Thus, it is found that there is a clear improvement in some of the key aspects of the simulated tropical climate with the revised convective adjustment time scale.
Operation and Kinematic Analysis of a Cam-Based Infinitely Variable Transmission

In this paper, the operation and analysis of a novel, highly configurable, infinitely variable transmission of the ratcheting drive type is presented. This particular drive uses a cam and a number of cam followers rotatably mounted to a carrier plate to generate an oscillatory motion in an equal number of planet gears. A number of indexing clutches are then used to rectify this motion into a rotational output. A full description of the mechanism, including its components, operation, and kinematic equations, are presented. There are a number of inversions of this device, and their characteristics and limitations are discussed. In addition, a method is presented to select the most suitable inversion, gearing, and maximum follower velocity for a given set of requirements.
Hepatic vein bullet embolus as a complication of left thoracic gunshot injury

The case of a patient with a hepatic vein bullet embolus complicating a left ventricular gunshot injury is described. The patient presented hypotensive with a left midaxillary entrance wound. Initial radiographs showed a bullet fragment below the right hemidiaphragm. Emergency open thoracotomy was performed with release of a tense pericardial effusion and repair of a left ventricular penetrating wound. Surgical exploration failed to reveal direct penetrating injury to the diaphragm or abdominal viscera. After a hepatic venogram localized the bullet fragment in a branch of the right lobe hepatic vein, a periscopically directed catheter extraction of the fragment was successfully performed. A discussion of missile embolization, its pathology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management is presented.
The use of spectral analysis to validate peanning models

Abstract Statistical fit of model predictions to empirical evidence is found to be an insufficient condition for establishing the validity of a planning model where the dynamic behavior is of particular importance. The paper describes a spectral analysis statistical test that can be used to validate the structure of a planning model by comparing the time series generated by the model with the actual time series of events for the real system under study. Validation of an ambulance simulation model is reported in which the model apparently was valid based on classical goodness of fit tests of aggregate data. However, following a spectral analysis of the simulation results, an entirely new method of generating incidents was found to be necessary. The resulting model then was able to duplicate realistically the essential cyclical nature of hourly demand for emergency care observed in the real system which periodically created excessive busy and idle periods not realized in the structure of the original model.