cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Priority of Risk (But Not Perceived Magnitude of Risk) Predicts Improved Sun-Protection Behavior Following Genetic Counseling for Familial Melanoma.

Background Understanding multiple components of risk perceptions is important because perceived risk predicts engagement in prevention behaviors. Purpose To examine how multiple components of risk perceptions (perceived magnitude of and worry about risk, prioritization of the management of one's risk) changed following genetic counseling with or without test reporting, and to examine which of these components prospectively predicted improvements in sun-protection behavior 1 year later. Methods A prospective, nonrandomized study design was used. Participants were 114 unaffected members of melanoma-prone families who (i) underwent genetic testing for a CDKN2A/p16 mutation (n = 69) or (ii) were at comparably elevated risk based on family history and underwent genetic counseling but not testing (no-test controls, n = 45). Participants reported risk perception components and sun-protection behavior at baseline, immediately following counseling, and 1 month and 1 year after counseling. Results Factor analysis indicated three risk components. Carriers reported increased perceived magnitude and priority of risk, but not cancer worry. No-test controls showed no changes in any risk perception. Among noncarriers, priority of risk remained high at all assessments, whereas magnitude of risk and cancer worry decreased. Of the three risk components, greater priority of risk uniquely predicted improved self-reported sun protection 1 year post-counseling. Conclusions Priority of risk (i) seems to be a component of risk perceptions distinguishable from magnitude of risk and cancer worry, (ii) may be an important predictor of daily prevention behavior, and (iii) remained elevated 1 year following genetic counseling only for participants who received a positive melanoma genetic test result.
Improvement in fatigue life of carbon fibre reinforced polymer composites via a Nano-Silica Modified Matrix

Abstract Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites are increasingly the material of choice in a variety of high performance structural applications including the aerospace, defense, wind energy and automotive industries. A key limitation of these materials is their poor fatigue life induced by initiation and growth of small-scale cracks in the epoxy matrix. Here, we show that incorporation of nano-silica into the epoxy resin results in nano-modified CFRP (nanoCFRP) with 6–7 fold higher fatigue life in the high cycle fatigue regime. The mechanism for the observed performance improvement is the ability of the nano-silica to disrupt and prolong the propagation process of incipient cracks. This in turn postpones the eventual failure of the CFRP, leading to fatigue life increase. The ability to achieve such results with silica nanoparticles has strong practical implications, since nano-silica are easily accessible and economically inexpensive for large-scale industrial applications.
Disclosure and Investor Inattention

Investors have a finite capacity to organize all information they receive from financial disclosures. In a model of rational inattention, we show that investor attention capacity affects the probability of disclosure. In the model, an informed firm makes a strategic voluntary disclosure subject to proprietary costs (Verrecchia 1983) or uncertainty about information endowment (Dye 1985), investors optimally allocate their attention as a function of their conjectures about the disclosure strategy. Our main result is that the probability of disclosure is inverse U-shaped in investor attention: for low levels of attention, more attention facilitates communication and increases disclosure; for high levels of attention, more attention better identifies, and therefore deters, unfavorable voluntary disclosure. We provide preliminary empirical evidence that the relationship between investor attention and management forecast is concave and inverse U-shaped, using institutional ownership as a proxy for investor attention.
Effect of physical activity through virtual reality on design creativity

A deeper understanding of creativity and design is essential for the development of tools to improve designers’ creative processes and drive future innovation. The objective of this research is to evaluate the effect of physical activity versus movement in a virtual environment on the creative output of industrial design students. This study contributes a novel assessment of whether the use of virtual reality can produce the same creative output within designers as physical activity has been shown to produce in prior studies. Eighteen industrial design students at the Georgia Institute of Technology completed nine design tasks across three conditions in a within-subjects experimental design. In each condition, participants independently experienced one of three interventions. Solutions were scored for novelty and feasibility, and self-reported mood data was correlated with performance. No significant differences were found in novelty or feasibility of solutions across the conditions. However, there are statistically significant correlations between mood, interventions, and peak performance to be discussed. The results show that participants who experienced movement in virtual reality prior to problem solving performed at an equal or higher level than physical walking for all design tasks and all designer moods. This serves as motivation for continuing to study how VR can provide an impact on a designer's creative output. Hypothesized creative performance with each mode is discussed using trends from four categories of mood, based on the combined mood characteristics of pleasantness (positive/negative) and activation (active/passive).
Differential impact of different TP53 gain-of-function mutations on overall survival of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: Results from a large integrated healthcare system.

3585Background: TP53 mutation is present in approximately 50% of metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). The spectrum of the TP53 mutations is extremely broad including approximately 80% missense mutat...
Not Slaves Enough: On the Trivialization of Systemic Migrant Labor Exploitation in Tuscany, Italy

This article focuses on the exploitation of migrant labor in Tuscany, in relation to its neglect by anti-trafficking organizations. It contends that a conceptualization of human trafficking centere...
Efficacy of methods for ovulation estimation and their effect on the statistical detection of ovulation-linked behavioral fluctuations.

Contention of the ovulatory shift hypothesis is principally supported by failures to replicate previous findings; e.g., recent meta-analytic work suggests that the effects endorsing the hypothesis may not be robust. Some possible limitations in this and other ovulatory-effects research—that may contribute to such controversy arising—are: (a) use of error-prone methods for assessing target periods of fertility that are thought to be associated with behavioral shifts, and (b) use of between-subjects—as opposed to within-subjects—methods. In the current study we present both simulated and empirical research: (a) comparing the ability of between- and within-subject t-tests to detect cyclical shifts; (b) evaluating the efficacy of correlating estimated fertility overlays with potential behavioral shifts; and (c) testing the accuracy of counting methods for identifying windows of cycle fertility. While this study cannot assess whether the ovulatory shift hypothesis or other ovulatory-based hypotheses are tenable, it demonstrates how low power resulting from typical methods employed in the extant literature may be associated with perceived inconsistencies in findings. We conclude that to fully address this issue greater use of within-subjects methodology is needed.
Clinical Investigations of the Contraceptive and Therapeutic Potential of Nafarelin

Chronic administration of superactive agonistic analogs of LHRH decreases the secretion of gonadotropins and secondarily disrupts gonadal function. These compounds appear to be clinically useful in situations in which reversible inhibition of gonadal function is desirable. Consequently, LHRH analogs are being evaluated as potential contraceptive agents and as treatment for several clinical disorders including precocious puberty, endometriosis, hirsutism, uterine leiomyomata, and prostatic carcinoma [1–7]. One of the most clinically useful analogs is nafarelin ([6-D-(2-naphthyl)alanyl]LHRH), a potent LHRH agonist that can be administered in tranasally, thus obviating the need for daily injections [8]. During the past several years we have completed a series of studies to investigate possible clinical uses of nafarelin in women. These studies can be classified into 3 general categories: (1) characterization of the clinical pharmacology of nafarelin; (2) assessment of its contraceptive potential; and (3) assessment of its utility in the treatment of endometriosis, hirsutism, and uterine leiomyomata.
Representations for Recognition Under Variable Illumination

Due to illumination variability, the same object can appear dramatically different even when viewed in fixed pose. Consequently, an object recognition system must employ a representation that is either invariant to, or models this variability. This chapter presents an appearance-based method for modeling this variability. In particular, we prove that the set of n-pixel monochrome images of a convex object with a Lambertian reflectance function, illuminated by an arbitrary number of point light sources at infinity, forms a convex polyhedral cone in Rn and that the dimension of this illumination cone equals the number of distinct surface normals. For a non-convex object with a more general reflectance function, the set of images is also a convex cone. Geometric properties of these cones for monochrome and color cameras are considered. Here, present a method for constructing a cone representation from a small number of images when the surface is continuous, possibly non-convex, and Lambertian; this accounts for both attached and cast shadows. For a collection of objects, each object is represented by a cone, and recognition is performed through nearest neighbor classification by measuring the minimal distance of an image to each cone. We demonstrate the utility of this approach to the problem of face recognition (a class of non-convex and non-Lambertian objects with similar geometry). The method is tested on a database of 660 images of 10 faces, and the results exceed those of popular existing methods.
Knowledge Management in Business Intelligence

This paper explains the nature of the integration between Knowledge Management (KM) and Business Intelligence (BI) and reveals how KM is embedded in BI. There has been some confusion as to the relationship between KM and BI. The lack of clarity is seen to be, in part, dependent on how the two concepts are defined. BI focuses on explicit knowledge, but KM encompasses both tacit and explicit knowledge. Both concepts promote learning, decision-making, and understanding. However, KM influences the very nature of BI itself, because KM informs BI relative to organizational knowledge creation, knowledge transfer, and learning. BI knowledge and its analytics must for practical purposes be understood and shared. This means that BI’s effectiveness is subject to organizational culture, which affects sensemaking and knowledge sharing. The employment of KM-based knowledge exchange protocols to facilitate knowledge sharing and the contextual understanding of BI activities is examined. Use of the knowledge exchange protocols framework is shown to provide the potential for observing how BI analytics affect decision-making tacit behavior over time. KM principles are shown to provide important elements that facilitate BI’s performance and efficacy.
Automated Surveillance of Computer Monitors in Labs

Object detection and recognition are still challenging and they find application in surveillance systems. University computer labs may or may not have surveillance video cameras, but even when a camera is present it may not have an intelligent software system to automatically monitor. A system for Automated Surveillance of Computer Monitors in Labs was designed and developed for automatic detection of any missing monitors. This system can also detect the person who is responsible for removing any monitor. If this is an authorized person, the system will display the name and facial image from the database of all employees. If the person is unauthorized, the system will generate an alarm and will display that person's face, and will send an automated email instantly to the security department of the university with that facial image. The simulation results confirm that this automated system could be used for monitoring any computer labs.
Performance Evaluation of Collective Write Algorithms in MPI I/O

MPI is the de-facto standard for message passing in parallel scientific applications. MPI-IO is a part of the MPI-2 specification defining file I/O operations in the MPI world. MPI-IO enables performance optimizations for collective file I/O operations as it acts as a portability layer between the application and the file system. The goal of this study is to optimize collective file I/O operations. Three different algorithms for performing collective I/O operations have been developed, implemented, and evaluated on a PVFS2 file system and over NFS. The results indicate that different algorithms promise the highest write bandwidth for different number of processors, application settings and file systems, making a one-size-fits-all solution inefficient.
POOR NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND INFLAMMATION: The Evidence Against Malnutrition as a Prominent Problem for Chronic Dialysis Patients

A large number of dialysis patients have been classified as being malnourished because of anthropometric measurements and laboratory values that are similar to those in patients with protein-energy malnutrition. Malnutrition implies that abnormalities can be reversed with better nutrition. However, this approach of providing more nutrients in the diet has been unsuccessful in reversing these changes, suggesting that a diagnosis of malnutrition is generally a misdiagnosis for dialysis patients In this review we discuss mechanisms that cause a loss of protein stores, muscle mass, albumin, and other plasma proteins in dialysis patients. We also review the shortcomings of techniques that are used to measure the nutritional status of these patients.
PCR identification of Mycobacterium bovis BCG.

The attenuated bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine strain is derived from a virulent strain of Mycobacterium bovis. BCG is difficult to differentiate from other strains of M. bovis and other members of the M. tuberculosis complex by conventional methods. Recently, a genomic region designated RD1 was found to be present in all virulent M. bovis and M. tuberculosis strains tested but deleted from all BCG strains tested. With this information, a multiplex PCR method was developed to detect the RD1 deletion. A large collection of BCG and other M. tuberculosis complex strains from diverse host and geographic origins was tested. RD1 was deleted in 23 of 23 BCG strains. RD1 was present in 129 of 129 other M. tuberculosis complex strains. This multiplex PCR method can be used as a tool for the rapid and specific identification of BCG.
Huck Doesn't Sound like Himself: Consistency in the Literary Dialect of Mark Twain:

Mark Twain is one of the most prolific writers of literary dialect, and his works have long been studied not only for their content but also for the structure of the language found within. In this tradition, this article analyzes the speech of the character of Huck Finn in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. However, this article moves beyond traditional studies which focus on cataloguing dialect features or discussing the writer's dialect accuracy, and instead questions whether or not Twain was consistent in his use of literary dialect intertextually. Using the LinguaLinks program, a representative sample of Huck's speech from each text was examined for non-standard features and dialect spellings, and these forms were analyzed for consistency of use. This study reveals that while Twain is consistent in some of the dialect features analyzed, variation does in fact occur within his representation of Huck's speech.
Synthesis of novel spiro[2.3]hexane carbocyclic nucleosides via enzymatic resolution.

Novel R- and S-spiro[2.3]hexane nucleosides have been synthesized. The key step involved the Pseudomonas cepacia lipase catalyzed resolution of racemic compound 2, synthesized in seven steps starting from diethoxyketene and diethyl fumarate, to give (+)-acetate 3 and (−)-alcohol 13. (+)-Acetate 3 and (−)-acetate 14 were converted to R- and S-9-(6-hydroxymethylspiro[2.3]hexane)-4-adenine, respectively.
Metabolism of deoxyinosine by human erythrocyte ghosts.

Abstract Deoxyinosine was metabolized by human erythrocyte ghosts. Kinetic studies revealed an accumulation of hypoxanthine, a decrease in deoxypentose, and an initial uptake of inorganic phosphate followed by its eventual release. Intermediates of the pathway identified were triose phosphate (glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate and dihydroxyacetone phosphate), phosphoglycerates, acetaldehyde, lactate, and xylulose 5-phosphate. No glucose 6-phosphate or fructose 6-phosphate was found in contrast to the extensive synthesis previously obtained with inosine. Although most of the phosphorylated intermediates were accounted for, the ester pool was only 40 % of the substrate utilized at the kinetic maximum. Deoxyinosine is metabolized differently than inosine in that acetaldehyde is an intermediate and the phosphate ester pool is much more labile. The accumulation of ketopentose phosphates (xylulose 5-phosphate and ribulose 5-phosphate) in ghosts from deoxynucleosides demonstrates that a pathway exists in erythrocytes for the conversion of the deoxypentose of the nucleoside to ketopentose.
Src-dependent STAT-3-mediated expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 is required for 15(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid-induced vascular smooth muscle cell migration.

To understand the role of human 15-lipoxygenase 1 (15-LOX1) in vascular wall remodeling, we have studied the effect of the major 15-LOX1 metabolite of arachidonic acid, 15(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15(S)-HETE), on vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) migration both in vitro and in vivo. Among 5(S)-HETE, 12(S)-HETE, and 15(S)-HETE, 15(S)-HETE potentially stimulated more vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) migration. In addition, 15(S)-HETE-induced VSMC migration was dependent on Src-mediated activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT-3). 15(S)-HETE also induced monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) expression via Src-STAT-3 signaling, and neutralizing anti-MCP-1 antibodies completely negated 15(S)-HETE-induced VSMC migration. Cloning and characterization of a 2.6-kb MCP-1 promoter revealed the presence of four putative STAT-binding sites, and the site that is proximal to the transcription start site was found to be essential for 15(S)-HETE-induced Src-STAT-3-mediated MCP-1 expression. Rat carotid arteries that were subjected to balloon injury and transduced with Ad-15-LOX1 upon exposure to [3H]arachidonic acid ex vivo produced 15-HETE as a major eicosanoid and enhanced balloon injury-induced expression of MCP-1 in smooth muscle cells in Src and STAT-3-dependent manner in vivo. Adenovirus-mediated delivery of 15-LOX1 into rat carotid artery also led to recruitment and homing of macrophages to medial region in response to injury. In addition, transduction of Ad-15-LOX1 into arteries enhanced balloon injury-induced smooth muscle cell migration from media to intima and neointima formation. These results show for the first time that 15-LOX1–15(S)-HETE axis plays a major role in vascular wall remodeling after balloon angioplasty.
Dynamic traffic origin-destination estimation using Kalman filter: an application to beltway network with VMS control

Dynamic traffic origin-destination estimation has received increasing attention in recent years due to its grate technological and economic advantages. In this paper, a Kalman filter model for estimating and updating dynamic OD flows for beltway network is presented. The uniqueness of the model is the use of path flows as state variables instead of OD flows, this treatment avoids the likely biases inherent in various traffic assignment procedures. Preliminary testing of the model shows encouraging results, however, more extensive testing is still necessary. Simulation output is used in generating time dependent traffic mapping matrix, additional studies need to be conducted to find out if this would be applicable to the scenario of real-world of considerable size.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Resurgence of West Nile neurologic disease in the United States in 2012: What happened? What needs to be done?

Abstract The resurgence in cases of neurologic disease caused by West Nile virus (WNV) in the United States in 2012 came as a surprise to the general public and to many non-arbovirus researchers. Following the introduction of WNV into the US in 1999, the number of human infections rose dramatically, peaking in 2002–03. However, cases declined from 2008–11, and it was unclear if the virus would continue to have a low-level endemic transmission pattern with occasional outbreaks, like the related flavivirus, Saint Louis encephalitis virus, or a more active pattern with annual outbreaks, including occasional years with large epidemics, like Japanese encephalitis virus. The large epidemic in 2012 suggests that the United States can expect periodic outbreaks of West Nile fever and neurologic disease in the coming years. In this paper, we consider the causes of the upsurge in WNV infections during the past year and their implications for future research and disease control measures.
New Metastable State of Mercury

A state of Hg with an excitation potential of 9 v has been found to be metastable. It is most likely the $^{3}D_{3}$ state of the configuration ${(5d)}^{9}{(6s)}^{2}(6p)$. It is possible that other members of this configuration also are long-lived. The use of alkali metals as detectors for metastable atoms is discussed.
Graft: A Debugging Tool For Apache Giraph

We address the problem of debugging programs written for Pregel-like systems. After interviewing Giraph and GPS users, we developed Graft. Graft supports the debugging cycle that users typically go through: (1) Users describe programmatically the set of vertices they are interested in inspecting. During execution, Graft captures the context information of these vertices across supersteps. (2) Using Graft's GUI, users visualize how the values and messages of the captured vertices change from superstep to superstep,narrowing in suspicious vertices and supersteps. (3) Users replay the exact lines of the code vertex.compute() function that executed for the suspicious vertices and supersteps, by copying code that Graft generates into their development environments' line-by-line debuggers. Graft also has features to construct end-to-end tests for Giraph programs. Graft is open-source and fully integrated into Apache Giraph's main code base.
Biochemical markers predict morbidity and mortality after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Background The association between routinely ordered perioperative laboratory tests and postoperative morbidity and mortality after pancreaticoduodenectomy has not been well characterized. Study Design Routine perioperative laboratory data were analyzed for 2,894 patients who underwent a pancreaticoduodenectomy over a 25-year period. Laboratory values were initially categorized as being above or below the 75 th percentile for the study population, and biochemical markers of morbidity and mortality were identified using multivariate logistic regression. The most significant biochemical markers were studied in greater detail by regrouping patients into low, intermediate, and high categories. Results Significant multivariate predictors of a postoperative complication included preoperative blood urea nitrogen≥18 mg/dL, preoperative albumin≤3.5 g/dL, and postoperative amylase≥292 U/L. Significant multivariate predictors of a postoperative death included preoperative albumin≤3.5 g/dL and postoperative aminotransferase≥187 U/L. Postoperative hyperamylasemia was found to be associated, in particular, with an increased pancreatic fistula rate. Pancreatic fistula rates in the low (0 to 99 U/L), intermediate (100 to 399 U/L), and high (≥ 400 U/L) postoperative amylase groups were 4%, 14%, and 20%, respectively. Postoperative mortality rates in patients with low (0 to 499 U/L), intermediate (500 to 1,999 U/L), and high (≥ 2,000 U/L) postoperative aminotransferase groups were 0.9%, 5%, and 29%, respectively. Postoperative mortality rates in the high (> 3.5g/dL), intermediate (2.6 to 3.5g/dL), and low (0 to 2.5g/dL) albumin groups were 0.9%, 3%, and 7%, respectively. Conclusions Routine perioperative laboratory tests can help surgeons identify patients who are at increased risk for morbidity and mortality after pancreaticoduodenectomy.
Evaluation of the administrative efficiency of environmental laws: A statistical analysis of the New Jersey ECRA processing times

Abstract As environmental laws are enacted, and the U.S. and various state Departments of Environmental Protection (DEP's) establish procedures for enforcement, questions about government effectiveness in administering these laws naturally arise. The State of New Jersey has passed a law (Environmental Cleanup Responsibility Act — ECRA) that mandates the state DEP review all land transfers to ensure that sites meet environmental standards. New Jersey is the only state in the U.S. that has such a comprehensive law. Several articles have been written regarding the delays caused by this law [1–3]. The research in this paper analyzes the time it takes to process ECRA applications. Data obtained from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Energy (NJDEPE) files were statistically analyzed and forecasts made for the most serious cases (Low, Medium, and High Environmental Concern cases). Since many of the cases had not been settled, these data are considered censored [4]. Censored data refers to a data set where some of the data is actual while some data is yet to be determined. The results show that the NJDEPE takes from one to as many as four years on average to resolve a case. In the view of industrial realtors and developers these times are substantial. In the view of the NJDEPE these times are required to assure that the law is enforced properly. The research was funded by the Hazardous Substance Research Management Center (HSMRC). This type of analysis can be used to judge the relative effectiveness of the law in terms of the administrative time it takes to process ECRA applications.
A case study in parallel scientific computing: the boundary element method on a distributed-memory multiprocessor

The Boundary Element Method is a widely-used discretization technique for solving boundary-value problems in engineering analysis. The solution of large problems by this method is limited by the storage and computational requirements for the generation and solution of large matrix systems resulting from the discretization. We discuss the implementation of these computations on the IBM SP-2 distributed-memory parallel computer, for applications involving the 3DD Laplace and Helmholtz equations.
Conceptualization and exploration of composite career anchors: An analysis of information systems personnel

Some researchers have emphasized the importance of identifying individuals' dominant career anchors and perhaps matching these anchors with HR planning initiatives. However, there has been little empirical research addressing the existence and impact of clusters of dominant career anchors. This study addresses this gap in the literature and examines the career anchors of 163 information systems (IS) professionals. Consistent with the findings of earlier studies, nine career anchors (managerial competence, identity, variety, service, geographic security, autonomy, organizational stability, technical competence, and creativity) were evident in this sample. Results provide evidence of multiple dominant anchors for many individuals, and that individuals with multiple dominant anchors do not report significantly different career-related outcomes than those with single dominant anchors. The results suggest that clusters of career anchors, rather than a single dominant anchor, should be considered in HR planning efforts for IS personnel, and potentially for personnel in other career fields.
Detection of antimycin-binding subunits of complex III by photoaffinity-labeling with an azido derivative of antimycin.

Deformamidoazidoantimycin A (DAA), a photoactive derivative of antimycin A containing an azido group substituting for the formamido group attached to the phenyl ring, was synthesized. The ultraviolet spectrum of DAA was almost identical to that of antimycin A, indicating little alteration of the electronic structure of the substituted phenyl ring by the azido substitution. However, the inhibitory effectiveness of DAA toward ubiquinol-cytochromec reductase (Complex III) purified from bovine heart (Ki=ca. 0.5 µM) was considerably less than that of antimycin (Ki≤3 pM), indicating a direct rather than a supporting role of the formamido group in the inhibitory activity of antimycin. Exposure of purified Complex III to [3H]DAA plus ultraviolet light caused a major labeling by tritium of SDS-PAGE band 7 (m=13 kDa by SDS-PAGE) and lesser but significant labeling of bands 3, 6, 8, and 9. Pretreatment of Complex III with antimycin greatly suppressed the labeling of bands 5, 6, and 7 but caused an apparent increased labeling of bands 8 and 9 by [3H]DAA, respectively. The labeling of band 7 by [3H]DAA also was strongly suppressed by reduction of Complex III by either sodium borohybride or ascorbate. Based on magnitude of labeling by [3H]DAA and the degree of suppression of labeling by antimycin, the protein of band 7 qualified as the principal component for specific binding of antimycin with the protein of band 6 (m=16 kDa) showing a lesser but significant amount of specific binding.
Distribution-free simultaneous outer and inner tolerance limits for screening and descriptive purposes

A restricted version of outer tolerance limits based on order statistics for a continuous distribution is defined and developed. Particular emphasis is given to screening applications in addition to the usual descriptive applications. Sample size determination is a central issue for employing these new tolerance limits and tables of sample sizes are presented. Applications include the familiar quality control context where one may wish to protect against reporting unnecessarily wide tolerance intervals, and clinical normal ranges used for screening purposes where it is desirable to protect against an overly large rate of false positives.
Dimensions of Profanity

The purpose of the study was to investigate the dimensions of profane language use by 283 college students. Responses to a questionnaire on personal use of “sexual vernacular” were submitted to factor analysis. Results of the factor analysis yielded five dimensions of profane language based upon predispositions to use such words. The five dimensions were labeled: Abrasive, Technical, Abrasive-Expletive, Latent, and Euphemistic. Results are discussed in terms of past and future research needs.
Single Molecule FRET Studies of the NMDA Receptor using Unnatural Amino Acids

The NMDA receptor is one class of ionotropic glutamate receptors, which are the primary mediators of excitatory neurotransmission in the central nervous system. As such, function and dysfunction of these receptors has been implicated in such physiological and pathological processes as learning and memory, strokes, Alzheimer disease, and Parkinson disease. Studies into the similarly structured AMPA-type glutamate receptor have revealed a relationship between the extent of closure of the agonist-binding domain cleft and activation of the channel, showing a structural mechanism for transduction of signal from binding of ligand to receptor activation. However, neither crystal structures nor more dynamics-based studies using ensemble FRET/LRET show such a correlation when examining the agonist-binding domain of the glycine-binding subunit of the NMDA receptor. Here, we use single molecule FRET to examine more closely the range of conformation states probed by the isolated agonist-binding domain. To perform this, we had to overcome the problem of immutable native cysteines, which resulted in non-specific labeling when using the conventional maleimide-conjugated fluorophores that are regularly used in protein-based FRET studies. Thus, we introduced the unnatural amino acid p-acetylphenylalanine, which contains a unique ketone functional group, at the sites which we wished to test, allowing for specific labeling of the protein. Doing this, we see that while the protein exhibits a peak probability around 33A when bound both to full agonist glycine and partial agonist ACPC, the protein bound to partial agonist probes a slightly broader range of states than full agonist. From these data, we can infer that while the agonist-binding domain may show similar average extents of cleft closure, irresolvable by crystallography or ensemble LRET, full agonists more narrowly restrict the range of conformational states probed to conformations that allow for channel activation.
Phase-1 trial of high-dose intravenous cisplatin with simultaneous intravenous sodium thiosulfate.

Previous pharmacological and clinical data have suggested that it is possible to increase significantly the dose of “active” cisplatin delivered systemically by the simultaneous administration of intravenous sodium thiosulfate. In order to define more critically the toxicity and potential efficacy of this therapeutic approach, 36 patients with a variety of solid tumors and limited pretreatment were entered into a phase-1 trial of high-dose intravenous cisplatin plus sodium thiosulfate. The maximally tolerated dose of cisplatin was found to be 200 mg/m2, excessive renal toxicity being observed at a dose of 225 mg/m2 (6/14 courses associated with serum creatinine rise to >2.0 mg-%). Following several courses of high-dose cisplatin, peripheral neuropathy becomes the limiting toxicity (9/15 patients receiving at least three courses of cisplatin at ≧ 150 mg/m2 experienced at least grade-1 neuropathy). Significant ototoxicity developed after only one or two treatment courses, but with continued treatment hearing loss appeared to stabilize in the moderately severe range in most patients. Major responses (PR/CR) were observed in 7/27 evaluable patients. We conclude that cisplatin can be administered at a dose at 200 mg/m2 as a 2-h infusion (with simultaneous sodium thiosulfate) with significant but acceptable toxicities and without evidence of loss of anti-neoplastic activity (secondary to the presence of thiosulfate). However, owing to the development of neurotoxicity most patients will be unable to receive more than three courses of this high-dose treatment regimen.
Dynamics of oxygen uptake following exercise onset in rat skeletal muscle.

Technical limitations have precluded measurement of the V(O(2)) profile within contracting muscle (mV(O(2))) and hence it is not known to what extent V(O(2)) dynamics measured across limbs in humans or muscles in the dog are influenced by transit delays between the muscle microvasculature and venous effluent. Measurements of capillary red blood cell flux and microvascular P(O(2)) (P(O(2)m)) were combined to resolve the time course of mV(O(2)) across the rest-stimulation transient (1 Hz, twitch contractions). mV(O(2)) began to rise at the onset of contractions in a close to monoexponential fashion (time constant, J = 23.2 +/- 1.0 sec) and reached it's steady-state value at 4.5-fold above baseline. Using computer simulation in healthy and disease conditions (diabetes and chronic heart failure), our findings suggest that: (1) mV(O(2)) increases essentially immediately (< 2 sec) following exercise onset; (2) within healthy muscle the J blood flow (thus O(2) delivery, J Q(O(2)m)) is faster than JmV(O(2)) such that oxygen delivery is not limiting, and 3) a faster P(O(2)m) fall to a P(O(2)m) value below steady-state values within muscle from diseased animals is consistent with a relatively sluggish Q(O(2)m) response compared to that of mV(O(2)).
Do smart highways plus intelligent vehicles equal new kinds of human factors display problems

kinds ofhuman factors display problems?Michael J. Paley and Donald I. TepasErgonomics LaboratoryUniversity of Connecticut, Department of PsychologyStorrs, Connecticut 06269ABSTRACT[)evelopment ofadvanced, electronic automotive equipment as part ofintelligent vehiclehighway systems (IVHS) is a cause for concern. These new electronic systems may fundamentallychange the driving task as we know it, making current display technology obsolete. As an example, apossible change in utility ofa speedometer is discussed. In addition to changes in driving, new controlsand displays associated with IVHS will increase the amount of information available to be processed bydrivers, perhaps leading to overload. Overload, however, is a multidimensional construct and is notsimply related to the amount ofinformation presented. This paper attempts to address these issues andpresents a model for the development of IVHS controls and displays based on human factors, ergonomicmethodology. The model requires the use oftask analysis to match human capabilities to the demands ofusing the new automotive systems.
Quantization of conformal gravity: Another approach to the renormalization of gravity

Abstract The non-renormalizability of quantum gravity poses a great problem to the construction of any unified field theory of all known interactions. Normally, we start with a unitary theory of gravity and investigate its renormalization properties. This is the first of a series of papers where we start with the opposite approach, beginning with a renormalizable theory and investigating its unitarity structure. In particular, we study non-perturbative approaches to the quantization of conformal gravity. Using ADM coordinates, we perform the canonical quantization of the Weyl action Cμναβ2, which is renormalizable and is also local scale invariant. Although this theory is certainly not unitary in perturbation theory, we speculate that unitarity may be restored when we approach this theory non-perturbatively, by examining the possibility of different phase transitions.
Thermal expansion behavior of intermetallic compounds in the Mo–Si–B system

Abstract The binary tetragonal intermetallic compound Mo5Si3 has significant thermal expansion anisotropy (TEA) with the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the c-axis (αc) more than double that of the a-axis (αa). Since boron has been shown to improve the oxidation stability of alloys near this composition, we explore the effect of adding boron on the thermal expansion anisotropy of Mo5+ySi3−yBx (T1) and subsequently the adjoining phases in thermal equilibrium. Powder X-ray diffraction was conducted at high temperatures using high energy (>40 keV) synchrotron X-rays. All of the intermetallics in this system (Mo5SiB2, MoSi2, MoB and Mo3Si) have moderate CTE values ranging from 7.17 ppm/°C for the cubic Mo3Si to nearly 14 ppm/°C for the c-axis of Mo5Si3B. The nearly isotropic TEA for Mo5B2Si was confirmed. The variability of the TEA of Mo5Si3B from 1.83 to 2.43 is explained in terms of the site occupancy and the change of the inter-atomic spacing of the Mo atom chains along the c-axis.
Discovery, synthesis, and structure activity of a highly selective α7 Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) that contain an α7 subunit are widely distributed in neuronal and nonneuronal tissue. These receptors are implicated in the release of neurotransmitters such as glutamate and in functions ranging from thought processing to inflammation. Currently available ligands for α7 nAChRs have substantial affinity for one or more other nAChR subtypes, including those with an α1, α3, α6, and/or α9 subunit. An α-conotoxin gene was cloned from Conus arenatus. Predicted peptides were synthesized and found to potently block α3-, α6-, and α7-containing nAChRs. Structure−activity information regarding conotoxins from distantly related Conus species was employed to modify the C. arenatus derived toxin into a novel, highly selective α7 nAChR antagonist. This ligand, α-CtxArIB[V11L,V16D], has low nanomolar affinity for rat α7 homomers expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, and antagonism is slowly reversible. Kinetic analysis provided insight into the mechanism of antagonism. α-CtxArIB...
Extension of Lifespan in C. elegans by Naphthoquinones That Act through Stress Hormesis Mechanisms

Hormesis occurs when a low level stress elicits adaptive beneficial responses that protect against subsequent exposure to severe stress. Recent findings suggest that mild oxidative and thermal stress can extend lifespan by hormetic mechanisms. Here we show that the botanical pesticide plumbagin, while toxic to C. elegans nematodes at high doses, extends lifespan at low doses. Because plumbagin is a naphthoquinone that can generate free radicals in vivo, we investigated whether it extends lifespan by activating an adaptive cellular stress response pathway. The C. elegans cap‘n’collar (CNC) transcription factor, SKN-1, mediates protective responses to oxidative stress. Genetic analysis showed that skn-1 activity is required for lifespan extension by low-dose plumbagin in C. elegans. Further screening of a series of plumbagin analogs identified three additional naphthoquinones that could induce SKN-1 targets in C. elegans. Naphthazarin showed skn-1dependent lifespan extension, over an extended dose range compared to plumbagin, while the other naphthoquinones, oxoline and menadione, had differing effects on C. elegans survival and failed to activate ARE reporter expression in cultured mammalian cells. Our findings reveal the potential for low doses of naturally occurring naphthoquinones to extend lifespan by engaging a specific adaptive cellular stress response pathway.
Depth limit for reef building corals in the Au’au Channel, S.E. Hawaii

In this paper, the relationship between reef building (accretion) and depth in an optimal inter-island channel environment in Hawaii is analyzed. For accretion, the growth rate of Porites lobata is used as a proxy for the reef community, because it is the most abundant and dominant species of reef building coral in Hawaii. Optimal growth of P. lobata occurs at a depth of 6 m, below which both growth rate and abundance decrease with increasing depth. A lower depth limit for this species is found at about 80–100 m, yet reef accretion ceases at ~50 m depth. Below 50 m, rates of bio-erosion of colony holdfasts equal or exceed the growth of basal attachments, causing colonies to detach from the bottom. Continued bio-erosion further erodes and dislodges colonies leading to their breakdown and ultimately to the formation of coralline rubble and sand. Thus, within this channel environment in Hawaii, a threshold for reef building exists at ~ 50 m depth, where coral accretion is interrupted by bio-erosion. Conceptually viewed, this depth horizon is analogous to a vertical Darwin Point, although quite narrow in space and time. More importantly, it explains the history of reef morphology in the Au’au Channel where a chronological hiatus exists at a depth near 50 m. This hiatus separates shallower modern growth (about 100 years or less) from the deeper reef which is all due to accretion during the early Holocene or Pleistocene epochs.
Characterization of Fas-Ligand Expression in Human Placental Tissues and Isolated Trophoblasts: Evidence for Its Attenuation after Onset of Labor

Characterization of Fas-Ligand Expression in Human Placental Tissues and Isolated Trophoblasts: Evidence for Its Attenuation after Onset of Labor
Nervous Wreck, an SH3 Adaptor Protein that Interacts with Wsp, Regulates Synaptic Growth in Drosophila

We describe the isolation and characterization of nwk (nervous wreck), a temperature-sensitive paralytic mutant that causes excessive growth of larval neuromuscular junctions (NMJs), resulting in increased synaptic bouton number and branch formation. Ultrastructurally, mutant boutons have reduced size and fewer active zones, associated with a reduction in synaptic transmission. nwk encodes an FCH and SH3 domain-containing adaptor protein that localizes to the periactive zone of presynaptic terminals and binds to the Drosophila ortholog of Wasp (Wsp), a key regulator of actin polymerization. wsp null mutants display synaptic overgrowth similar to nwk and enhance the nwk morphological phenotype in a dose-dependent manner. Evolutionarily, Nwk belongs to a previously undescribed family of adaptor proteins that includes the human srGAPs, which regulate Rho activity downstream of Robo receptors. We propose that Nwk controls synapse morphology by regulating actin dynamics downstream of growth signals in presynaptic terminals.
Design of experiments approach to engineer cell-secreted matrices for directing osteogenic differentiation.

The presentation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins provides an opportunity to instruct the phenotype and behavior of responsive cells. Decellularized cell-secreted matrix coatings (DM) represent a biomimetic culture surface that retains the complexity of the natural ECM. Microenvironmental culture conditions alter the composition of these matrices and ultimately the ability of DMs to direct cell fate. We employed a design of experiments (DOE) multivariable analysis approach to determine the effects and interactions of four variables (culture duration, cell seeding density, oxygen tension, and media supplementation) on the capacity of DMs to direct the osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). DOE analysis revealed that matrices created with extended culture duration, ascorbate-2-phosphate supplementation, and in ambient oxygen tension exhibited significant correlations with enhanced hMSC differentiation. We validated the DOE model results using DMs predicted to have superior (DM1) or lesser (DM2) osteogenic potential for naive hMSCs. Compared to cells on DM2, hMSCs cultured on DM1 expressed 2-fold higher osterix levels and deposited 3-fold more calcium over 3 weeks. Cells on DM1 coatings also exhibited greater proliferation and viability compared to DM2-coated substrates. This study demonstrates that DOE-based analysis is a powerful tool for optimizing engineered systems by identifying significant variables that have the greatest contribution to the target output.
Local Anesthetics: Dentistry’s Most Important Drugs

One hundred and fifty years ago, Horace Wells opened the door to local anesthetics. Since then, many advances have been made in pain control. The development of dentistry's most important drugs is highlighted here.
Commentary: "Why oh why is kyphoplasty use on the rise?," said the little vertebroplasty needle.

Commentary on Goz V, Koehler SM, Egorova NN, et al. Kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty: trends in use in ambulatory and inpatient settings. Spine J 2011;11:737–44 ( in this issue ).
Two-step thermal quenching of photoluminescence in Zn-doped GaN

We observed tunable two-step thermal quenching of photoluminescence in high-resistivity Zn-doped GaN. The characteristic temperatures of the first and second steps increase with increasing excitation intensity. The effect is explained within a phenomenological model involving shallow donors, nonradiative deep donors, and two types of acceptors.