cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Physical mechanisms underlying neurite outgrowth: A quantitative analysis of neuronal shape

We show that---over a range of length scales r---the shapes of quasi-two-dimensional retinal neurons are fractal objects, and hence may be quantitatively characterized in part by their fractal dimension ${\mathrm{d}}_{\mathrm{f}}$. We analyze the shapes of numerous retinal neurons, both in vivo and in vitro. The neurons in vivo are found to have a fractal dimension ${\mathrm{d}}_{\mathrm{f}}$ of 1.68\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.15. We also propose an explanation of certain stages of neuronal shape development in terms of a diffusion-limited-aggregation model, which predicts ${\mathrm{d}}_{\mathrm{f}}$=1.70\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1.
AC-Close: Efficiently Mining Approximate Closed Itemsets by Core Pattern Recovery

Recent studies have proposed methods to discover approximate frequent itemsets in the presence of random noise. By relaxing the rigid requirement of exact frequent pattern mining, some interesting patterns, which would previously be fragmented by exact pattern mining methods due to the random noise or measurement error, are successfully recovered. Unfortunately, a large number of "uninteresting" candidates are explored as well during the mining process, as a result of the relaxed pattern mining methodology. This severely slows down the mining process. Even worse, it is hard for an end user to distinguish the recovered interesting patterns from these uninteresting ones. In this paper, we propose an efficient algorithm AC-Close to recover the approximate closed itemsets from "core patterns". By focusing on the so-called core patterns, integrated with a top-down mining and several effective pruning strategies, the algorithm narrows down the search space to those potentially interesting ones. Experimental results show that AC-Close substantially outperforms the previously proposed method in terms of efficiency, while delivers a similar set of interesting recovered patterns.
Three-dimensional CT diagnosis of myositis ossificans of the sacrospinous ligament.

We present the case of a 4-year-old female with a complex fracture of the left hemipelvis who, on followup CT imaging, developed new ossific densities within the peripelvic soft tissues of the contralateral side. Three-dimensional surface reformations of the pelvis demonstrated myositis ossificans along the course of the right sacrospinous ligament, thus elucidating unsuspected ligamentous injury and implying prior instability.
Synthesis and Secretagogue Activity of a Potent Fluorescent Analog of the Gastrin Peptides

The synthesis of a fluorescent analog of the jastrin peptides fluorescyltryptophylmethionylaspartylphenylalanine amide, named fluorotetragastrin, is described. The presence of the fluorescent chromophore did not alter the chemical properties of the gastrin analog. Fluorotetragastrin was shown to be a potent gastric acid secretagogue in the dog of potency comparable to the known secretagogue, carbobenzoxytryptophylmethionylaspartylphenylalanine amide. (Endocrinology 88: 1300, 1971)
Interest-rate volatility and volatility spillovers in emerging Europe

While many transition economies – particularly those that hope to join the Euro – have seen their economies converge to Europe’s, this process is by no means complete. Considerable macroeconomic volatility persists. This study examines the variability of the short-term nominal interest rates of ten transition economies, finding that eight of them exhibit time-varying volatility that can be modeled as a GARCH or Exponential GARCH process. Incorporating various measures of external volatility into the models, we find that those economies with fixed or managed exchange rates tend to experience more volatility spillovers, particularly from the Eurozone, regardless of the degree of transition. Only Estonia has a fixed exchange rate and remains free of international contagion.
A contingency approach to designing project organizations: theory and tools

Many firms have increasingly come to rely on projects as a fundamental approach to organizing work. Yet understanding the best way to organize projects is a challenge, given the various contingencies that impact project success. We focus here on three contingency-based project organization design tools (the design structure matrix, OrgCon™ and SimVision™) that help to manage project complexity and ensure project success by identifying misfits or misalignments between organizational elements. We discuss the application of these models to a large National Aeronautics and Space Administration project as an example. We conclude with a consideration of how the existing tools are useful, and where they fall short.
The Influence of University Courses and Field Experiences on Chinese Elementary Candidates’ Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching

In this article, we draw on survey data to investigate associations between Chinese elementary teaching candidates’ mathematical knowledge for teaching (MKT) and their experiences in mathematics co...
A method for measuring intrinsic region thicknesses of solid state detectors

Abstract A method is described for measuring the effective thickness of the intrinsic region of solid state detectors to an accuracy of ≈2%. This method employs the proton beam of an accelerator, in this case the University of Southern California Linac and the University of Colorado Cyclotron. This method can also be used to measure the effective nuclear thickness of materials that might be used in charged particle detector telescopes, especially those that use range measurement as a method of particle discrimination. Results of the measurements are given.
Translating research into everyday practice--the essential role of pediatric nurses.

Pediatric nurses play an essential role in translating research into best practices, thereby improving the quality of child and family health outcomes, as well as the quality of everyday practice. TRANSLATINGRESEARCHEVIDENCE into best clinical practices enhances the quality of pediatric nursing practice by improving child and family health outcomes. Given that the role of pediatric nurses is to promote the health and welfare of children and their families through excellent patient care (Hockenberry & Wilson, 2011), pediatric nurses are in a unique position to improve clinical practice. Excellence in pediatric nursing is achieved through the translation of research to guide clinical practice for children and their families (Christian, 2011). Evidence-based practice is the integration of best evidence with clinical expertise and patient preferences in clinical decision making (Polit & Beck, 2012) and then translation of clinical research into everyday practice (Hockenberry & Wilson, 2011). Thus, best practices for pediatric nursing improve the quality of care for children and their families (Christian, 2012). Moreover, pediatric nurses play an essential role in translating research evidence into clinical practice to improve the quality of care for children and their families. In this issue of the Journal of Pediatric Nursing, six articles demonstrate the essential role of pediatric nurses in translating research into best practices for improving child and family health outcomes:
Structural elucidation of a 2:2 4-ketoaldehyde-amine adduct as a model for lysine-directed cross-linking of proteins by 4-ketoaldehydes.

4-Ketoaldehydes react with lysine-based amines to form the same pyrroles that form in low yield by treatment of proteins with 4-hydroxy-2-alkenals generated endogenously during lipid peroxidation. Since pyrroles are susceptible to oxidative coupling, it has been presumed that the cross-linking of proteins observed for 4-ketoaldehydes involves the intermediacy of the corresponding lysine-derived pyrroles. However, the monoalkylpyrroles generated from simple 4-ketoaldehydes do not exhibit oxidative coupling within the time frame that 4-ketoaldehydes induce substantial protein cross-linking. Model studies have revealed that a side reaction competes with the formation of pyrroles from 4-ketoaldehydes and amines. In this paper, we show that this side reaction involves a non-redox aldol-like condensation process resulting in 2:2 adducts, which have been structurally characterized as isomeric pyrrolo[3.2.1]azabicyclooctanes. Formation of these 2:2 adducts in competition with pyrrole formation is proposed to repr...
Temporal Trends of Semivolatile Organic Contaminants in Great Lakes Precipitation

Precipitation was sampled around the Great Lakes as part of the Integrated Atmospheric Deposition Network (IADN) from 1991 to 1997. Many of the monthly volume weighted mean concentrations of the analytes have significantly decreased during the last 6 years with first-order half-lives on the order of 3 ± 2 years. There was little, if any, spatial variability in the observed half-lives, suggesting similar loss processes for the various lakes and suggesting that the decrease in precipitation concentrations reflects a regional decrease in environmental levels. The first-order half-lives of organochlorine pesticide concentrations in Great Lakes precipitation were not significantly different than the corresponding atmospheric gas-phase, lake water, and biota half-lives, suggesting that the entire system is at or near long-term equilibrium.
Structure of Escherichia coli AMP Nucleosidase Reveals Similarity to Nucleoside Phosphorylases

AMP nucleosidase (AMN) catalyzes the hydrolysis of AMP to form adenine and ribose 5-phosphate. The enzyme is found only in prokaryotes, where it plays a role in purine nucleoside salvage and intracellular AMP level regulation. Enzyme activity is stimulated by ATP and suppressed by phosphate. The structure of unliganded AMN was determined at 2.7 A resolution, and structures of the complexes with either formycin 5'-monophosphate or inorganic phosphate were determined at 2.6 A and 3.0 A resolution, respectively. AMN is a biological homohexamer, and each monomer is composed of two domains: a catalytic domain and a putative regulatory domain. The overall topology of the catalytic domain and some features of the substrate binding site resemble those of the nucleoside phosphorylases, demonstrating that AMN is a new member of the family. The structure of the regulatory domain consists of a long helix and a four-stranded sheet and has a novel topology.
Identity authentication in heterogeneous computing environments: a comparative study for an integrated framework

Identity authentication systems form the basis of many security mechanisms in many distributed computing environments today. All authentication mechanisms are based on some form of secret sharing coupled with some cryptographic methods. Each implementation is based on a conceptual model for authentication and makes certain assumptions about the network characteristics on which the distributed system is based. This paper presents conceptual models for authentication and their implementations because of their practical importance. The authentication methods are analysed in terms of their diversity, and a framework for interoperability in a heterogeneous environment is proposed.
Partial Laryngectomy in the Dog I. Healing and Swallowing Function in Normal Dogs

Laryngeal paralysis was created in normal dogs by sectioning the recurrent laryngeal nerves. The dogs were treated with bilateral vocal fold resection and unilateral partial arytenoidectomy, and sacrificed from 6 hours to 28 days following surgery. Swallowing abnormalities were not found in any of the dogs. Healing by granulation-epithelialization was complete by 14 days.
Novel Physical Solvents for Selective CO2 Capture from Fuel Gas Streams at Elevated Pressures and Temperatures

Three perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), PP10, PP11, and PP25, manufactured by F2 Chemicals Ltd., U.K., were investigated as physical solvents for selective CO2 capture from synthesis gas or syngas streams at elevated pressures and temperatures. The equilibrium solubility, the hydrodynamic, and the mass-transfer parameters of CO2 in the solvents were measured in a 4-L ZipperClave agitated reactor under wide ranges of operating conditions: pressures (6−30 bar), temperatures (300−500 K), mixing speeds (10−20 Hz), and liquid heights (0.14−0.22 m). The CO2 solubilities in the three solvents decreased with an increasing temperature at constant pressure and followed Henry’s law. The CO2 solubilities in PP25 were greater than those in PP10 and PP11. The volumetric liquid-side mass-transfer coefficients (kLa) of CO2 in the PFCs increased with mixing speed, pressure, and temperature. Also, the gas−liquid interfacial areas of CO2 in the three PFCs appeared to control the behavior of kLa. This study proved the thermal...
Social Discrimination in Traditional China: the To-Min of Shaohsing

very considerable social mobility, at least from the Sung dynasty (96-12z79) on. "Sheng kuan fa ts'ai" ("Rise into the officialdom and get rich") expressed the age-old dream of virtually every commoner family. In contrast to the aristocratic societies of premodern Europe and Japan, where entry into the elite was severely restricted by birth, China boasted a bureaucratic system in which officials were selected by a merit-oriented examination system where discrimination against the humble existed de facto, to be sure, but never de jure. Never? At least, hardly ever. Our concern below is a little-studied exception to the rule of social mobility in traditional China. The locus of this study is Chekiang province's Shaohsing a *) prefecture (southwest of Shanghai, between Hangchow and Ningpo). One fascinating aspect of local society in all eight counties of Shaohsing prefecture, plus part of Ningpo, was the hereditary group of d6class6, demeaned people, chien-min b, known in Shaohsing as the to-mine (literally "fallen people"). The homophone character to d meaning "lazy" was also used. An alternate name for the Shaohsing to-min was kai-hu e, "beggar households." The terms are used interchangably in gazetteer descriptions, and it is clear that, at least in Shaohsing, "beggar households" were not necessarily beggars 1).
Pharmaceutical care: desiderata

… the reception of a new paradigm often necessitates a redefinition of the corresponding science.
Homeless Adults on the Texas-Mexico Border: Results of a Point-in-Time Survey in One Texas Border Town

The southwestern borderland region of the United States is characterized by poverty, significant unemployment, and high rates of homelessness, especially among the immigrant population. One difficuly in determining how to assist the homeless is the lack of information about this population. This study was undertaken in response to the research gap in one border community - El Paso, Texas. The aim of this study is to determine the characteristics of homeless persons in El Paso using the "point in time" or "point prevalence" technique. The El Paso Coalition for the Homeless collaborated with the Social Work Program at the University of Texas at El Paso to address this issue. A total of 664 persons residing in homeless shelters were counted and 333 individuals were surveyed. Of these, 227 were adults over the age of 18. In this study, the characteristics of the people surveyed are described and compared to the general population of El Paso and the homeless population in a number of non-border locations.
Material damage evaluation with measured microdefects and multiresolution numerical analysis

This paper presents an alternative method of material damage evaluation based on the X-ray computer tomography-detected microdefects and multiscale computer simulation. This is achieved by developi...
Are physicians equipped to address the obesity epidemic? knowledge and attitudes of internal medicine residents☆

Abstract Background To analyze whether internists are suited for their role in treating the growing numbers of obese patients, we surveyed residents about their knowledge and attitudes regarding obesity. Previous assessments have not analyzed familiarity with obesity measurement tools or the correlation between knowledge and attitudes. Methods We administered a survey to 87 internal medicine residents in two urban, university-based residency programs. Results Almost all respondents understood the medical consequences of obesity, but 60% did not know the minimum BMI for diagnosing obesity, 69% did not recognize waist circumference as a reasonable measure of obesity, and 39% incorrectly reported their own BMI. Although nearly all respondents agreed that treating obesity was important, only 30% reported treatment success. Forty-four percent felt qualified to treat obese patients, and 31% reported treatment to be futile. Knowledge and attitudes were not correlated. Rasch analysis of knowledge and attitude subscales showed satisfactory model fit and item reliability of at least 0.96. Conclusions Despite solid knowledge of the comorbid conditions associated with obesity, residents have a poor grasp of the tools necessary to identify obesity. They also have negative opinions about their skills for treating obese patients. Residency training not only must improve knowledge of obesity measurement tools but also must address physicians’ negative attitudes toward obesity treatment.
Endoleak after endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm

Abstract Purpose: We sought to assess the role of endovascular techniques in the management of perigraft flow (endoleak) after endovascular repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Method: We performed endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm in 114 patients, using a variety of Gianturco Z-stent–based prostheses. Results were evaluated with contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) at 3 days, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and every year after the operation. An endoleak that occurred 3 days after operation led to repeat CT scanning at 2 weeks, followed by angiography and attempted endovascular treatment. Results: Endoleak was seen on the first postoperative CT scan in 21 (18%) patients and was still present at 2 weeks in 14 (12%). On the basis of angiographic localization of the inflow, the endoleak was pure type I in 3 cases, pure type II in 9, and mixed-pattern in 2. Of the 5 type I endoleaks, 3 were proximal and 2 were distal. All five resolved after endovascular implantation of additional stent-grafts, stents, and embolization coils. Although inferior mesenteric artery embolization was successful in 6 of 7 cases and lumbar embolization was successful in 4 of 7, only 1 of 11 primary type II endoleaks was shown to be resolved on CT scanning. There were no type III or type IV endoleaks (through the stent-graft). Endoleak was associated with aneurysm dilation two cases. In both cases, the aneurysm diameter stabilized after coil embolization of the inferior mesenteric artery. There were two secondary (delayed) endoleaks; one type I and one type II. The secondary type I endoleak and the associated aneurysm rupture were treated by use of an additional stent-graft. The secondary type II endoleak was not treated. Conclusions: Type I endoleaks represent a persistent risk of aneurysm rupture and should be treated promptly by endovascular means. Type II leaks are less dangerous and more difficult to treat, but coil embolization of feeding arteries may be warranted when leakage is associated with aneurysm enlargement. (J Vasc Surg 2001;34:98-105.)
Investigation of Ebola VP40 Assembly and Oligomerization in Live Cells Using Number and Brightness Analysis

Ebola virus assembles and buds from the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane of mammalian cells, which is primarily attributed to its major matrix protein VP40. Oligomerization of VP40 has been shown to be essential to the life cycle of the virus including formation of virions from infected cells. To date, VP40 oligomerization has mainly been assessed by chemical cross-linking following cell fractionation studies with VP40 transfected cells. This has made it difficult to discern the spatial and temporal dynamics of VP40 oligomerization. To gain a better understanding of the VP40 assembly and oligomerization process in live cells, we have employed real-time imaging of enhanced green fluorescent protein tagged VP40. Here, we use both confocal and total internal reflection microscopy coupled with number and brightness analysis to show that VP40 oligomers are localized on the plasma membrane and are highly enriched at sites of membrane protrusion, consistent with sites of viral budding. These filamentous plasma membrane protrusion sites harbor VP40 hexamers, octamers, and higher order oligomers. Consistent with previous reports, abrogation of VP40 oligomerization through mutagenesis greatly diminished VP40 egress and also abolished membrane protrusion sites enriched with VP40. In sum, real-time single-molecule imaging of fluorescently labeled Ebola VP40 is able to resolve the spatial and temporal dynamics of VP40 oligomerization.
A Phase II Study of Intraperitoneal Cisplatin and Thiotepa in Residual Ovarian Carcinoma: A Gynecologic Oncology Group Study

Abstract Objective.Patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer treated with salvage therapy using new combinations of systemic chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and systemic immunotherapy have had limited success. Since the most common site of relapse or failure to conventional systemic chemotherapy has been the peritoneal cavity, intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy was selected to treat small-volume residual disease. Methods.Sixty-five patients were entered on a protocol using intraperitoneal cisplatin and thiotepa following a response to intravenous cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Patients had surgically documented residual disease (0.5 cm or less maximum tumor diameter) at completion of preprotocol surgery and had no clinical, radiologic, or histologic evidence of extraperitoneal disease. Cisplatin (100 mg/m2) and thiotepa 30 mg/m2was delivered intraperitoneally every 4 weeks for a maximum of six cycles. The dose of thiotepa was reduced to 12 mg/m2due to unexpected severe myelosuppression. Results.Of the 52 evaluable patients, grade 4 neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, neurotoxicity, and nephrotoxicity were observed in 31, 19, 13, and 6% of patients, respectively. For all evaluable patients, the complete response rate was 19% and the partial response rate was 2% for a total response rate of 21%. Of 16 patients who had a reassessment laparotomy, 10 patients achieved a surgically documented complete response and 1 patient had a partial response. Four patients are still in response for 67+, 70+, 70+, and 73+ months after third-look surgery. Three patients who did not undergo third-look surgery after chemotherapy are alive and clinically free of disease at 49+, 69+, and 85+ months. Conclusion.Thiotepa, when used with cisplatin for IP salvage therapy in patients with advanced or recurrent ovarian cancer, may produce significant myelosuppression and doses must be adjusted accordingly. In cisplatin-sensitive patients with small-volume residual ovarian cancer, IP cisplatin and thiotepa appears to have activity. Determining the utility of this approach will require a randomized trial.
Mixed-valence, tetranuclearcobalt(III,IV) complexes: preparation and propertiesof[Co4O4(O2CR)2(bpy)4]3+ salts

Cyclic voltammetric examination of [Co4O4(O2CR)2- (bpy)4](ClO4)2 cubane complexes 1 (R = various; bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine) in MeCN reveals a one-electron reversible oxidation in the range 0.68–0.86 V vs. ferrocene; the one-electron oxidized clusters can be obtained in analytical purity by either controlled potential electrolysis to give [Co4O4(O2CR)2(bpy)4 ](ClO4)32 or oxidation with (NH4)2Ce(NO3)6 to give [Co4O4(O2CR)2(bpy)4 ][Ce(NO3)6] 3.
Radar polarimetry applied to scattering from irregular layered media

Full-wave expressions are derived for the Mueller matrix elements that provide a complete polarimetric characterization of the electromagnetic fields scattered from irregular layered media consisting of dielectric coatings over dissipative substrates. The upper interface between free space and the coating material and the substrate is a two-dimensionally random rough surface, and the bottom interface between the substrate and the coating material is a planar surface. Each term of the full-wave expression for the vertically or horizontally polarized electromagnetic fields scattered by the irregular stratified media is shown to have a clear physical interpretation. The full-wave solutions satisfy the reciprocity and duality relationships in electromagnetic theory and are invariant to coordinate transformations. The expressions for the scattered fields reduce to that for the specularly reflected wave when the layered structure is a parallel stratified medium. The Mueller matrix or the modified Mueller matrix are measurable quantities that are used to relate the scattered Stokes vector to the incident Stokes vector. The elements of these matrices are related to commonly measured quantities in remote sensing and in ellipsometry. The analysis is relevant to problems of communication in irregular stratified media, remote sensing of irregular stratified media, and interpretation of ellipsometric data obtained from layered media.
Technology for One-Shot Instruction and Beyond

Whether for a one-shot library session, mobile application demonstration, or active learning intervention, the options for classroom technology is limited mostly by budget. Here is a guide to low cost hardware, software, and dongles that can prove useful in instruction.
Memory and the Aesthetics of Deconstruction in Philip Roth's SABBATH’S THEATER

Philip Roth's novel Sabbath's Theater (1995) imparts a fondness for harnessing the innuendoes of critical theory, including but not limited to recognizable psychoanalyses. Leaving Freudian concepts...
Methylmethacrylate and Atrioventricular Conduction in Dogs

The effect of intravenous methylmethacrylate (MMA) on atrioventricular conduction times was studied in dogs, utilizing His-bundle electrograms. Dogs were anesthetized with halothane or enflurane; then MMA in a dose causing minimal to profound hemodynamic changes was administered and His-bundle electrograms, and arterial, pulmonary artery, and central venous pressures were recorded. This experimental model did not demonstrate a prolongation of atrioventricular conduction intervals which could be implicated as etiologic in MMA-induced dysrhythmias.
Catalysis by imidazolium ion and metal ions in the reaction of a phosphate diester

Abstract The rates of reaction of catechol cyclic phosphate in water and in acetonitrile-water demonstrate that imidazolium ion and metal ions (Na+, Mg2+, Zn2+) cause significant accelerations. These studies provide models for the potential role of cations in catalysis of reactions of phosphate anions by enzymes. In catalysis by Zn2+, we find that two to three imidazoles are required for coordination to Zn2+ for most effective catalysis. Enough water must be present to solvate imidazole and coordinate to Zn2+, indicating that a coordinated H2O is the nucleophile in Zn2+ catalysis. Product analysis also supports this conclusion.
Error-tolerant version space algebra

Application customization has been extensively researched in the field of Programming by Demonstration (PBD), and Version Space Algebra has proven itself to be a viable means of quickly learning precise action sequences from user demonstrations. However, this technique is not capable of handling user error in domains with actions that depend on parameters that accept myriad values. Activities such as image, audio and video editing require user actions that are difficult for users to precisely replicate in different circumstances. Demonstrations that are off by a single pixel or a split-second cause traditional composite Version Spaces to collapse. We present a method of incorporating error tolerance into Version Space algebra. This approach, termed Error-Tolerant Version Spaces, adapts Version Space Algebra to domains where the tactile capabilities of the user have a much greater chance of prematurely collapsing the hypothesis space that is being learned. The resulting framework is capable of quickly learning in domains where perfectly consistent user input can not be expected. We have successfully applied our technique in the domain of image redaction, allowing our users to quickly specify redactions that can be reliably applied to many images without the entry of explicit parameters.
Transfer of contact sensitivity to beryllium using dialyzable leukocyte extracts (transfer factor)

Transfer factor derived from lymphocytes of donors with strong cellular immunity against beryllium was intradermally or subcutaneously injected into unprimed or subclinically primed human recipients who were patch test-negative. These recipients were challenged with beryllium at weekly intervals thereafter. Subjects who had been subclinically primed and received transfer factor either intradermally or subcutaneously showed transient patch test reactivity to the challenge. Subjects who received transfer factor but were not primed and subjects who had been primed but did not receive transfer factor showed no such conversion. This is the first demonstration of transfer of contact sensitivity in man using transfer factor, and it suggests that subclinical priming is necessary for such transfers.
Interspecies metabolism of heterocyclic aromatic amines and the uncertainties in extrapolation of animal toxicity data for human risk assessment.

Heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) are potent bacterial mutagens that are formed in cooked meats, tobacco smoke condensate, and diesel exhaust. Many HAAs are carcinogenic in experimental animal models. Because of their wide-spread occurrence in the diet and environment, HAAs may contribute to some common types of human cancers. The extrapolation of animal toxicity data on HAAs to assess human health risk has many uncertainties, which can lead to tenuous risk assessment estimates. Perhaps the most critical and variable parameters in interspecies extrapolation are the effects of dose, species differences in catalytic activities of xenobiotic metabolism enzymes (XMEs), human XME polymorphisms that lead to interindividual differences in carcinogen metabolism, and dietary constituents that may either augment or diminish the carcinogenic potency of these genotoxins. The impact of these parameters on the metabolism and toxicological properties of HAAs and uncertainties in extrapolation of animal toxicity data for human risk assessment are presented in this article.
Proportionate-Type Steepest Descent and NLMS Algorithms

In this paper, a unified framework for representing proportionate type algorithms is presented. This novel representation enables a systematic approach to the problem of design and analysis of proportionate type algorithms. Within this unified framework, the feasibility of predicting the performance of a stochastic proportionate algorithm by analyzing the performance of its associated deterministic steepest descent algorithm is investigated, and found to have merit. Using this insight, various steepest descent algorithms are studied and used to predict and explain the behavior of their counterpart stochastic algorithms. In particular, it is shown that the mu-PNLMS algorithm possesses robust behavior. In addition to this, the epsiv-PNLMS algorithm is proposed and its performance is evaluated.
Reply [to “Lake Agassiz meltwater”]

We thank Eric Steig for his thoughtful comments, and we would like to reply to his three points. First, Steig notes that our results may challenge the assumed importance of meltwater in abrupt climate change. Although this may be one possible outcome of our work, the ongoing nature of our work on a Lake Agassiz meltwater source makes us offer that conclusion only tentatively. Second, Steig wonders if trying to understand the beginning of the Younger Dryas is the best approach to solving the puzzle of abrupt climate change. It may well be that cooling and warming phases of abrupt climate changes are driven by separate mechanisms. If we lack understanding, though, of the processes pushing the climate system into the cold phase, we are unlikely to have proper insight about the global boundary conditions under which the warming takes place. Because drainage rerouting from glacial Lake Agassiz has been a prime suspect for Younger Dryas climate change, it provides an appropriate first test.
Deletions of 20p12 in Alagille syndrome: Frequency and molecular characterization

Alagille syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder comprising cholestasis (associated with intrahepatic bile duct paucity), characteristic facial appearance, and cardiac, ocular and skeletal defects. Multiple patients have been reported with deletions or translocation involving 20p11.23-p12, providing evidence for the localization of the disease gene to this region. Fifty-six Alagille syndrome patients have been studied by cytogenetic and/or molecular analysis to determine the frequency of detectable abnormalities of 20p12. Two of fifty-six patients studied by cytogenetic analysis had abnormalities: an interstitial deletion in one patient and a translocation in another. Of forty-five patients studied by molecular analysis, three were found to have deletions of 20p, including the two patients identified with cytogenetic abnormalities. Molecular and molecular cytogenetic (FISH) analysis of the translocation (46,XX,t(2;20)(q21.3p12)) demonstrated a deletion at the translocation breakpoint. The deletions identified in the three patients are overlapping, contributing to the delineation of an Alagille syndrome critical region within 20p12. This region lies between markers D20S41 and D20S162. The frequency of detectable cytogenetic abnormalities of 20p12 in this group of Alagille patients is 2/56 (3.6%), and the frequency of molecular deletions is 3/45 (6.7%). This is considerably lower than the frequency of deletions observed in contiguous gene deletion syndromes suggesting that Alagille syndrome may be caused by the alteration of a single gene.
Effect of the amino versus the acylamino substituent on the product isomer distribution in the methanolysis of 5-(substituted)-2-[(methylsulfonyl)oxy]isoindole-1,3-diones

Abstract The effect of the NH 2 versus the CH 3 CONH and PhCH 2 CONH substituents at the 5-position in 5-(substituted)-2-[(methylsulfonyl)oxy]isoindole-1,3-diones, on the product isomer distribution resulting from methanolysis, was investigated both experimentally and at the RHF/3-21G ∗ , RHF/6-31+G ∗ and B3LYP/6-31+G ∗ levels of theory. The influence of solvent on the transition structure was investigated using the Onsager SCRF model. The influence of these substituents on the transition state (TS) leading to tetrahedral intermediate was studied. The 5-amino (para to C-1) function makes the C-1 carbonyl carbon more electron-rich and less reactive toward nucleophilic attack. A predominance of the isomer formed from initial nucleophilic attack at C-3 is observed for the NH 2 substituent, whereas this selectivity is greatly reduced for the acylamino substituents. Examination of the LUMO from ab initio calculations performed on the starting materials at the RHF/6-31G ∗ level give a good qualitative description of the regioselectivity observed from experiment. Calculated Δ E a values of this initial reaction step give a qualitative description of the experimentally observed regioselectivity in agreement with the LUMO model and resonance argument.
Nonexponential dissipation in a lossy elastodynamic billiard: Comparison with porter-thomas and random matrix predictions

We study the dissipation of diffuse ultrasonic energy in a reverberant body coupled to a waveguide, an analog for a mesoscopic electron in a quantum dot. A simple model predicts a Porter-Thomas distribution of level widths and corresponding nonexponential dissipation, a behavior largely confirmed by measurements. For the case of fully open channels, however, measurements deviate from this model to a statistically significant degree. A random matrix supersymmetric calculation is found to accurately model the observed behaviors at all coupling strengths.
Generating Scholarship from Public Service: Media Outreach, Nonprofit Foundation Service, and Legal Expert Consulting

Most public ence trators and colleges promotion. faculty service pay and only and is universities a their lip Yet requirement service many respective to stipulate political this for administenure "third that scipublic service is a requirement for tenure and promotion. Yet many political science faculty and their respective administrators pay only lip rv c o th "t ird leg" of a scholarly career, relying on teaching and research to shape most career decisions. This reality is particularly surprising in the context of the political science discipline, given that the nature of our scholarship provides many public service opportunities. However, the norms and pressures of academia in general are at play. Why, then, should political scientists engage in public service, much less become serious "pracademics"? Public service activities can provide numerous benefits to those political scientists who choose to engage in them. For some, public service is an altruistic activity that often naturally follows the public-mindedness that led them into the discipline in the first place. Volunteering on community boards and associations, managing political campaigns, or even running for elective office gives these individuals an outlet for their civic nature and helps them connect their broader social networks. Others value public service for its pedagogical value. Indeed, some academics view service as an essential factor in becoming an effective teacher. Public service can be used to liven up the classroom, with faculty recounting their war stories from the trenches, and stimulate active learning. It may even promote civic virtues among students, leading them to become more informed and involved in political life. But there is an additional reason why some academics engage in public service: to enhance their scholarship. This justification is especially common among faculty whose research is driven indirectly by questions induced from empirical observations of the "real world," rather than theoretical deductions. For reasons other than altruism or pedagogy, I have been drawn to public service for two decades because it helps energize my scholarship. Contrary to the conventional wisdom, as well as the advice of various senior colleagues along the way, public service is not necessarily detrimental to one's professional ambitions and career trajectoryquite the opposite. I have found that escaping the rarified surroundings of academia has helped me generate important new questions and offered me unique access to original data. Although plenty of other positive externalities certainly result from this type of engagementincluding service to the community and the generation of myriad examples for the classroomI spend a considerable amount of time and energy doing media outreach, nonprofit foundation service, and expert consulting on lawsuits, because being a pracademic makes me a better scholar.
Why Ethics is a High Hurdle for AI

I argue that there is a gap between so-called “ethical reasoners” and “ethical-decision makers” that can’t be bridged by simply giving an ethical reasoner decision-making abilities. Ethical reasoning qua reasoning is distinguished from other sorts of reasoning mainly by being incredibly difficult, because it involves such thorny problems such as analogical reasoning, and deciding the applicability of imprecise precepts and resolving conflicts among them. The ability to do ethical-decision making, however, requires knowing what an ethical conflict is, i.e., a clash between self-interest and what ethics prescribes. I construct a fanciful scenario in which a program could find itself in what seems like such a conflict, but argue that in any such situation the program’s “predicament” would not count as a real ethical conflict. Hence, for now it is unclear how even resolving all of the difficult problems surrounding ethical reasoning would yield a theory of “machine ethics.”
Multifunctional nano-accordion structures for stretchable transparent conductors

Multifunctional nano-accordion structures exhibiting a unique combination of conductivity, stretchability, and transparency are fabricated through a combination of nanolithography and atomic layer deposition. The nanostructured material demonstrated two orders-of-magnitude improvement in stretchability, repeatable electrical performance for cyclic stretching and bending, and broadband optical transmission up to 70%. The proposed experimental techniques and analytical models enable the deterministic design of nano-accordion geometry to control material stretchability. The proposed nanostructures are promising for applications in transparent flexible electronics, stretchable displays, and wearable sensors.
Axons and dendrites originate from neuroepithelial-like processes of retinal bipolar cells

The cellular mechanisms underlying axogenesis and dendritogenesis are not completely understood. The axons and dendrites of retinal bipolar cells, which contact their synaptic partners within specific laminae in the inner and outer retina, provide a good system for exploring these issues. Using transgenic mice expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (GFP) in a subset of bipolar cells, we determined that axonal and dendritic arbors of these interneurons develop directly from apical and basal processes attached to the outer and inner limiting membranes, respectively. Selective stabilization of processes contributed to stratification of axonal and dendritic arbors within the appropriate synaptic layer. This unusual mode of axogenesis and dendritogenesis from neuroepithelial-like processes may act to preserve neighbor-neighbor relationships in synaptic wiring between the outer and inner retina.
Assessment of Decision-Making Capacity: Views and Experiences of Consultation Psychiatrists

Background Decision-making capacity (DMC) assessments can have profound consequences for patients. With an aging population, an increasing emphasis on shared decision-making, and a rising number of potential medical interventions, the need for such assessments will continue to grow. Objective To assess psychosomatic medicine clinicians' training, experiences, and views about DMC assessments. Method Online survey of members of the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine (APM). Of 780 eligible members, 288 responded to the survey (36.9% response rate). Results Approximately 1 in 6 psychiatric consultations are DMC assessments. Ninety percent of respondents reported that at least half of their capacity assessments involve patients older than 60 years. DMC assessments were seen as more challenging and time-consuming than other types of consultations; yet training in capacity evaluations was seen as suboptimal and half of respondents felt the evidence-base guiding DMC assessment is somewhat or much weaker than for other types of psychiatric consultations. In addition, the practice of capacity assessment seems to vary widely with no consistent approach among respondents. Respondents strongly endorsed multiple areas and topics for potential future research, indicating a desire for a stronger evidence-base. Conclusions Members of the APM perceive capacity assessments as common and challenging. Yet they perceive having received subpar training with relatively weak evidence to guide their current practice. Future research should address these potential deficiencies, given the likelihood that DMC assessments will only become more common.
Practices of information and secrecy in a punk rock subculture

By examining the information practices of a punk-rock subculture, we investigate the limits of social media systems, particularly limits exposed by practices of secrecy. Looking at the exchange of information about "underground" shows, we use qualitative interviews to examine uses of social media among fans. This initial analysis centers on understanding the tactical practices of information and technology to avoid police detection, particularly by comparing uses of more traditional online forums, such as message boards, with social network sites, such as Facebook. Understanding the uses and preferences for distinct technologies sheds light on how localized social context drives technological use. These findings are furthermore useful in their implications for design of applications sensitive to granular needs of users for secrecy.
Evaluating the efficacy of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonism in patients with STEMI without heart failure

This editorial refers to ‘Early eplerenone treatment in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction without heart failure: the randomized double-blind REMINDER study’[†][1], by G. Montalescot et al ., on page 2295 There are three key elements to any clinical trial: study population, study intervention, and outcome. The REMINDER study1 reported by Montalescot et al. , is worth considering in detail because of how the investigators ultimately decided these three questions: the choice of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients without heart failure as the population of interest, the selection of the mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) eplerenone as the intervention, and the use of natriuretic peptides as the principal measurement of efficacy. To summarize, the REMINDER study randomized 1012 patients presenting with STEMI but no evidence of heart failure to eplerenone or placebo within 24 h of symptoms, and followed them for ∼10 months. Treatment with eplerenone significantly reduced the risk of a composite endpoint of an elevated natriuretic peptide or an extended list of clinical events by >40% compared with placebo, mostly driven by lower levels of natriuretic peptides at least 1 month after randomization. Most studies evaluating therapy to improve remodelling focus only on patients with large, anterior STEMI or an ejection fraction 77 000 patients with STEMI enrolled in one contemporary registry, only 12% presented with heart failure and just 3.6% developed heart failure after admission,2 a substantially lower number than earlier cohorts.3 Moreover, only 20% of patients with STEMI and no heart failure in this registry had an ejection fraction <40%2 ( Figure 1 ). Studies … [1]: #fn-2
Quantitative chemical analysis of fluorite-to-perovskite transformations in (Pb,La)(Zr,Ti)O3 PLZT thin films

Lead loss during processing of solution-derived Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (PZT)-based thin-films can result in the formation of a Pb-deficient, nonferroelectric fluorite phase that is detrimental to dielectric properties. It has recently been shown that this nonferroelectric fluorite phase can be converted to the desired perovskite phase by postcrystallization treatment. Here, quantitative standard-based energy-dispersive x-ray spectrometry (EDS) in a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) is used to study cation distribution before and after this fluorite-to-perovskite transformation. Single-phase perovskite PbZr0.53Ti0.47O3 (PZT 53/47) and Pb0.88La0.12Zr0.68Ti0.29O3 (PLZT 12/70/30) specimens that underwent this treatment were found to be chemically indistinguishable from the perovskite present in the multiphase specimens prior to the fluorite-to-perovskite transformation. Significant Zr–Ti segregation is found in PLZT 12/70/30, but not in PZT 53/47. Slight La-segregation was seen in rapidly crystallized PLZT, but not in more slowly crystallized PLZT.