cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pancreatic Cancer Following Incident Diabetes in African Americans and Latinos: The Multiethnic Cohort

Background Diabetes has been proposed to be a risk factor for and a consequence of pancreatic cancer (PC). The relationship between recent-onset diabetes and PC is not well understood, and data in minorities are sparse. We examined the relationships between recent-onset diabetes and PC incidence in African Americans and Latinos in the Multiethnic Cohort. Methods A total of 48 995 African Americans and Latinos without prior diabetes and cancer at baseline (1993-1996) were included in the study. Questionnaires, Medicare data, and California hospital discharge files were used to identify new diabetes diagnoses. Cox regressions were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for cancer associated with diabetes and with diabetes duration. Results A total of 15 833 (32.3%) participants developed diabetes between baseline and 2013. A total of 408 incident PC cases were identified during follow-up. Diabetes was associated with PC (HRage75 = 2.39, 95% CI = 1.91 to 2.98). Individuals with recent-onset diabetes (within three or fewer years of PC diagnosis) had a greater risk compared with those with long-term diabetes across all ages. The HRage75 for recent-onset diabetes was 4.08 (95% CI = 2.76 to 6.03) in Latinos and 3.38 (95% CI = 2.30 to 4.98) in African Americans. Conclusions Diabetes was associated with a more than twofold higher risk of PC in African Americans and Latinos, but recent-onset diabetes was associated with a 2.3-fold greater increase in risk of PC than long-standing diabetes. Our findings support the hypothesis that recent-onset diabetes is a manifestation of PC and that long-standing diabetes is a risk factor for this malignancy.
Constructive Function Theory

The goal of this section is the construction, by means of sums and products of simpler functions, of holomorphic functions with prescribed behavior. In what follows, when we speak of a sequence of complex numbers we ordinarily mean a sequence with multiplicity, so that a function taking some value at a point of the sequence must take that value with the appropriate multiplicity. We also exclude the trivial function f ≡ 0 unless otherwise noted.
Transportation and Well-Being

In large metropolitan areas of the United States, the work day routinely begins with a monumental traffic jam. Traffic congestion prevails in America primarily because commuters prefer to travel to and from work by private automobile (cf. Aangeenbrug, 1965; Catanese, 1972). In 1970, approximately 66% of the American labor force traveled to work by private car (Federal Highway Administration, 1977). Within certain metropolitan areas (e.g., Atlanta, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, and Orange County, California), the proportion of automobile commuters ranged from 85% to 93%. Despite the recent surge and projected increases in the cost of fuel, the proportion of automobile commuters in the national work force is expected to be about 73% by 1990 (cf. Kain, Fauth, & Zax, 1977).
TGF-β Signaling

Targeted therapies for breast cancer rely on an understanding of cellular signaling in both normal and neoplastic tissue. The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling pathway is an important regulator of both normal mammary gland development and mammary carcinogenesis. The TGF-β signaling pathway regulates numerous cellular processes in breast tissue, including proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion, in addition to contributing to angiogenesis and modulation of the immune system. TGF-β often has opposing effects on these cellular processes, with its effects being both cell and context specific. Moreover, TGF-β possesses a unique dichotomy of function in breast cancer progression, acting as a tumor suppressor early in breast cancer carcinogenesis and then as a tumor promoter in the later stages of breast cancer progression. Highlighting the complexities inherent in TGF-β signaling, along with our current efforts to better our understanding of it, we outline several strategies that may enable us to create focused therapies in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer.
The role of the erythroid-specific delta-aminolevulinate synthase gene expression in erythroid heme synthesis.

Using antisense technology, the effects of suppressed gene expression of the erythroid-specific δ-aminolevulinate (ALA) synthase (ALAS-E) on heme synthesis, expression of mRNAs encoding an erythroid-specific transcription factor NF-E2, other heme pathway enzymes, and β-globin were examined in murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cells. In MEL cells in which an antisense ALAS-E RNA was expressed (AS clone), sense ALAS-E mRNA levels in both untreated and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO)-treated cells were decreased compared with their respective controls. Heme synthesis in AS clones was decreased in proportion to the suppressed levels of ALAS-E mRNA. In addition, mRNAs for ALA dehydratase, porphobilinogen deaminase, ferrochelatase (FeC), and β-globin were also decreased in AS clones. There was a strong correlation between the level of ALAS-E mRNA and most of the mRNAs of the heme pathway enzymes and β-globin. There was a decrease in the mRNA level of p45, but not of mafK, which are the large and the small subunits of NF-E2, respectively, in AS clones. Treatment of AS cells with hemin and ALA in the presence of DMSO partially restored the suppressed mRNA levels for β-globin and FeC and heme content, respectively. These findings thus indicate that heme formation, which is determined by the level of ALAS-E, plays an essential role on gene expression of many proteins necessary for erythroid development.
Dynamics of a Pair of Ellipsoidal Microparticles under a Uniform Magnetic Field

Under a uniform magnetic field, magnetic particles tend to form chains, clusters or columns due to particle-particle interactions between the particles. The magnetic particles with non-spherical shape dispersed in liquid medium show different rheological properties. However, there is a lack of fundamental mechanism of the particle-particle interactions of non-spherical particles under the uniform magnetic field. In this work, we numerically investigate the particle-particle interactions and relative motions of a pair of paramagnetic elliptical particles by using the direct numerical simulations that resolve the magnetic and flow fields around the finite sized particles. The modeling is based on the finite element method and arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian approach with a full consideration of particle-fluid-magnetic field interaction. The effects of initial position and aspect ratio of the particles are investigated. The results show that the particles spend much more time for the global reorientation than for the local magneto-orientation. Larger initial relative angles and distances, and larger aspect ratios tend to require more time to form a stable chain. The particle-particle interactions and relative motion of two particles in this study provides a possible explanation for the fundamental mechanism in the experiment.
Diagnostic Accuracy and Time-Saving Effects of Point-of-Care Ultrasonography in Patients With Small Bowel Obstruction: A Prospective Study

Study objective We evaluate the accuracy of point-of-care ultrasonography compared with computed tomographic (CT) scan and assess the potential time-saving effect of point-of-care ultrasonography in diagnosing small bowel obstruction. Methods This was a prospective observational study of a convenience sample of patients with suspected small bowel obstruction in an academic emergency department (ED). Physician sonographers were blinded to clinical data, laboratory results, and CT scan findings. Point-of-care ultrasonographic findings of small bowel obstruction was the primary outcome, defined as bowel-loop diameter greater than or equal to 25 mm with abnormal peristalsis. Maximum bowel dilatation, visible peristalsis, interluminal free fluid, and bowel wall thickness were evaluated. Time to completion of imaging results was abstracted from the medical records for each imaging modality. Results The study included 125 patients (median age 54.0 years [interquartile range 43 to 63 years]; 46% men), of whom 32 (25.6%) had small bowel obstruction, and 9 (7.2%) underwent surgery for it. Overall, the sensitivity of point-of-care ultrasonography for small bowel obstruction was 87.5% (95% confidence interval 71.0% to 96.5%), and specificity was 75.3% (95% confidence interval 65.2% to 83.6%). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve to accurately predict small bowel obstruction was 0.74 (95% confidence interval 0.66 to 0.82). Results were similar across evaluated subgroups, including physician training level. The average time to obtain a CT scan report was 3 hours, 42 minutes; obtaining an abdominal radiograph took 1 hour, 38 minutes; and the mean elapsed time to complete point-of-care ultrasonography was 11 minutes. Conclusion In ED patients with suspected small bowel obstruction, point-of-care ultrasonography has a reasonably high accuracy in diagnosing small bowel obstruction compared with CT scan, and may substantially decrease the time to diagnosis.
Preferences for adult pneumococcal vaccine recommendations among United States health care providers

In 2014, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) followed by 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) for all adults aged ≥ 65 years, with a commitment to revisit the recommendation for PCV13 because of declining vaccine-type disease. The Evidence-to-Recommendation framework used by the ACIP includes review of evidence regarding feasibility and stakeholder acceptability, but no surveys of vaccinator preferences have been published in the literature. Physicians (N = 700), physician assistants (N = 100), pharmacists (N = 100), and nurse practitioners (N = 100) who recently prescribed, administered, or recommended adult pneumococcal vaccine were surveyed in March 2018. Object-case best–worst scaling was used to assess preferences among potential recommendation scenarios: retaining the then-current 2014 recommendation without a scheduled re-evaluation, retaining with a scheduled re-evaluation, revising PCV13 to Category B (retaining PPSV23 as Category A), removing PCV13 (retaining PPSV23 as Category A), and removing both PCV13 and PPSV23. Providers’ most preferred recommendations were retaining the 2014 recommendation with another planned re-evaluation (52.6%) and retaining the then-current recommendation without planned re-evaluation (40.0%). Few preferred changing PCV13 to Category B (3.2%), removing PCV13 (3.7%), or removing both pneumococcal vaccines (0.5%). The majority of vaccinators surveyed preferred to retain the 2014 recommendation, either with another scheduled reassessment or indefinitely. Pfizer, Inc.
Antibody-Drug Conjugates in Urothelial Carcinomas

Urothelial carcinoma (UC) is a common malignancy with an urgent need for more effective and less toxic treatment strategies. Antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) represents a novel therapeutic approach, which combines the high specificity of monoclonal antibodies covalently linked with highly active cytotoxic agents. UC is an appropriate candidate for these drugs, as it expresses unique cell surface antigens that allow for specific targeting of these cells. We hereby present a review of the current literature and future perspectives of ADC treatment in early-stage and metastatic UC. Several ADCs are in advanced stages of development and approval, such as intravesical oportuzumab monatox in BCG-refractory non-muscle invasive bladder cancer and enfortumab vedotin and sacituzumab govitecan in pretreated metastatic UC. Other agents are in earlier stages of development, including some promising anti-Her2 agents. The favorable toxicity profile of these agents led to several combination strategies, especially with checkpoint inhibitors. In light of the encouraging results presented in this review and the recent FDA approval of enfortumab vedotin, ADCs will likely be incorporated in the management of UC in the near future.
GDF15 Induces an Aversive Visceral Malaise State that Drives Anorexia and Weight Loss.

Summary The anorectic and weight-suppressive effects of growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF15) are attracting considerable attention for treating obesity. Current experiments in rats investigate whether GDF15 induces an aversive visceral malaise-based state that mediates its acute anorectic effect and, through aversion conditioning, exerts longer-term anorexia. Visceral malaise, conditioned affective food responses (taste reactivity), gastric emptying (GE), food intake, and body weight are evaluated after acute and chronic systemic dosing of GDF15 or long-acting Fc-GDF15. Pica, a marker of visceral malaise, is present at all anorectic GDF15 doses. Moreover, malaise induced by GDF15 does not decline over time, suggesting the lack of an improved tolerance after prolonged exposure. One association between GDF15 and novel food conditions a disgust/aversive response that persists beyond GDF15 acute action. Delayed GE is not a requirement for GDF15-induced anorexia. Clinical studies are required to evaluate whether GDF15’s aversive-state-based anorexia will be contraindicated as an obesity treatment.
A Quality Improvement Project to Reduce Combination Acetaminophen-opioid Prescriptions to Pediatric Orthopedic Patients.

Background Acetaminophen-opioid analgesics are among the most commonly prescribed pain medications in pediatric orthopedic patients. However, these combined opioid analgesics do not allow for individual medication titration, which can increase the risk of opioid misuse and hepatoxicity from acetaminophen. The primary aim of this quality improvement project was to alter the prescribing habits of pediatric orthopedic providers at our institution from postoperative acetaminophen-opioid analgesics to independent acetaminophen and opioids. Methods The study took place in a level 1 trauma center at a children's hospital. A multidisciplinary team of health professionals utilized lean methodology to develop a project plan. Guided by a key driver diagram, we removed acetaminophen-oxycodone products from hospital formulary, implemented a revised inpatient and outpatient electronic order set, and conducted multiple education efforts. Outcomes included inpatient and outpatient percent combined acetaminophen-opioid orders by surgical providers over 27 months. Results Before the intervention, inpatient acetaminophen-opioid products accounted for an average of 46% of all opioid prescriptions for orthopedic patients. After the intervention and multiple educational efforts, we reported a reduction in the acetaminophen-opioid products to 2.9%. For outpatient prescriptions, combined analgesics accounted for 88% before the intervention, and we reported a reduction to 15% after the intervention. Conclusions By removing acetaminophen-oxycodone products from hospital formulary, educating the medical staff, and employing revised electronic order sets, the prescribing practice of pediatric orthopedic surgeons changed from the routine use of acetaminophen-opioid analgesics to independent medications.
Telemedicine versus face-to-face delivery of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia: a randomized controlled noninferiority trial.

Study objectives In a randomized controlled noninferiority trial, we compared face-to-face and telemedicine delivery (via the AASM SleepTM platform) of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for insomnia for improving insomnia/sleep and daytime functioning at posttreatment and 3-month follow-up. A secondary objective compared the modalities on treatment credibility, satisfaction, and therapeutic alliance. Methods A total of 65 adults with chronic insomnia (46 women, 47.2 ± 16.3 years of age) were randomized to 6 sessions of CBT for insomnia delivered individually via AASM SleepTM (n = 33, CBT-TM) or face-to-face (n = 32, CBT-F2F). Participants completed sleep diaries, the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and daytime functioning measures at pretreatment, posttreatment, and 3-month follow-up. Treatment credibility, satisfaction, and therapeutic alliance were compared between treatment modalities. The ISI was the primary noninferiority outcome. Results Based on a noninferiority margin of four points on the ISI and, after adjusting for confounders, CBT-TM was noninferior to CBT-F2F at posttreatment (β = 0.54, SE = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.64 to 2.72) and follow-up (β = 0.34, SE = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.83 to 2.53). Daytime functioning measures, except the physical composite scale of the SF-12, were significantly improved at posttreatment and follow-up, with no difference between treatment formats. CBT-TM sessions were, on average, nearly 10 min shorter, yet participant ratings of therapeutic alliance were similar to CBT-F2F. Conclusions Telemedicine delivery of CBT for insomnia is not inferior to face-to-face for insomnia severity and yields similar improvements on other sleep and daytime functioning outcomes. Further, telemedicine allows for more efficient treatment delivery while not compromising therapeutic alliance. Clinical trial registration number NCT03293745.
Force variability is mostly not motor noise: Theoretical implications for motor control.

Variability in muscle force is a hallmark of healthy and pathological human behavior. Predominant theories of sensorimotor control assume ‘motor noise’ leads to force variability and its ‘signal dependence’ (variability in muscle force whose amplitude increases with intensity of neural drive). Here, we demonstrate that the two proposed mechanisms for motor noise (i.e. the stochastic nature of motor unit discharge and unfused tetanic contraction) cannot account for the majority of force variability nor for its signal dependence. We do so by considering three previously underappreciated but physiologically important features of a population of motor units: 1) fusion of motor unit twitches, 2) coupling among motoneuron discharge rate, cross-bridge dynamics, and muscle mechanics, and 3) a series-elastic element to account for the aponeurosis and tendon. These results argue strongly against the idea that force variability and the resulting kinematic variability are generated primarily by ‘motor noise.’ Rather, they underscore the importance of variability arising from properties of control strategies embodied through distributed sensorimotor systems. As such, our study provides a critical path toward developing theories and models of sensorimotor control that provide a physiologically valid and clinically useful understanding of healthy and pathologic force variability.
Index of Suspicion in the Nursery

A term infant girl is born via vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery to a 28-year-old G1P0, now P1, rubella-nonimmune woman who has otherwise unremarkable serology results. Membranes ruptured approximately 6 hours prior to delivery and Apgar scores are 6 and 8 at 1 and 5 minutes, respectively. She is admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at 35 hours of age for desaturations to 80% on room air associated with bottle feeding. She has a weak cry at birth for which supplemental blow-by oxygen is administered briefly. Subsequently, she has adequate oxygen saturations and is transferred to the mother when desaturations recur with feeding attempts. A nasogastric (NG) tube is placed without difficulty. Chest radiograph and complete blood count findings are unremarkable. Blood is drawn and antibiotics initiated until blood culture is negative at 48 hours. Upper gastrointestinal contrast study yields normal results without evidence of tracheoesophageal fistula or malrotation. Cardiac evaluation, including echocardiography, does not reveal anatomic abnormality. Results of head ultrasonography, brain magnetic resonance imaging, and electroencephalography are within normal limits. No desaturations occur with gavage feeding. Upon repeat attempt at oral feeding, the infant exhibits lack of appropriate suck and swallow coordination and persistent desaturations …
Sequence determinants of in cell condensate assembly morphology, dynamics, and oligomerization as measured by number and brightness analysis

Abstract Background Biomolecular condensates are non-stoichiometric assemblies that are characterized by their capacity to spatially concentrate biomolecules and play a key role in cellular organization. Proteins that drive the formation of biomolecular condensates frequently contain oligomerization domains and intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs), both of which can contribute multivalent interactions that drive higher-order assembly. Our understanding of the relative and temporal contribution of oligomerization domains and IDRs to the material properties of in vivo biomolecular condensates is limited. Similarly, the spatial and temporal dependence of protein oligomeric state inside condensates has been largely unexplored in vivo. Methods In this study, we combined quantitative microscopy with number and brightness analysis to investigate the aging, material properties, and protein oligomeric state of biomolecular condensates in vivo. Our work is focused on condensates formed by AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR 19 (ARF19), which is a transcription factor integral to the signaling pathway for the plant hormone auxin. ARF19 contains a large central glutamine-rich IDR and a C-terminal Phox Bem1 (PB1) oligomerization domain and forms cytoplasmic condensates. Results Our results reveal that the IDR amino acid composition can influence the morphology and material properties of ARF19 condensates. In contrast the distribution of oligomeric species within condensates appears insensitive to the IDR composition. In addition, we identified a relationship between the abundance of higher- and lower-order oligomers within individual condensates and their apparent fluidity. Conclusions IDR amino acid composition affects condensate morphology and material properties. In ARF condensates, altering the amino acid composition of the IDR did not greatly affect the oligomeric state of proteins within the condensate.
Workshops on Research Directions and Opportunities I: Current Programs

The goal of the workshop was to stimulate discussion of current research directions by remarks of the panelists and by questions and comments from the audience. Summaries of the comments from the panelists are given below.
Manipulating Loblolly Pine (Pinus Taeda L.) Seed Germination with Simulated Moisture and Temperature Stress

Temperature and available moisture are environmental variables with substantial control over seed germination. Speed and completeness of germination in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) seed strongly influence seedling yields. The impact of moisture and temperature on loblolly seed performance was investigated by germinating seed at temperatures cycling between optimal (21°C) and stressful (13°C or 35°C) or in the presence of osmotically simulated moisture stress ranging between -300 kPa and -1500 kPa. The rate of germination was significantly reduced by exposure to the low temperature treatment. Any level of osmotically induced moisture stress decreased the rate and, ultimately, total germination. The impact of temperature or moisture stress was partially mitigated by increasing the stratification interval prior to germination. Consequently, low temperatures and/or decreased availability of moisture represent potential environmental restrictions on crop establishment and subsequent seedling yields. Germination patterns of seed experiencing environmental stress can be improved by extending the interval of stratification prior to sowing.
Neural Networks and Their Applications

The current interest in artificial neural networks can be attributed, in part, to the development of the modern computer. Since the advent of inexpensive, efficient, highstorage capacity computers, there has been an information explosion in many scientific disciplines as researchers are able to acquire larger and more comprehensive data sets. The interpretation of much of these data often requires manual inspection by scientists, especially when traditional methods of analysis do not appear to find the important relationships in the data. Manual inspection of data can be repetitive, time consuming, and difficult when many variables are involved simultaneously. Several novel processing schemes have been devised that attempt to supplement traditional signal processing techniques in difficult applications. One such approach for finding interesting relationships in multivariate data is the field of artificial neural networks (ANN).
Herpeslike Virus Isolated from Spontaneously Degenerated Tissue Culture Derived from Leukemia-susceptible Guinea Pigs

Abstract A herpeslike virus was consistently isolated from leukemia-susceptible strain 2 guinea pigs, but not from other strains known to be resistant to this leukemia.
Design trade-offs for networks with soft end-to-end timing constraints

As broadband capabilities on wired, wireless and mobile phone networks proliferate, real-time multimedia traffic is expected to consume higher portions of the available bandwidth. Usage models in such networks range from low-cost VoIP to high-cost, high-quality, high-resolution video streams along with many intermediate data streams. Video flows, however, have stochastic processing requirements, and they may result in very low utilization levels if traditional real-time scheduling techniques are used. This calls for new analytical methods. In this paper, we illustrate a set of new techniques for reasoning about the lateness of such stochastic flows, and apply it to engineer a wired multihop real-time network. We make use of 4 dominant parameters to characterize the design space: end-to-end deadline, acceptable lateness, the number of hops and the network workload. Given any three of these parameters, the remaining parameter can be computed. For instance, if a stochastic flow passes through 10 nodes, its end-to-end deadline is 150 ms, and no more than 0.1% of the packets can be late, what is the maximum allowable system workload that would satisfy the lateness requirements? This maximum allowable workload can then be used to develop for the admission control policy to guarantee that the specified timeliness requirements are met. This paper provides insights into real-time network effects and rules of thumb to properly engineer a high utilization real-time EDF (earliest deadline first) network. Simulation and experimental results validate our methods. Our techniques are further applicable to heterogeneous network cases where some nodes on the flow path are bottlenecks or have cross traffic from other flows.
Reduced common-mode noise modulation strategies for gradient driver with cascaded H-bridge multilevel structure

This work presents detailed analysis for the Common Mode Voltage (CMV) in a two stages cascaded gradient driver system. The vector modulation method is proposed to eliminate or reduce the CM voltage in a cascaded system without a neutral or ground point. The method is demonstrated through two stages example but can be extended to topology with more stages in cascaded. Meanwhile, the power stage output ringing caused by the stray parameters is analyzed in detail and proper damping method is proposed. A hardware prototype is fabricated and tested to validate the analysis.
Differential effects of insemination volume and substance on reproductive changes in honey bee queens (Apis mellifera L.).

Mating causes dramatic changes in female insects at the behavioural, physiological and molecular level. The factors driving these changes (e.g. seminal proteins, seminal volume) and the molecular pathways by which these factors are operating have been characterized only in a handful of insect species. In the present study, we use instrumental insemination of honey bee queens to examine the role of the insemination substance and volume in triggering post-mating changes. We also examine differences in gene expression patterns in the fat bodies of queens with highly activated ovaries to determine if events during copulation can cause long-term changes in gene expression. We found that the instrumental insemination procedure alone caused cessation of mating flights and triggered ovary activation, with high-volume inseminated queens having the greatest ovary activation. Hierarchical clustering grouped queens primarily by insemination substance and then insemination volume, suggesting that while volume may trigger short-term physiological changes (i.e. ovary activation) substance plays a greater role in regulating long-term transcriptional changes. The results of gene ontology analysis and comparison with previous studies suggest that both insemination substance and volume trigger molecular post-mating changes by altering overlapping gene pathways involved in honey bee reproduction. We also discuss the effects on two genes (vitellogenin and transferrin) involved in reproduction and defence responses.
Warning: Contraceptive Drugs May Cause Political Headaches

Opponents of the new federal policy regarding insurance coverage of contraception have reframed it as discrimination against religion. But the controversy is fundamentally about our multicultural society's cross-subsidization of the varied choices of its citizens.
Cortical projections of the thalamic mediodorsal nucleus in the rabbit.

Abstract The cortical projection of the thalamic mediodorsal nuclear complex (MD) in the rabbit was mapped with retrograde horseradish peroxidase and anterograde tritiated proline techniques. The projection field occupied the entire medial wall rostral to a mid corpus callosal level, wrapped around the frontal pole onto the lateral convexity and tailed off caudally on the dorsal bank of the rhinal sulcus. The projection of the lateral approximately one-half of MD, the half which does not receive olfactory input, was confined to medial cortex supplying all but the most rostral region. This projection field of lateral MD was precisely organized in two dimensions with the most lateral part projecting most caudally and the most dorsal part projecting most ventrally. A representation for the third, anterior-posterior (A-P), dimension was not evident since any cortical point within the field was supplied by a cylinder of cells extending the entire A-P extent of lateral MD. The medial half of MD, which does receive olfactory input, projected to the remaining rostral medial cortex, the lateral convexity and rhinal sulcal region. The inverse dorsoventral relationship was partially preserved and an overlapping A-P gradient was present with sulcal projections originating more caudally in medial MD and the rostral medial projection originating more rostrally.
Integrative Literature Review: Human Capital Planning--A Review of Literature and Implications for Human Resource Development.

The shift in the U.S. economy from a manufacturing powerhouse to a service-driven economy has placed a great emphasis on human capital planning within organizations in order to remain competitive i...
Seasonal Distribution of Synanthedon exitiosa in the Georgia Peach Belt Monitored by Pheromone Trapping

Seasonal flight activity of peachtree borer, Synanthedon exitiosa (Say), males was monitored from 1975–77 in the Georgia peach belt (Peach, Houston, and Crawford Co.) by recording captures in sticky traps baited with a synthetic sex pheromone. Male moth flight began in late Apr., peaked in late Aug. or early Sept. and ended the last week of Oct. Emergence trapping patterns were essentially the same for different environmental locations sampled, regardless of the pheromone concentration used, except that seasonal flight was shorter in the piedmont area. Pheromone trap monitoring appears to be adequate for detecting infestations and characterizing seasonal flight activity.
Biologically Available Iodine in Goitrogenic Diets

Eight different sources of low-iodine diet (LID) were tested in mice over 14 years. The available iodine in each diet was measured by isotopic equilibration. Commercially prepared Remington diets contained 6.8 to 69.3 ng available iodine/g, and the results were usually different from shipment to shipment. Some samples produced greatly enlarged thyroids. The Remington diets from two sources were occasionally low in iodine but produced little thyroid enlargement. Between 1977 and 1980 only one shipment of Remington diet was found to contain less than 10 ng available I/g, and it resulted in large goiters. Since 1980 other compositions of LID have been used, but they caused additional abnormalities during breeding or chronic feeding. A low-iodine wheat diet produced goiter in mice more readily than in rats. In the course of testing for unavailable forms of dietary iodine, it was found that only 34.2% of thyroxine iodine was available to the thyroid iodine pool of mice. It is concluded that unidentified nutritional deficiency or dietary contaminants can alter the goitrogenic response to restricted iodine intake. Furthermore, at least one natural form of potential dietary iodine is incompletely available to mice.
Compromised repair of clustered DNA damage in the human acute lymphoblastic leukemia MSH2-deficient NALM-6 cells

Ionizing radiation (IR) induces two classes of complex DNA damage, double-strand breaks (DSBs) and non-DSB bi-stranded oxidative clustered DNA lesions (OCDLs). OCDLs may consist of single strand breaks (SSBs), oxidized purines/pyrimidines and abasic sites within 5-10bp. These significant biological lesions are hypothesized to challenge the repair machinery and carry a high mutagenic potential. MSH2, a classical DNA mismatch repair protein, has been also implicated in other repair pathways associated with DSB and base lesion processing. MSH2 mutations have been identified in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients as well as in other types of cancers. Our research model involves two precursors B (pre-B) ALL human cell lines, NALM-6 cells, homozygous null for MSH2, and wild type 697 cells. Using a modified version of neutral and alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) with Escherichia coli repair enzymes as damage probes, the processing capacity of single strand breaks (SSBs), DSBs and OCDLs was assessed in NALM-6 and 697 cells exposed to a radiotherapy relevant gamma-ray dose of 5Gy. Using reverse transcriptase PCR and Western blotting we verified the complete lack of expression of MSH2 in the NALM-6 cells at the transcriptional and translational level. No differences were measured between NALM-6 and 697 cells in the induction levels of SSBs, DSBs and OCDLs after exposure to gamma-rays. However, 697 cells repaired each lesion more efficiently with significant differences observed after 1-3h post-irradiation. Lastly, our results indicate a significantly higher population of apoptotic 697 cells compared to NALM-6 cells 6-24h post-irradiation. Our studies suggest that MSH2 is probably involved in the processing of the biologically significant clustered DNA damages as well as the execution of apoptosis induced by ionizing radiation.
Combining multiple, inexpensive GPS receivers to improve accuracy and reliability

GPS is a technology that allows for accurate tracking of various parameters, namely speed and location. These parameters are important to many applications, such as autonomous vehicles. In order to make a successful autonomous vehicle, it is necessary to be able to quantify its performance. Tracking a vehicle with GPS is an effective, well-established way to accomplish that. However, the consumer-level GPS technology available today is not accurate enough to provide useful data about a vehicle's speed and position with respect to something as restricted as a race track or a sidewalk. To attempt to solve this problem, the goal of this research is to significantly improve the accuracy of GPS, using only inexpensive GPS receivers and the supporting electronic components. Data from individual receivers will be merged, which will provide a more accurate tracking system capable of fine enough detail to provide useful data for many applications.
Assessment of the Reliability of Predicting Hydroplaning Risk Based on Past Hydroplaning Accident Data on the Florida Interstate System

Computational tools that can predict hydroplaning risk are invaluable to departments of transportation for drainage designs associated with new pavements or lane expansions. PAVDRN is a computer software package developed under NCHRP sponsorship to determine threshold hydroplaning speeds on a given section of a highway during adverse weather conditions. This study evaluated the reliability of the PAVDRN software in predicting dynamic hydroplaning by using past statistics on dynamic hydroplaning accidents in the state of Florida. Two approaches, based on (a) estimated travel speed and (b) posted speed, were used to assess PAVDRN's effectiveness in accurately predicting hydroplaning accidents. Both approaches showed that this software had a reasonable degree of reliability. A third effort was also used to provide upgraded and realistic hydroplaning risk estimates when PAVDRN was used. This effort was facilitated by using additional information from the Florida Department of Transportation crash database to ...
Requirements acquisition for rapid applications development

Abstract There is a growing trend to develop Information Systems (IS) using rapid development tools and methods rather than using traditional analysis and specification methods. Some writers have warned of a return to an undisciplined style of systems development. This paper uses the discipline of ‘requirements engineering’ to validate the use of Rapid Application Development (RAD) techniques in identifying and responding to users’ requirements for IS. It argues that traditional systems analysis depended on identifying explicit requirements that could be verbalized; many new IS, however, depend on identifying different forms of knowledge and requirements. Techniques employed by RAD are eminently suited to eliciting these requirements. The paper is founded in part on two empirical studies, which are viewed through a theoretical filter based on a framework from ‘requirements engineering’.
Weld Lines in Polymer Processing

Abstract A. Definition of Weld Lines In the broadest sense, “weld” or “knit” lines occur whenever two or more molten polymer interfaces are brought into contact. Actually the regions of different morphology and properties thus formed are not lines at all but are rather extremely complex three-dimensional areas of finite dimensions. For the purposes of our discussion we will use this rather broad interpretation of the term “weld line” in order to discuss the wide occurrence of the phenomenon in commercial fabrication processes.
Theories of particle dark matter

This brief review outlines some of the most attractive theoretical motivations for particle dark matter, and illustrates how they fit into the bigger context of physics beyond the Standard Model. Particular emphasis is given to the generic properties of theories of dark matter, and how the mechanism by which it interacts with the Standard Model particles influences its phenomenology. Brief descriptions of the most popular models, including supersymmetric theories and theories with universal extra dimensions are discussed.
Entrepreneurship, Corruption, and the Size of U.S. Underground Economies

Using state-level data on productive and unproductive entrepreneurship, shadow economy size, and public official corruption, this paper examines whether formal sector productive (unproductive) entrepreneurial activity is associated with lower (higher) levels of informal economic activity. Additionally, I aim to connect entrepreneurship, shadow economy size, and corruption by asking whether corruption affects entrepreneurial outcomes primarily through its effects on the shadow economy. I contend that if this is the case, then estimates of corruption should serve as a good instrument for shadow economy size in regressions on formal sector entrepreneurial outcomes.
A Psychometric Investigation of the Suicide Opinion Questionnaire

The factor structure of the Suicide Opinion Questionnaire (SOQ) was investigated in 2 studies. In the first study, the SOQ was administered to 568 participants to investigate the relative strength of 3 competing latent structure models previously identified in the literature. Confirmatory factor analyses provided no support for any of the prior models. An exploratory factor analysis of these data resulted in a weak 2-factor structure accounting for only 15.33% of the common variance. In the second study, this 2-factor structure was evaluated using SOQ data from 288 college students. Confirmatory factor analysis results failed to support the 2-factor model. Based on these results, the authors recommend that future research efforts should focus on developing a more contemporary and psychometrically sound measure of attitudes toward suicide.
Outsourcing in US cities, ambulances and elderly voters

This paper develops a public choice model of city service provision, and uses empirical analysis to pin down some of the model’s key assumptions. Many of the largest cities in the United States outsource emergency medical services, and analysis of data from the 200 largest US cities finds that a number of variables are significant determinants of emergency ambulance outsourcing, including the fraction of a city’s voters over the age of 65. This finding provides evidence that elderly voters are important in policy determination, and suggests a particular shape for the model’s contracting cost curve.
Ultrafast carotenoid to pheophorbide energy transfer in a biomimetic model for antenna function in photosynthesis

Carotenoids serve as light-harvesting pigments and as photoprotective agents in photosynthetic organisms1–9. Their role as antenna pigments involves absorption of photons in the blue-green spectral region followed by highly efficient singlet–singlet energy transfer to a neighbouring chlorophyll. The dependence of both the rate and mechanism of energy transfer on carotenoid–chlorophyll distance and orientation is Unknown. Here, we have directly measured both the rate and efficiency of singlet energy transfer from a carotenoid covalently linked to pyropheophorbide a (PPheo a) in two model compounds, using picosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. In one model the π systems of the carotenoid and PPsheo a possess a maximum edge-to-edge distance of 5 A, while in the other model this distance is only 2A. Energy transfer occurs from the carotenoid to PPheo a at the 2-A distance with a rate constant of 7 ± 2 × 1010 s−1 and 53±5% efficiency, while energy transfer at the 5-A distance occurs at a rate constant of <3 ×109 s−1 and with <5% efficiency. These results provide evidence that short distances and strong electronic interactions between carotenoids and chlorophylls are necessary to achieve the high energy transfer efficiencies observed in vivo.
Antibacterial and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) activities of AgCl cubes synthesized by pulsed laser ablation in liquid

Abstract We used pulsed laser ablation in liquid to fabricate silver chloride (AgCl) nanocubes directly from a bulk Ag target in sodium chloride (NaCl) solution. We optimized particle size and investigated the surface properties of the cubes for their Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) behavior relative to Rhodamine 6G (R6G). The SERS behavior was related to the surface properties, clearness, and morphology, i.e., varied atomic arrangements and surface energies of different facets of the cubes. In addition, we have demonstrated that our easily synthesized AgCl cubes were antibacterial with a high efficiency to decontaminate Escherichia coli upon contact. Our results can be extended to generate particle-based coatings with antibacterial properties.
Least-squares finite element formulations for one-dimensional radiative transfer

We present least-squares-based finite element formulations for the numerical solution of the radiative transfer equation in its first-order primitive variable form. The use of least-squares principles leads to a variational unconstrained minimization problem in a setting of residual minimization. In addition, the resulting linear algebraic problem will always have a symmetric positive definite coefficient matrix, allowing the use of robust and fast iterative methods for its solution. We consider space-angle coupled and decoupled formulations. In the coupled formulation, the space-angle dependency is represented by two-dimensional finite element expansions and the least-squares functional minimized in the continuous space-angle domain. In the decoupled formulation the angular domain is represented by discrete ordinates, the spatial dependence represented by one-dimensional finite element expansions, and the least-squares functional minimized continuously in space domain and at discrete locations in the angle domain. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the merits of the formulations in slab geometry, for absorbing, emitting, anisotropically scattering mediums, allowing for spatially varying absorption and scattering coefficients. For smooth solutions in space-angle domain, exponentially fast decay of error measures is demonstrated as the p-level of the finite element expansions is increased. The formulations represent attractive alternatives to weak form Galerkin finite element formulations, typically applied to the more complicated second-order even- and odd-parity forms of the radiative transfer equation.
Extracting the CP-conserving and CP-violating form factors of \(K_{L}\rightarrow \gamma \gamma, K_{S}\rightarrow \gamma \gamma \), and \(\pi ^{0}\rightarrow \gamma \gamma\) from the decays of \(K_{L}, K_{S}\) and \(\pi ^{0}\) into two identical pairs of leptons

The extractions of the CP-conserving and CP-violating form factors of the decays of the long-lived kaon \(K_{L}\) and the short-lived kaon \(K_{S}\) into two photons from the branching ratios of \(K_{S,L}\rightarrow \gamma \gamma \) and \(K_{S,L}\rightarrow \gamma \gamma \rightarrow l^{-}l^{+}l^{-}l^{+}, \) where \(l\) represents either an electron or a muon, are described. Using the currently available measurements of the branching ratios of \(K_{L}\rightarrow \gamma \gamma \) and \(K_{L}\rightarrow e^{-}e^{+}e^{-}e^{+}\) and assuming that the form factors are constants, the ratio of the CP-violating decay rate to the CP-conserving decay rate for \(K_{L}\rightarrow \gamma \gamma \) is calculated to be 2.51% and the predicted branching ratio for \(K_{L}\rightarrow \gamma \gamma \rightarrow \mu ^{-}\mu ^{+}\mu ^{-}\mu ^{+}\) is \(6.07\times 10^{-13}\). For \(K_{S}\rightarrow \gamma \gamma \), a measurement of the branching ratio of \(K_{S}\rightarrow \gamma \gamma \rightarrow e^{-}e^{+}e^{-}e^{+}\) is needed to determine the ratio of the CP-violating decay rate to the CP-conserving decay rate and to accurately predict the branching ratio of \( K_{S}\rightarrow \gamma \gamma \rightarrow \mu ^{-}\mu ^{+}\mu^{-}\mu^{+}.\) In the limit of complete CP-conservation the branching ratios are evaluated to be \( 4.39\times 10^{-10}\) for \(K_{S}\rightarrow \gamma \gamma \rightarrow e^{-}e^{+}e^{-}e^{+}\) and \(6.96\times 10^{-15}\) for \( K_{S}\rightarrow \gamma \gamma \rightarrow \mu ^{-}\mu ^{+}\mu ^{-}\mu ^{+}\). In a similar model where the form factors of \(\pi ^{0}\gamma \gamma \) vertex are constants, the CP-violating decay rate component in \(\pi ^{0}\rightarrow \gamma \gamma \) is shown, based on current available experimental data, to be less than 1% of the total decay rate.The magnitudes of the form factors are obtained by correlating the processes \(\pi ^{0}\rightarrow \gamma \gamma \) and \(\pi ^{0}\rightarrow \gamma \gamma \rightarrow e^{-}e^{+}e^{-}e^{+}.\)