cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dibutyltin (DBT) an endocrine disrupter in zebrafish

Abstract Dibutyltin (DBT) is a plastic stabilizer and metabolite of tributyltin (TBT), other than its immune and neurological effects, little else is known about DBT. We have examined the actions of DBT as an endocrine disruptor in zebrafish (Danio rerio). In HeLa cells transiently co-transfected with plasmid constructs containing zebrafish estrogen receptors (zfERα, zfERβ1 and zfERβ2) and zebrafish estrogen response element (zfERE-luc), ethinylestradiol (EE2) induced luciferase activity 2 to 6-fold and DBT increased that activity. DBT inhibited testosterone induced luciferase activity, in HeLa cells transiently co-transfected with zebrafish androgen receptor (zfAR) and murine androgen receptor response element (ARE-slp-luc). In HeLa cells co-transfected with zfERβ1 and zfERβ2 and a plasmid containing zebrafish aromatase (zfCyp19a-luc), DBT increased EE2-induced luciferase activity. Real-time PCR analysis of sexual differentiation markers and phase II metabolism markers in fish exposed to 0.1 to 0.5 mg/kg DBT in vivo revealed a masculinizing effect. In brain there was decreased production of FST. In the liver there was decreased production of FST, zfCYP19a, and zfERβ1 mRNA and in the gonads there was decreased production of FST, DAX1, and zfCYP19a. DBT also increased UGT expression and decreased GST following exposure. DBT in vivo has an overall masculinizing effect but in vitro has a feminizing effect, indicating that DBT has complex actions within zebrafish, which may be due to the metabolism of DBT to monobutyltin (MBT) and action of other reactive metabolites which promote masculinization and mask the feminizing effect of DBT alone. In vitro results show a clear feminizing effect in a system with fewer complexities. These results are discussed in the context of DBT as an endocrine disruptor in zebrafish.
Child Routines and Parental Adjustment as Correlates of Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms in Children Diagnosed with ADHD

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common disorders of childhood, and the presence of comorbid externalizing and internalizing symptoms often result in severe negative long-term consequences. Multiple etiological factors contribute to the development of co-occurring symptoms. Family stability and consistency appear to be particularly important in effectively managing behavioral concerns. One important factor in producing consistency and stability is the use of routines. The current study examined how routines may be related to internalizing/externalizing symptoms in a clinical sample (N = 371) of children with ADHD (M age = 9.13, SD = 1.96; 77% male). After controlling for child age, gender, and parental adjustment, routines predicted both internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Specific subtypes of routines including Household, Discipline, and Homework Routines were found to significantly predict symptomatology. A positive relation was found between parental and child adjustment problems; however, support for routines moderating the relation between parent and child adjustment was not supported.
BEING A PHYSICALIST: HOW AND (MORE IMPORTANTLY) WHY

L'A. developpe trois arguments en faveur d'une certaine branche du physicalisme qu'il qualifie de physicalisme realisation, auquel il attribue une propriete fonctionnelle et une faculte de realisation, propres a assurer l'unite des sciences par microreduction a la physique
Periodontal Plastic Surgery in a Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Patient: Review and Case Report

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a group of genetic disorders in which patients frequently present with fragile skin and mucosal surfaces that blister following minor trauma; 23 subtypes have been recognized, but their precise pathogenesis and etiology remain obscure. There is no treatment for EB, only palliative therapy. Oral bullae are the most common oral finding and affect all surfaces. Patients with EB present a unique challenge in terms of periodontal therapy. The following article reviews this disorder and describes the complications encountered when providing periodontal plastic surgery to a patient exhibiting this condition. A 36-year-old female with dystrophic EB presented for treatment of a 3 mm recession area with minimal attached gingiva on the facial of #24 and 25. Oral evaluation revealed multiple ulcers. The treatment consisted of a subepithelial connective tissue graft in conjunction with a coronally positioned flap and buccal frenectomy. Most of the epithelium associated with the surgical area and buccal vestibule sloughed. During the postoperative course, the frenum had regenerated at a more coronal level and was applying tension on the gingival tissues. It appeared that a connective tissue union had formed between the de-epithelialized surface of the facial flap and the buccal mucosa of the vestibule. A second frenectomy was performed, and a clear acrylic stent was fabricated to prevent the union of the connective tissue of the facial flap to the buccal mucosa. The stent prevented the fusion of both connective tissue layers and allowed time for epithelium migration.
DERIVATION OF U.S. EPA'S ORAL REFERENCE DOSE (RFD) FOR METHYLMERCURY

Mercury (Hg) cycles in the environment through a series of complex chemical and physical transformations that occur in air, soils, and water bodies. One component of the environmental mercury cycle...
Cooperativity in protein-folding kinetics.

Abstract How does a protein find its native state without a globally exhaustive search? We propose the "HZ" (hydrophobic zipper) hypothesis: hydrophobic contacts act as constraints that bring other contacts into spatial proximity, which then further constrain and zip up the next contacts, etc. In contrast to helix-coil cooperativity, HZ-heteropolymer collapse cooperativity is driven by nonlocal interactions, causes sheet and irregular conformations in addition to helices, leads to secondary structures concurrently with early hydrophobic core formation, is much more sequence dependent than helix-coil processes, and involves compact intermediate states that have much secondary--but little tertiary--structure. Hydrophobic contacts in the 1992 Protein Data Bank have the type of "topological localness" predicted by the hypothesis. The HZ paths for amino acid sequences that mimic crambin and bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor are quickly found by computer; the best configurations thus reached have single hydrophobic cores that are within about 3 kcal/mol of the global minimum. This hypothesis shows how proteins could find globally optimal states without exhaustive search.
Parent management training: Evidence, outcomes, and issues.

ABSTRACT Objective To describe and evaluate parent management training (PMT) as a treatment technique for oppositional, aggressive, and antisocial behavior. Method Recent research is reviewed on the efficacy of PMT; factors that contribute to treatment outcome; the range of outcomes related to child, parents, and family; and variations of treatment currently in use. Limitations are also discussed related to the impact of treatment, clinical application, and dissemination of treatment. Results and Conclusions PMT is one of the more well-investigated treatment techniques for children and adolescents. Notwithstanding the large number of controlled studies attesting to its efficacy, fundamental questions remain about the magnitude, scope, and durability of impact.
A family of high gain hybrid switched capacitor-inductor dc-dc circuits for renewable energy applications

This paper introduces a family of high gain hybrid switched capacitor-inductor dc-dc circuits which can interface low voltage energy generation and storage devices with high voltage dc systems. This family of circuits can have very high boost ratio with moderate duty ratio, small turns ratio, and simple structures. Also, the voltage stress on the switches can be reduced, which enables the using of lower voltage rated switches to have lower power loss. The circuit analysis and operation principles of the proposed circuits are discussed presented in this paper. In order to verify proposed functions, a lab prototype has been assembled and the experimental results are included in this paper.
On the use of a main trend for the kriging technique in hydrology

Abstract A technique of interpolation based on a stochastic approach and referred to as ‘kriging’ technique has recently been contributed by the French School. A primary feature of the algorithm is its ability to provide an assessment of the predictive reliability. The accuracy of estimate depends on the evaluation of two stochastic quantities: the variogram γ and the main trend m of the hydrologic event z to be reconstructed. For an effective use of the method a correct understanding of the actual role played by m is required. With some ad hoc examples it is shown that using a polynomial trend with unspecified coefficients as suggested by the general theory may lead to paradoxical results whose behaviour is hard to predict a priori . It turns out that increasing the degree of m may yield an increase of the estimation error where one would expect to obtain the opposite. An alternative formulation is suggested which assumes m to be fully known in advance. Its expression is supposed to be derived from both the general behaviour of z as is recognizable from the available records and some extra-amount of information related to the general physical knowledge of the hydrological context. If this extra-amount of information is missing, the use of a constant trend should be recommended.
Serum albumin retains independent prognostic significance in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in the post-rituximab era

Serum albumin (SA) has been shown to be a prognostic marker in many hematological malignancies and in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) prior to chemo-immunotherapy. SA may be a surrogate for age, comorbid status, and disease severity. Here, we aimed to assess whether SA can be an independent prognostic marker in patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL treated with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and prednisone (R-CHOP). Patients who presented at the Moffitt Cancer Center from 2007 to 2010 for DLBCL diagnosis or treatment were identified using our institutional database. Clinical and treatment data were recorded, including SA levels at diagnosis. Survival time was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, with Cox proportional hazard model used to identify potential risk factors for time-to-event data. From 295 identified patients, 171 were excluded for not having primary treatment at our institution or not having R-CHOP treatment. In 124 included patients (mean age at diagnosis of 58 years, 91 % Caucasian), 25 % were categorized as poor by the revised International Prognostic Index. Overall and progression-free survival at 4 years were 65 % (95 % CI 57-75) and 58 % (95 % CI 0.49-0.69), respectively. Using multivariate analysis, we found that the hazard index of death of patients with SA ≥3.7 g/dL was 26 % (95 % CI 13-53) of the hazard for those patients who had SA <3.7 g/dL when controlling for the revised International Prognostic Index risk and initial lymphocyte count. Our study shows that SA ≥3.7 g/dL is an independent prognostic marker in DLBCL patients treated with R-CHOP.
Determinants of bargaining behavior in a bilateral monopoly situation II: Opponent's concession rate and similarity

This study investigates the process by which one member of an interpersonal system adjusts his expectations for the other's behavior on the basis of the other's concession rate and his perceived similarity. The process was explored in a bilateral monopoly situation where subjects, 52 eighth grade boys, assumed the role of buyer bargaining against sellers who were simulated according to a prearranged program. Strong effects were produced by both manipulations. As sellers became increasingly tough, buyers became increasingly soft. Increasing seller softness, on the other hand, resulted in no change in buyer softness. The former subjects expected larger seller concessions than they received; the latter predicted seller concessions accurately and conceded proportionately. Similar sellers elicited more buyer softness and more trials to agreement than dissimilar sellers. Internal data analyses revealed two types of bargainers in the high similarity condition: those who increased and those who decreased their level of softness in the final phase of bargaining. Additional evidence suggested that the latter subjects' behavior could be explained in terms of a disappointment in expectations caused by the nonreciprocating opponent and by their own previous high level of softness. The results are considered to have implications for a wider class of social situations involving both mutuality and opposition of interests.
Parental concordance for affective disorders: psychopathology in offspring

Abstract This paper examines the effects of parental concordance for affective disorders and psychopathology among the 219 offspring of probands with major depression and normal controls. The lifetime prevalence of psychiatric disorders was significantly higher among the spouses of depressed probands as compared to those of normal controls. The spouses of 37% of the normals and 69% of the depressed probands met criteria for a diagnosis of major depression, an anxiety disorder, or alcoholism. Parental concordance for diagnoses, particularly for anxiety disorders, substantially increased the risk of major depression and anxiety disorders in their children. Moreover, the marital relationship, some aspects of family adjustment and severity of current symptoms were significantly worse among the couples who exhibited diagnostic concordance for anxiety, alcoholism and / or depression. The major implication of these findings is that the diagnostic status of both parents should be considered in the design and analysis of studies of children. The findings of the present study also underscore the importance of assessment of comorbid disorders in parents and offspring. Although the original study design focused on the risk of depression in children of parents in treatment for major depression, stronger transmissibility was found for anxiety disorders plus depression than for major depression alone. However, the exclusion criteria of a lifetime history of mania or hypomania led to an extremely low proportion of probands with pure major depression without concomitant anxiety disorders. These findings confirm the results of previous studies which have demonstrated a strong degree of overlap between affective and anxiety syndromes. The increased risk of anxiety disorders in the offspring of parents who had sought treatment for non-bipolar major depression suggests that anxiety may constitute an early form of expression of affective disorders. Confirmation of the finding of age-dependent expression of anxiety and depression in prospective longitudinal studies of children is indicated.
How does CT image noise affect 3D deformable image registration for image-guided radiotherapy planning?

Received 20 August 2007; revised 10 December 2007; accepted for publication 2 January 2008;published 27 February 2008Purpose: To measure the sensitivity of deformable image registration to image noise. Deformableimage registration can be used to map organ contours and other treatment planning data from oneCT to another. These CT studies can be acquired with either conventional fan-beam CT systems ormore novel cone-beam CT techniques. However, cone-beam CT images can have higher noiselevels than fan-beam CT, which might reduce registration accuracy. We have investigated the effectof image quality differences on the deformable registration of fan-beam CTs and CTs with simu-lated cone-beam noise. Method: Our study used three CT studies for each of ﬁve prostate patients.Each CT was contoured by three experienced radiation oncologists. For each patient, one CT wasdesignated the source image and the other two were target images.Adeformable image registrationprocess was used to register each source CT to each target CT and then transfer the manually drawntreatment planning contours from the source CT to the target CTs. The accuracy of the automati-cally transferred contours and thus of the deformable registration process was assessed by com-paring them to the manual contours on the target CTs, with the differences evaluated with respectto interobserver variability in the manual contours. Then each of the target CTs was modiﬁed toinclude increased noise characteristic of cone-beam CT and the tests were repeated. Changes inregistration accuracy due to increased noise were detected by monitoring changes in the automati-cally transferred contours. Results: We found that the additional noise caused no signiﬁcant loss ofregistration accuracy at magnitudes that exceeded what would normally be found in an actualcone-beam CT. Summary: We conclude that noise levels in cone-beam CTs that might reducemanual contouring accuracy do not reduce image registration and automatic contouringaccuracy. ©
A generalized Keynes-Wicksell model with variable labor force growth

Abstract The comparative steady state properties of the generalized Keynes-Wicksell model with variable labor force growth is analyzed. The labor force is the product of a constant growth population and a variable labor force participation rate. The participation rate is a positive function of real wages and a negative function of real wealth. The effects of rises in the rate of monetary expansion and in the level of households' planned saving on the steady state equilibrium are explored and compared to the effects found in standard neoclassical and Keynes-Wicksell growth models.
Advancing the application of systems thinking in health: why cure crowds out prevention

This paper presents a system dynamics computer simulation model to illustrate unintended consequences of apparently rational allocations to curative and preventive services. A modeled population is subject to only two diseases. Disease A is a curable disease that can be shortened by curative care. Disease B is an instantly fatal but preventable disease. Curative care workers are financed by public spending and private fees to cure disease A. Non-personal, preventive services are delivered by public health workers supported solely by public spending to prevent disease B. Each type of worker tries to tilt the balance of government spending towards their interests. Their influence on the government is proportional to their accumulated revenue. The model demonstrates effects on lost disability-adjusted life years and costs over the course of several epidemics of each disease. Policy interventions are tested including: i) an outside donor rationally donates extra money to each type of disease precisely in proportion to the size of epidemics of each disease; ii) lobbying is eliminated; iii) fees for personal health services are eliminated; iv) the government continually rebalances the funding for prevention by ring-fencing it to protect it from lobbying. The model exhibits a “spend more get less” equilibrium in which higher revenue by the curative sector is used to influence government allocations away from prevention towards cure. Spending more on curing disease A leads paradoxically to a higher overall disease burden of unprevented cases of disease B. This paradoxical behavior of the model can be stopped by eliminating lobbying, eliminating fees for curative services, and ring-fencing public health funding. We have created an artificial system as a laboratory to gain insights about the trade-offs between curative and preventive health allocations, and the effect of indicative policy interventions. The underlying dynamics of this artificial system resemble features of modern health systems where a self-perpetuating industry has grown up around disease-specific curative programs like HIV/AIDS or malaria. The model shows how the growth of curative care services can crowd both fiscal and policy space for the practice of population level prevention work, requiring dramatic interventions to overcome these trends.
Dietary Variety Increases the Probability of Nutrient Adequacy among Adults

Despite guidance to consume a variety of foods, the role of dietary variety in ensuring nutrient adequacy is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine whether a commodity-based measure of dietary variety was associated with the probability of nutrient adequacy after adjusting for energy and food group intakes. Subjects were 4969 men and 4800 women >/= 19 y old who participated in the Continuing Survey of Food Intakes for Individuals 1994-1996. Using 24-h recall data, the mean probability of adequacy across 15 nutrients was calculated using the Dietary Reference Intakes. Dietary variety was defined using a commodity-based method similar to that used for the Healthy Eating Index (HEI). Associations were examined in gender-specific multivariate regression models. Energy intake was a strong predictor of the mean probability of adequacy in models controlled for age, BMI, education level, and ethnicity (model R(2) = 0.60 and 0.54 for men and women, respectively). Adding the number of servings from each of the 5 Food Guide Pyramid (FGP) groups to the models significantly improved the model fit (R(2) = 0.69 and 0.66 for men and women). Adding dietary variety again significantly improved the model fit for both men and women (R(2) = 0.73 and 0.70, respectively). Variety counts within the dairy and grain groups were most strongly associated with improved nutrient adequacy. Dietary variety as defined by the HEI contributes an additional component of dietary quality that is not captured by FGP servings or energy intake.
PinUP: Pinning User Files to Known Applications

Users commonly download, patch, and use applications such as email clients, office applications, and media-players from the Internet. Such applications are run with the user's full permissions. Because system protections do not differentiate applications, any malcode present in the downloaded software can compromise or otherwise leak all user data. Interestingly, our investigations indicate that common applications often adhere to recognizable workflows on user data. In this paper, we take advantage of this reality by developing protection mechanisms that "pin'' user files to the applications that may use them. These mechanisms restrict access to user data to explicitly stated workflows--thus preventing malcode from exploiting user data not associated with that application. We describe our implementation of PinUP on the Linux Security Modules framework, explore its performance, and study several practical use cases. Through these activities, we show that user data can be protected from untrusted applications while retaining the ability to receive the benefits of those applications.
Nonvolatile memory is a broken time machine

Energy harvesting enables intermittently powered devices to compute without built-in power. But frequent power failures, combined with nonvolatile memory intended to protect computational state, introduce strange control flow that turns sequential code into unwieldy concurrent code: programs must grapple with their own state from previous interrupted runs. This paper describes the broken time machine problem for these devices and outlines potential solutions from the perspective of safe concurrent programming.
Palliation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with a progressive course with a variable illness trajectory causing death either from respiratory failure or complications from its comorbities. Palliative care benefits patients throughout all stages of COPD, with a goal to manage patients’ symptom burden which can reduce physical, psychological, and social complications. Dyspnea is the most common and distressing symptom patients with end stage COPD experience, which responds only partially to therapy and eventually becomes refractory to routine care. Palliative management goals aim at relieving refractory symptoms, improving function, and enhancing quality of life in patients with advanced illness and high symptom burden. Caregivers and informed patients can utilize palliative care resources to provide effective relief from refractory dyspnea and help patients maintain a dignified quality-of-life until the end of life. This review is focused on identifying current deficiencies in palliative care provided to patients with advanced COPD with attempts to overcome these. We hope to increase awareness of palliative care in advanced COPD to healthcare providers caring for this population of patients.
A Delphi Study on the Effects of Culture on the Choice of Dispute Resolution Methods in International Construction Contracts

Although international construction projects offer new markets for construction services, there are still many challenges to moving into international markets. Contractors should be aware that though the international contracts they will sign may be similar to their own local contracts, they will still include some major additional/modified clauses that address international issues. Because disputes in construction projects are inevitable, one of the very critical contract clauses in an international contract is the dispute resolution clause. The objectives of this paper are to use the Delphi method to identify factors that have an effect on the choice of dispute resolution methods (DRM) in international construction contracts and to recommend specific DRM(s) to contractors based in English-speaking countries who operate in the Middle East or Asia. A panel of 11 international DRM experts participated in this study. Although all experts agreed that culture affects the choice of DRMs in international contracts, the most recommended DRMs to use in both cultures were arbitration followed by negotiations then mediation. The least recommended DRM in the Middle East was summary jury trial and in Asia was litigation. This study can be developed further by conducting interviews with the experts participating in the study to investigate why they chose similar DRMs for both cultures. More culture clusters can be included in the study to compare the variability in the results between cultures.
Incentives and Barriers for Potential Music Teacher Education Doctoral Students

The purpose of this study was to examine positive influences and barriers associated with entering a music teacher education doctoral program. Practicing music educators (N = 63), were asked to rate 48 positive-influence items and 54 barrier items. The highest-ranked positive influence was "Training young teachers to provide worthwhile educational experiences for their students, " while the highest-ranked barrier item was "Reduction of income while working on the degree." Using the top 21 positive-influence items and the top 21 barrier items, two factor-analysis procedures were calculated to determine whether positive-influence and barrier items could be reduced to a smaller number of discrete factors. Four positive-influence factors ("Prestige of and Connection with Faculty/University," 'Desire to Affect Future Music Teachers," 'Desire to Learn, " and "Personal/Professional Future") and two barrier factors ("Financial Challenges" and "Family/Time Considerations") were identified.
Weak inversion MOS varactors for 0.5 V analog integrated filters

This work proposes a weak-inversion MOS capacitor-based varactor, tuned through the body voltage, for the realization of tunable filters at supply voltages down to 0.5 V. Weak inversion operation results in a distributed series resistance and a model is derived to accurately calculate this frequency dependent resistance. The model matches well with experimental results from test devices in a 0.18 /spl mu/m CMOS technology. Channel segmentation is used to simulate the varactor. Use of the varactor is demonstrated in the design of tunable filters and good agreement is obtained between simulated and measured performance.
Signal processing techniques for improved resolver-to-digital conversion accuracy

Several methods for reducing the position error caused by the existence of nonideal resolver signal characteristics are introduced. The most straightforward method is to calibrate each resolver and resolver-to-digital (R/D) converter and then correct the R/D converter output in real time. While this method corrects all errors, including those with an origin in the R/D converter, it is also the most time-consuming and labor intensive. By appropriate signal processing, it is shown that quadrature error can be eliminated by simple algebraic manipulation of the resolver signals. It is also shown that all even harmonics in the resolver signals can be canceled if the resolver is constructed with complementary phases. It is shown that amplitude imbalance can be used to reduce the position due to inductive harmonics. >
COMPUTATIONAL GEOMETRY COLUMN 15

Recent solutions of three “art gallery” problems are reported. Three related still-open problems are discussed.
Investigation of encapsulation of insulin biotemplate within C-methylresorcin[4]arenes

Solution structure of insulin templated C-methyl resorcin[4]arene nanocapsules has been investigated using neutron scattering. The insulin biotemplate has enhanced the limits of encapsulation and enabled formation of a larger spherical molecular host.
Automatic Generation of FFT for Translations of Multipole Expansions in Spherical Harmonics

The fast multipole method (FMM) is an efficient algorithm for calculating electrostatic interactions in molecular simulations and a promising alternative to Ewald summation methods. Translation of multipole expansion in spherical harmonics is the most important operation of the fast multipole method and the fast Fourier transform (FFT) acceleration of this operation is among the fastest methods of improving its performance. The technique relies on highly optimized implementation of fast Fourier transform routines for the desired expansion sizes, which need to incorporate the knowledge of symmetries and zero elements in the input arrays. Here a method is presented for automatic generation of such, highly optimized, routines.
STIM1–Ca2+ signaling modulates automaticity of the mouse sinoatrial node

Cardiac pacemaking is governed by specialized cardiomyocytes located in the sinoatrial node (SAN). SAN cells (SANCs) integrate voltage-gated currents from channels on the membrane surface (membrane clock) with rhythmic Ca(2+) release from internal Ca(2+) stores (Ca(2+) clock) to adjust heart rate to meet hemodynamic demand. Here, we report that stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) and Orai1 channels, key components of store-operated Ca(2+) entry, are selectively expressed in SANCs. Cardiac-specific deletion of STIM1 in mice resulted in depletion of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca(2+) stores of SANCs and led to SAN dysfunction, as was evident by a reduction in heart rate, sinus arrest, and an exaggerated autonomic response to cholinergic signaling. Moreover, STIM1 influenced SAN function by regulating ionic fluxes in SANCs, including activation of a store-operated Ca(2+) current, a reduction in L-type Ca(2+) current, and enhancing the activities of Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger. In conclusion, these studies reveal that STIM1 is a multifunctional regulator of Ca(2+) dynamics in SANCs that links SR Ca(2+) store content with electrical events occurring in the plasma membrane, thereby contributing to automaticity of the SAN.
A Zero-One Programming Model for Contiguous Land Acquisition

The land acquisition problem is a spatial partitioning problem that involves selecting multiple parcels to be acquired for a particular land use. Three selection criteria are considered: total cost, total area, and spatial contiguity. Achieving contiguity or connectivity has been problematic in previous exact methods for land acquisition. Here we present a new zero-one programming model that enforces necessary and sufficient conditions for achieving contiguity in discrete cell landscapes, independent of other spatial attributes such as compactness. Computational experience with several demonstration problems is reported, and results and extensions are discussed.
Investigation of the formation of benzoyl peroxide, benzoic anhydride, and other potential aerosol products from gas–phase reactions of benzoylperoxy radicals

Abstract The secondary organic aerosol (SOA) products of the reaction of benzaldehyde with Cl atoms and with OH radicals in air in the absence of NOx were investigated in an environmental chamber in order to better understand the possible role of organic peroxy radical self-reactions in SOA formation. SOA products and authentic standards were analyzed using mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography, and results show that the yields of benzoyl peroxide (C6H5C(O)OO(O)CC6H5) and benzoic anhydride (C6H5C(O)O(O)CC6H5), two potential products from the gas-phase self-reaction of benzoylperoxy radicals (C6H5C(O)OO·), were less than 0.1%. This is in contrast to results of recent studies that have shown that the gas-phase self-reactions of β-nitrooxyperoxy radicals formed from reactions of isoprene with NO3 radicals form dialkyl peroxides that contribute significantly to gas-phase and SOA products. Such reactions have also been proposed to explain the gas-phase formation of extremely low volatility dimers from autooxidation of terpenes. The results obtained here indicate that, at least for benzoylperoxy radicals, the self-reactions form only benzoyloxy radicals. Analyses of SOA composition and volatility were inconclusive, but it appears that the SOA may consist primarily of oligomers formed through heterogeneous/multiphase reactions possibly involving some combination of phenol, benzaldehyde, benzoic acid, and peroxybenzoic acid.
A parametric sizing model for Molten Regolith Electrolysis reactors to produce oxygen on the Moon

Abstract We present a parametric sizing model for a Molten Regolith Electrolysis (MRE) reactor that produces oxygen and molten metals from lunar regolith. The model has a foundation of regolith material property models validated using data from Apollo samples and simulants. A multiphysics simulation of an MRE reactor is developed and leveraged to generate a database linking reactor design and performance trends. A novel design methodology is created which utilizes this database to parametrically design an MRE reactor that can (1) sustain the required current, operating temperature, and mass of molten regolith to meet a desired oxygen production level, (2) operate for long periods of time by protecting the reactor walls from the corrosive molten regolith with a layer of solid “frozen” regolith, and (3) support a range of electrode separations to enable operational flexibility. Mass, power, and performance estimates for an MRE reactor are presented for a range of oxygen production levels. Sensitivity analyses are presented for several design variables, including operating temperature, regolith feedstock composition, and the degree of operational flexibility.
Polychlorinated biphenyl quinone metabolites poison human topoisomerase IIα: Altering enzyme function by blocking the N-Terminal protein gate.

5528 Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were employed in a variety of large-scale industrial applications from the 1930s to the 1960s. They were used as organic diluents, lubricants, and cooling fluids, and were commonly utilized in the production of adhesives, paper, pesticides, and flame retardants. One of the properties that made PCBs so attractive for industrial purposes was their high stability and low biodegradability. As a result, however, these compounds accumulated in the environment. Due to human health concerns, most countries banned the production and use of PCBs in the 1970s. Three decades later, these compounds remain persistent environmental contaminants. PCBs are associated with a broad spectrum of human health problems and cause cancer in mice and rats. In addition, these compounds cause chromosomal aberrations in humans and in treated human cells. Although the underlying basis for the chromosomal damage induced by PCBs is not understood, it is believed that these compounds act through a series of phenolic and quinone-based metabolites. Recent studies indicate that several quinones that promote chromosomal damage act as topoisomerase II poisons. Therefore, the effects of PCB quinone metabolites (including mono- and di-chlorinated compounds and p- and o-quinones) on the activity of human topoisomerase IIα were examined. Results indicate that these compounds are potent topoisomerase IIα poisons in vitro and increase cleavage complex formation by inhibiting DNA ligation. Studies performed with reducing agents indicate that PCB quinones act by adducting to the enzyme. PCB quinones also increase DNA cleavage by topoisomerase IIα in cultured human cells. Incubation of topoisomerase II with PCB metabolites in the absence of DNA leads to a rapid loss of enzyme activity and preferentially inhibits the binding of enzyme to circular over linear forms of DNA. Furthermore, incubation of topoisomerase IIα in the presence of DNA generates a salt-stable non-covalent complex between the enzyme and circular plasmids (even in the absence of a high-energy cofactor). Based on the above findings, it is proposed that PCB quinones adduct topoisomerase IIα and block the N-terminal gate of the protein. This action may play a role in both the enhancement of DNA cleavage and the inhibition of enzyme activity. This work was supported by NIH research grants GM33944 (NO), ES07380 (LWR), and ES012475 (LWR). RPB was a trainee under grant 5 T32 CA09582 from the National Institutes of Health.
Respiratory Cilia: Principles of Mucociliary Clearance

■ Respiratory cilia dynamically respond to environmental and host stimuli to regulate the propulsive force driving mucociliary clearance.
Origins of the American Academy of Economic and Financial Experts

This short paper provides an account of how the American Academy of Economic and Financial Experts (AAEFE) came into being and a short history of its progress since forming.
Functional similarities of AeEα Ia molecules as determined by analysis with T-cell clones

Recognition of AeEα Ia antigens at the functional level was investigated using T-cell clones. The reactivities of an alloreactive and an antigen-reactive clone, both of which recognized AeEα Ia molecules, were compared on a panel of stimulator/antigen-presenting cells of various genotypes. The two clones recognized all tested AebEαxIa molecules, where x is a haplotype capable of expressing an Ia.7-bearing Eα polypeptide. Ia antigen recognition by either clone could be inhibited by the monoclonal antibody Y-17, which recognizes a combinatorial serologic determinant on certain AeEα molecules. There were no differences in the recognition of Ia by the alloreactive versus the antigen-reactive clone, suggesting that Ia antigens are recognized by the two clones in a fundamentally similar way. The recognition of these various Ia molecules by the two cloned T-cell lines provides evidence that the Eα polypeptides from H-2 haplotypes k, d, r, and u are functionally indistinguishable.
Shorter Synthesis of Trifunctionalized Cryptophane-A Derivatives

Efficient syntheses of trisubstituted cryptophane-A derivatives that are versatile host molecules for many applications are reported. Trihydroxy cryptophane was synthesized in six or seven steps with yields as high as 9.5%. By a different route, trihydroxy cryptophane modified with three propargyl, allyl, or benzyl protecting groups was synthesized with yields of 4.1−5.8% in just six steps. Hyperpolarized 129Xe NMR chemical shifts of 57−65 ppm were measured for these trisubstituted cryptophanes.
Components of the Electrocardiogram: The Normal Tracing

This chapter presents a systematic approach to the interpretation of electrocardiograms (EKGs). The five fundamental elements are rate, rhythm, axis, intervals, and waveform. After each of these elements is assessed, the results of the findings are synthesized into a final summary.
'My insurance changed': the negative effects of forced discontinuity of care.

The article, part of a continuing series on the Direct Observation of Primary Care Study, explores what effects forced disruptions in continuity (i.e., patient insurance changes) may have on quality of care.
Trends in Abundance of Northern Snakeheads in Virginia Tributaries of the Potomac River

AbstractA population of nonnative Northern Snakeheads Channa argus was documented in the Potomac River system during 2004. We estimated relative abundance (fish/h of boat electrofishing) for up to 12 years in four Virginia creeks within and downstream of the original area of colonization. Population estimates were also calculated for adult Northern Snakeheads in Little Hunting Creek (one of the four study creeks). Relative abundance increased dramatically after colonization, but trends suggest that increases in abundance may have slowed. Population estimates for Little Hunting Creek (12–22 fish/ha) declined each year from 2013 to 2015, supporting the assertion that Northern Snakehead density increases have slowed or that density has stabilized in some creeks.Received October 6, 2015; accepted January 26, 2016 Published online June 15, 2016
The effect of early palliative care on end-of-life ICU utilization and ICU course in patients with advanced cancer.

e21704Background: Early palliative care for advanced cancer patients has been demonstrated to yield improvements in quality of life and survival, but less is known about its impact on ICU utilizati...
Peer-Based Supplemental Instruction in STEM: Differences in Effectiveness Across Transfer and Nontransfer Undergraduates

ABSTRACTAlthough there is a large body of research on the effectiveness of supplemental instruction for college undergraduates, very little of it has focused on transfer students, who often confront additional sources of stress and historically perform more poorly than their native student counterparts. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of a peer-based supplemental instructional program in general and organic chemistry at a large state university over a six-year period, while considering differences across transfer and nontransfer students. The results suggest that the supplemental instruction improved outcomes overall but that nontransfer students benefit to a greater degree than transfer students, in the form of higher grades and pass rates, from attending supplemental instruction. The results suggest that peer-based supplemental instruction is a useful method to improve undergraduate student performance in chemistry, but more research is needed on ways to enhance the effectiveness of int...
Clinical Factors Associated with Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Rhinosinusitis

Background Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is complicated by frequent acute exacerbations leading to significant health care burden and impaired quality of life. Objective The objective of this study was to identify clinical factors associated with frequent acute exacerbation of CRS (AECRS). Methods This is a retrospective cohort study of patients with CRS from January 1, 2014, to May 31, 2016. Frequent AECRS was defined as at least 4 episodes over a 12-month period in which an antibiotic was prescribed for worsening sinus symptoms, and infrequent AECRS was defined as 0 to 3 episodes. Clinical factors, including asthma, allergic rhinitis, eosinophil count of at least 150 cells per microliter, and autoimmune disease, were evaluated for associations between the 2 groups. Results Of the 3109 patients with CRS who were identified, 600 (19.3%) were classified as having frequent exacerbation. Asthma, allergic rhinitis, eosinophil count of at least 150 cells per microliter, and autoimmune disease were associated with frequent AECRS with statistically significant adjusted odds ratios (aORs) after controlling for age, race, and sex in multivariate analysis (asthma aOR = 2.61 [95% CI = 2.14-3.18]; allergic rhinitis aOR = 1.96 [95% CI = 1.58-2.42]; eosinophil count of at least 150 cells per microliter aOR = 1.54 [95% CI = 1.21-1.97]; and autoimmune disease aOR = 1.68 [95% CI = 1.36-2.07]). Antibody deficiency, antibiotic allergy, lower FEV1, radiographic sinus disease severity, nasal polyposis, and systemic corticosteroid use were also associated with frequent AECRS. Conclusion Patients with frequent episodes of AECRS were characterized by a higher prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis, eosinophil count of at least 150 cells per microliter, autoimmune disease, and other allergic and immunologic diseases. These findings identify a high-risk phenotype of patients with CRS for preventive interventions to reduce exacerbation frequency.
Novel Hardware-Software Architecture for the Recursive Merge Filtering Algorithm

As reconfigurable devices move to the forefront of mainstream processing, the spectrum of application areas for such devices is also increasing. One such area is image processing. In this paper we present a novel hardware-software codesign architecture for the computation of the Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT), based on a new Recursive Merge Filtering (RMF) algorithm. The architecture aims at reducing the overall data routing during the computation of the DWT. The method shows how data routing can be transformed into a series of index computations carried out on the reconfigurable device. The architecture applies hardware/software codesign principles for task division among the available processing resources and uses memory resources closer to the FPGA to avoid the main memory accesses and this reduces the processing time and access time. The paper also proposes ideas based on memory bank to further enhance the performance of the proposed architecture. The architecture is based on a dynamically reconfigurable device, the Xilinx XC6200 on the H.O.T Works Board used to carry out the data routing by a series of index computations. The complex computations are restricted to the main processor and the simple addition/subtraction tasks for data routing are based on the FPGA.
Association Between Structured Physical Activity and Sedentary Time in Older Adults.

This post hoc exploratory analysis of Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders (LIFE) trial data examines the association between the trial’s physical activity intervention and sedentary time in older adults.
Nonsurgical Management of Vesicourethral Dysfunction

The conservative or nonsurgical treatment of voiding dysfunction has improved significantly, due predominantly to an improved understanding of the basic neurophysiologic mechanisms regulating the function of the bladder and urethra. Although still far from satisfactory, further research will undoubtedly open new avenues of treatment.
Ultralow Lattice Thermal Conductivity of the Random Multilayer Structure with Lattice Imperfections

Randomizing the layer thickness of superlattices (SL) can lead to localization of coherent phonons and thereby reduces the lattice thermal conductivity κ l . In this work, we propose strategies that can suppress incoherent phonon transport in the above random multilayer (RML) structure to further reduce κ l . Molecular dynamics simulations are conducted to investigate phonon heat conduction in SLs and RMLs with lattice imperfections. We found that interfacial species mixing enhances thermal transport across single interfaces and few-period SLs through the phonon "bridge" mechanism, while it substantially reduces the κ l of many-period SLs by breaking the phonon coherence. This is a clear manifestation of the transition from incoherent-phonon-dominated to coherent-phonon-dominated heat conduction in SLs when the number of interface increases. In contrast, interfacial species mixing always increases the κ l of RMLs owing to the dominance of incoherent phonons. Moreover, we found that doping a binary RML with impurities can reduce κ l significantly, especially when the impurity atom has an atomic mass lower or higher than both of the two base elements. This work reveals the critical effect of lattice imperfections on thermal transport in SLs and RMLs, and provides a unique strategy to hierachically suppress coherent and incoherent phonon transport concurrently.