cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stable isotopic compositions of hydrothermal vent organisms

Stable isotopic analyses were used to study trophic relationships in two communities of deep-sea hydrothermal vent organism in the Pacific Ocean. The community at Hanging Gardens on the East Pacific Rise (21°N), sampled in 1985, is dominated by two species of vestimentiferan tubeworms; communities at Alice Springs and Snail Pits on the Marianas Back Arc Spreading Center (western Pacific), sampled in 1987, are dominated by gastropod mollusks, barnacles, and anemones. In both locations, carbon and nitrogen isotopic values of vent invertebrates are significantly different from those of non-vent invertebrates collected at 11°N on the East Pacific Rise and elsewhere in the deep-sea. These distinct isotopic compositions reflect local sources of organic carbon and nitrogen used by vent consumers. Many vent invertebrates lacking chemoautotrophic endosymbionts have 13C-enriched values of-11 to-16%. compared to values of-17 to-22%. normally observed in deep-sea fauna. This suggests that a 13C-enriched food source is trophically important in both vent communities. Free-living bacteria colonizing surfaces and suspended in the water column may constitute this food resource. Nitrogen isotopic analyses show that the food web of the East Pacific Rise community has more trophic levels than the Marianas vent community.
A Fully Sequential Elimination Procedure for Indifference-Zone Ranking and Selection with Tight Bounds on Probability of Correct Selection

We consider the indifference-zone IZ formulation of the ranking and selection problem with independent normal samples. In this problem, we must use stochastic simulation to select the best among several noisy simulated systems, with a statistical guarantee on solution quality. Existing IZ procedures sample excessively in problems with many alternatives, in part because loose bounds on probability of correct selection lead them to deliver solution quality much higher than requested. Consequently, existing IZ procedures are seldom considered practical for problems with more than a few hundred alternatives. To overcome this, we present a new sequential elimination IZ procedure, called BIZ Bayes-inspired indifference zone, whose lower bound on worst-case probability of correct selection in the preference zone is tight in continuous time, and nearly tight in discrete time. To the author's knowledge, this is the first sequential elimination procedure with tight bounds on worst-case preference-zone probability of correct selection for more than two alternatives. Theoretical results for the discrete-time case assume that variances are known and have an integer multiple structure, but the BIZ procedure itself can be used when these assumptions are not met. In numerical experiments, the sampling effort used by BIZ is significantly smaller than that of another leading IZ procedure, the KN procedure, especially on the largest problems tested 214 = 16,384 alternatives.
Measurement of the minority-carrier diffusion length in thin semiconductor films

The general surface photovoltage theory is derived for thin semiconductor films with barriers on both the front and back surfaces. The calculated surface photovoltage spectrum and its bias-light dependence are compared to measurements made in hydrogenated amorphous silicon samples. Necessary precautions for the determination of the minority-carrier diffusion length are discussed.
Nervous system involvement in Fabry's disease: Clinicopathological and biochemical correlation

A detailed neuropathological and biochemical study was performed to evaluate the accmulation of ceramide trihexoside within the central and peripheral nervous systems of 2 patients with Fabry's disease. Luxol fast blue–staining lipid was noted in the leptomeninges and in the choroidal stroma; biochemical studies showed increased quantities of ceramide trihexoside in the cerebrospinal fluid. The permeable blood-brain barrier and blood-nerve barrier regions of the central and peripheral nervous systems contained increased quantities of ceramide trihexoside. Some central nervous system nuclei associated with autonnomic function were also noted to store lipid. Other areas of increased ceramide trihexoside accumulation included specific cortical and brainstem structures. Possible sources for this selective accumulation of ceramide trihexoside within the central and peripheral nervous systems include transport of glycolipid from the systemic vascular network and retrograde transsynaptic glycolipid transport.
The Role of Threats in the Racial Attitudes of Blacks and Whites

This study employed the integrated threat theory of intergroup attitudes to examine the attitudes of Black and White students toward the other racial group. This theory synthesizes previous research on the relationships of threats to intergroup attitudes. Structural equation modeling revealed that for both racial groups, realistic threats, symbolic threats, and intergroup anxiety predicted attitudes toward the other group. To varying degrees, the effects of negative contact, strength of ingroup identity, perceptions of intergroup conflict, perceived status inequality, and negative stereotyping on negative racial attitudes were mediated by the three threat variables. The model accounted for more variance in the negative attitudes of Whites toward Blacks than in the negative attitudes of Blacks toward Whites. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Can we, should we, need we agree on a definition of giftedness?

(2004). Can we, should we, need we agree on a definition of giftedness? Roeper Review: Vol. 27, No. 1, pp. 15-16.
Fourier transform of the percolation free energy

In this paper we compute the Fourier transform of the free energy of the percolation process. We apply the Fourier transform technique to rederive a result of Aizenman-Kesten-Newman that the derivative of the free energy is continuous.
Bentonite-based ammonium polyphosphate cementitious lost-circulation control materials

Bentonite-based cementitious materials have been formulated and evaluated in terms of their properties for use as cementitious lost-circulation control materials in geothermal wells at temperatures up to 300° C. The formulation which appears to have the highest potential as a new cementitious lost-circulation control material is composed of bentonite, ammonium polyphosphate, borax, magnesium oxide, and water. The appropriate combination of these ingredients results in the formation of slurries with viscosities and thickening times adequate to allow placement. After curing at elevated hydrothermal temperatures, the cement produced was characterized by a compressive strength >500 psi (>3.45 MPa) at 2 h age, a permeability to water 15%. The reaction compound responsible for the strength development at 300° C was found to be an assemblage of interlocking crystals composed of a grown thin-plate crystal. It was inferred that this microcrystalline cluster is associated with montmorillonite and ammonium polyphosphate-based complex formations.
Carbon monoxide concentrations in surface waters of the east tropical pacific in 1974: comparison with earlier values

Abstract Concentrations of carbon monoxide were measured in the surface waters of the east tropical Pacific during a cruise aboard USNS “Hayes” from Ecuador to Panama via Hawaii and Tahiti in the late winter and early spring of 1974. Data comparisons were made for time spans of 1.3–3.7 years at several locations where the cruise track intersected or closely paralleled portions of our two earlier Pacific cruise tracks. The comparisons showed remarkable consistency, considering the range of variability of carbon monoxide concentration. Latitudinal variations of concentrations found during the earlier cruises were reconfirmed.
Alcohol Related Birth Defects: Implications for Education:

This article emerges from a larger study of preventive approaches for Alcohol Related Birth Defects (ARBD) prepared for the New York State Department of Education. The author contends that in addition to clearly identifiable Fetal Alcohol Syndrome children, there is a continuum of impairment to the offspring of drinking mothers that is dose related and produces serious behavioral/learning deficits. The continuum includes young people of normal intelligence who perform below expected levels and find school adjustment difficult. School and community agencies need to conduct studies to determine the nature and extent of impairment and the kind of interventive and preventive action that should be instituted. To that end, this article gives information on the background and nature of ARBD and some suggestions to guide development of programs.
Adjuvant therapy in prostate cancer: Patient identification and treatment options

The recent downward shift in disease stage and patient age at diagnosis has led to an emphasis on definitive local therapy in patients with prostate cancer. However, patients with adverse prognostic factors (non-organ-confined disease, high prostate-specific antigen level, high Gleason score) have a significant risk of treatment failure. With our increasing ability to predict patients at high risk of failure, more patients are likely to receive adjuvant therapy. Adjuvant hormonal therapy extends overall survival after radiotherapy for locally advanced disease, while after surgery improved survival has been demonstrated in patients with node-positive disease. More recently, adjuvant chemotherapy has been investigated.
An International Investigation of Source Influence Effects of Internet Trustmarks

This study provides a foundational international investigation into source influence effects of Internet trustmarks (i.e., any licensed third-party mark, logo, picture, or symbol presented in an effort to dispel consumers' concerns about privacy and security). An experiment conducted in both South Korea and the United States utilizes three trustmarks identical in color scheme and design; however, the certifying source of each mark is manipulated as coming from the government, industry experts, or consumer reviews. Results show that across both samples, exposure to a trustmark has a positive effect on various outcome measures. Further, while an industry expert source appears to have the most positive influence for Korean consumers, a government-affiliated certification appears to have the most positive influence on US consumers. In addition, generalized Internet commerce trust is found to partially moderate the influence of trustmark source. Managerial implications are presented along with directions for f...
The role of conformational flexibility on protein supercharging in native electrospray ionization

Effects of covalent intramolecular bonds, either native disulfide bridges or chemical crosslinks, on ESI supercharging of proteins from aqueous solutions were investigated. Chemically modifying cytochrome c with up to seven crosslinks or ubiquitin with up to two crosslinks did not affect the average or maximum charge states of these proteins in the absence of m-nitrobenzyl alcohol (m-NBA), but the extent of supercharging induced by m-NBA increased with decreasing numbers of crosslinks. For the model random coil polypeptide reduced/alkylated RNase A, a decrease in charging with increasing m-NBA concentration attributable to reduced surface tension of the ESI droplet was observed, whereas native RNase A electrosprayed from these same solutions exhibited enhanced charging. The inverse relationship between the extent of supercharging and the number of intramolecular crosslinks for folded proteins, as well as the absence of supercharging for proteins that are random coils in aqueous solution, indicate that conformational restrictions induced by the crosslinks reduce the extent of supercharging. These results provide additional evidence that protein and protein complex supercharging from aqueous solution is primarily due to partial or significant unfolding that occurs as a result of chemical and/or thermal denaturation induced by the supercharging reagent late in the ESI droplet lifetime.
Status of selected mammal species in North Myanmar

During 1996 and 1997, data on the status of selected mammal species were collected from a remote region of North Myanmar. Of the 21 species discussed in this paper, the black muntjac, stone marten and blue sheep are new records for the country. One species, the leaf muntjac, has never been described. At least three species that once inhabited the region – elephant, gaur and Sumatran rhinoceros – are no longer present, and the tiger has been nearly extirpated. Himalayan species that are declining elsewhere, such as takin, red goral and red panda, are still relatively abundant despite hunting pressures. Musk deer are in serious decline. The wolf, while not positively confirmed, may be an occasional inhabitant of North Myanmar.
Proliferative capacity of human peripheral blood lymphocytes sorted on the basis of glutathione content

Glutathione (GSH) is important in defense against oxygen free radical damage, in detoxification of xenobiotics, and in mitogenesis. The reducing conditions provided by low molecular weight thiols such as 2-mercaptoethanol (ME) have been shown to promote the growth of lymphocytes in culture. We wished to determine the effects of 2-ME on GSH content, and to determine to what extent GSH status affected lymphocyte proliferation. GSH content was quantitated in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) using a flow cytometric assay with monochlorobimane. This analysis was performed on PBL as well as on the CD4+ T-cell subset, as identified with fluorescent anti-CD4 monoclonal antibodies (mAb). Cells were viably sorted on the basis of their GSH content, and incubated for 3 days with mitogenic concentrations of PHA (for PBL) or anti-CD3 mAb (for CD4+ cells) in the presence of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). BrdU/Hoechst cell cycle analysis was then performed on these cells. High GSH sorted cells had a higher percentage of cells capable of entering the cell cycle than low GSH sorted cells. This data indicates that some of the heterogeneity in proliferative capacity within PBL in culture is directly or indirectly related to GSH content. Incubation of cells in 2-ME prevented the loss of GSH that occurs when cells are cultured. 2-ME improved the proliferative capacity of unsorted cells, and of cells sorted for high and low GSH. Acridine orange staining of anti-CD3 mAb stimulated cells sorted for high and low GSH indicated that an early event in cell activation was affected by GSH content.
Response to Comment on: Black et al. The relative contribution of prepregnancy overweight and obesity, gestational weight gain, and IADPSG-defined gestational diabetes mellitus to fetal overgrowth. Diabetes Care 2013;36:56-62.

We thank McIntyre and Catalano (1) for their interest in our article (2). In this study, we examined the relative effects of prepregnancy overweight/obesity, excess gestational weight gain, and IADPSG-defined gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) on fetal overgrowth and other adverse outcomes, in a sample of 9,835 women who had a 2-h 75-g oral glucose tolerance test and were not treated with diet, exercise, or antidiabetic medications during pregnancy. Our analysis revealed that the majority (75%) of GDM women were overweight or obese at the start of pregnancy, and 21.6% of large-for-gestational-age (LGA) infants were attributable to overweight/obesity among women who never developed GDM. We also found that the effects of overweight/obesity and GDM …
Importance of data assimilation technique in defining the model drivers for the space weather specification of the high-latitude ionosphere

[1] The high-latitude ionosphere is a dynamic region in the solar-terrestrial system. The disturbances in this region can adversely affect numerous military and civilian systems, and the accurate specification and forecast of its plasma and electrodynamic structures are important for space weather research. Presently, most of the space weather models use limited observations and/or indices to define a set of empirical drivers for physical models forward in time. The empirical drivers have a “climatological” nature, and there are significant physical inconsistencies among various empirical drivers. Therefore, the specifications of high-latitude environment from these space weather models cannot truthfully reflect the weather features. Utah State University (USU) has developed a data assimilation model for the high-latitude ionosphere plasma dynamics and electrodynamics to overcome these hurdles. With a set of physical models and an ensemble Kalman filter, the model can define the drivers that are most truthful to the real space environment by ingesting data from multiple observations. In this paper, we will provide the details on how the model drivers truthful to real space weather are defined in the developed USU data assimilation model and show the space weather variability of the model outputs driven by these model drivers for various seasonal and geomagnetic conditions. Also, we will present preliminary results of validation and comparison studies to demonstrate that the model results with the optimal magnetospheric drivers determined by data assimilation are the better representations of real space environment.
Triclosan: Applications and safety

Triclosan (2,4,4'-trichloro-2'-hydroxydiphenyl ether) is a nonionic, broad spectrum, antimicrobial agent that, because of its favorable safety profile, has been incorporated into a variety of many personal care products, including deodorant soaps, underarm deodorants, shower gels, and health care personnel handwashes. Triclosan exhibits a moderate degree of substantivity to the skin, and, in many products, it imparts a remnant antimicrobial effect. Although direct contact with the material under exaggerated exposure conditions causes dermal irritation in laboratory animals, it has only rarely been associated with skin irritation or sensitization in human being in formulated products. Acute, subacute/subchronic, and chronic toxicity profiles have been established to determine that triclosan is neither an acute oral toxicant nor that it acts as a carcinogen, mutagen, or teratogen. A new application for triclosan is in oral dentifrices for plaque control. Currently under investigation in the United States, it is approved for oral care application in Canada and many European countries.
Pyramid Match Hashing: Sub-Linear Time Indexing Over Partial Correspondences

Matching local features across images is often useful when comparing or recognizing objects or scenes, and efficient techniques for obtaining image-to-image correspondences have been developed [4, 11, 16]. However, given a query image, searching a very large image database with such measures remains impractical. We introduce a sub-linear time randomized hashing algorithm for indexing sets of feature vectors under their partial correspondences. We develop an efficient embedding function for the normalized partial matching similarity between sets, and show how to exploit random hyperplane properties to construct hash functions that satisfy locality-sensitive constraints. The result is a bounded approximate similarity search algorithm that finds (1 + epsiv)-approximate nearest neighbor images in O(N1/1+epsiv) time for a database containing N images represented by (varying numbers of) local features. We demonstrate our approach applied to image retrieval for images represented by sets of local appearance features, and show that searching over correspondences is now scalable to large image databases.
Methodology for Agricultural Economists: An Instrumentalist Perspective

As an instrument for refining judgments of the adequacy of hypothesis validation procedures, neo-falsificationist methodology has important value. Appeals to principles of rhetoric, metaphysics, and literary criticism obfuscate the logical foundation for judging the evidential basis for validity. Falsificationist and positivist methodology are insufficient to facilitate the processes of systematic critique of theoretical systems in their proper role as functioning means for directing the hypothecation and testing processes. Instrumentalist methodology makes such criticism integral to an ongoing, problem-focused scientific inquiry process, thereby fostering theoretical and empirical research progressiveness.
"Ethernet on AIR': Scalable Routing in very Large Ethernet-Based Networks

Networks based on Ethernet bridging scale poorly as bridges flood the entire network repeatedly, and several schemes have been proposed to mitigate this flooding problem, however, none have managed to eliminate flooding completely. We present Automatic Integrated Routing (AIR) as the first routing protocol that eliminates flooding by assigning prefix labels to switches and building a Distributed Hash Table (DHT). The DHT maps host identifiers to the prefix labels of the switches through which they connect to the network. Each switch is assigned a prefix label using neighbor-to-neighbor messages. Prefix labels denote the locations of the switches in the network, and the prefix labels of any two switches automatically determine one or multiple routes between them. The DHT stores the mapping between the name of a host and its network location (prefix label) in a scalable fashion, with any one switch storing only a fraction of all the mappings. In contrast, prior approaches using DHTs to resolve host names incur the communication and storage overhead introduced by an underlying link-state routing protocol. Results using packet-level traces of Internet traffic demonstrate that AIR attains performance gains of orders of magnitude over Ethernet bridging and prior DHT-based schemes.
The determination of equilibrium exchange rates in catalytic reactions: Application to methanol synthesis on Cu‐Zn‐oxide

A method is described to obtain reaction rates of chemical reactions in a network in which there are more independent reactions thatn independent chemical species. The method makes use of the linear theory of nonequilibrium thermodynamics to obtain the equilibrium exchange rates of the reactions, which are calculated from the relaxation data as the system approaches chemical equilibrium. A method which follows very closely that of Wei and Prater (1962) can be used to treat the relaxation data. As an example, the method was applied to the methanol synthesis reaction from CO, CO2, and H2 over a Cu-Zn oxide catalyst. It was concluded that successful application of the method is limited to systems in which all the processes contributing to the observed relaxation are known, in addition to the common limitations due to noise in experimental measurements.
Activity of faecal fluid of a leaf-cutting ant toward plant cell wall polysaccharides

The faecal fluid of the leaf-cutting ant, Atta colombica tonsipes, has been shown to contain enzymes active in the degradation of pectin, sodium polypectate, xylan, and carboxy- methylcellulose. In addition, glycosidase activity has been detected in the faecal fluid using various naturally occurring disaccharides and synthetic p-nitrophenyl glycosides as substrates. The impor- tance of these enzymes in the symbiosis between A. c. tonsipes and its food fungus is discussed, with particular emphasis on the r61e of the pectin-degrading enzymes.
A geometry-mode study on two-dimensional conformal transformations in electrostatics

Electrostatic properties of two-dimensional nanosystems can be described by their geometry modes. Moreover these modes and their corresponding eigenvalues are invariant under any conformal transformation. This invariance suggests an efficient way for studying transformed structures. Namely, transforming a geometry is equivalent to modifying the strengths of these invariant eigenmodes excited by external illumination.
Understanding Commercial Real Estate: How Different from Housing Is It?

On the one hand, urban economics suggests that commercial real estate and owner-occupied housing are driven by common fundamentals, which should make them perform similarly. On the other hand, stronger limits to arbitrage in housing suggest that wider swings in prices, which are unrelated to fundamentals, are feasible in that property sector. And wider swings in fundamentals could be expected in the commercial sector due to the longer lead times for commercial buildings to be permitted and delivered, leading to a greater possibility of a temporal mismatch between supply and demand. Yet, the author finds many more similarities than differences across the two real estate sectors. The simple correlation between appreciation rates on owner-occupied housing and commercial real estate is between 40% and 60%, depending on the data source. Both sectors also exhibit similar time-series patterns in their price appreciation, with persistence across individual years and mean reversion over longer periods. In this article, Gyourko explores the various linkages between these two huge sectors, including the cost of land and materials, cost of capital, lender optimism, and access to the productivity and amenities of a given labor market area. With the recent dramatic declines in house prices, the strong similarities between the two sectors are foreboding given that the commercial real estate capital structure looks weak and a strong mean-reversion process in prices may still be underway.
Impact of predisposing, enabling, and need factors in accessing preventive medical care among U.S. children: results of the national survey of children's health

Background: Preventive care in the United States has been a priority, especially for children under 18 years of age. The objective of this analysis was to determine which predisposing, enabling, and need factors affect access to preventive health care for children. Methods: Data were obtained from the National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH), a cross-sectional study of children in the United States. The current analysis examined whether predisposing, enabling, and need factors included in Andersen's Socio-Behavioral Model significantly affect having received preventive medical care among children 3–17 years of age. Logistic regression was used to compute odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Results: 63,924 out of 85,151 subjects were reported as having received preventive medical care. After stratifying by geographical region, the following factors were significant for predicting having received preventive care. Age was negatively associated with having received care in all four regions. Household education of less than a college degree and being white (compared to black) were negatively associated with having received care in the Northeast, Midwest, and South. Having fewer than 4 children was negatively associated in Northeast but positively associated in the West with having received care. Being male, having less than 3 children in the household, having less than 3 adults in the household, and being Hispanic were positively associated with having received care in the West only. Not having insurance and having a lower socioeconomic status were negatively associated with having received care; while, having a personal doctor or nurse was positively associated in all four regions. Primary language other than English was negatively associated with having received care in the Northeast only. Currently needing medicine was also positively associated with having received care in all four regions; while, having limited abilities to do things was positively associated in the West only. Conclusion: Older children whose family resides in Northeast, Midwest, and South regions with low household education and poverty levels experience insufficient preventive health care. Medicaid or SCHIP coverage should be expanded for children who are still uninsured. For children in the West, gender, family size, ethnicity, and their ability to do things should also be considered when providing assistance for receiving preventive care.
EMB-4: A Predicted ATPase That Facilitates lin-12 Activity in Caenorhabditis elegans

The sel-6 gene was previously identified in a screen for suppressors of the egg-laying defect associated with hypermorphic alleles of lin-12 (Tax et al. 1997). Here we show that sel-6 and two other previously defined genes, mal-2 and emb-4, are the same gene, now called "emb-4." We perform a genetic and molecular characterization of emb-4 and show that it functions cell autonomously as a positive regulator of lin-12 activity. Viable alleles identified as suppressors of lin-12 are partial loss-of-function mutations, whereas the null phenotype encompasses a range of lethal terminal phenotypes that apparently are not related to loss of lin-12/Notch signaling. emb-4 encodes a large nuclearly localized protein containing a predicted ATPase domain and has apparent orthologs in fission yeast, plants, and animals.
Biocatalyzed mineralization in an aqueous two-phase system: effect of background polymers and enzyme partitioning

The formation of minerals in living organisms occurs in crowded microenvironments generated by the organization of soft matter. Here, we used a biphasic aqueous polymer medium to mimic the macromolecular crowding and compartmentalization of intracellular environments. Mineralization was performed in an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) containing two nonionic polymers, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG, 8 kDa) and dextran (Dx, 10 kDa). The enzyme urease was used to catalyze CaCO3 formation by hydrolyzing urea to produce CO32−, which reacted with Ca2+ already present in solution. Urease partitioning into the Dx-rich phase provided a mechanism for localizing the hydrolysis reaction, which consequently restricted mineral formation to this phase, despite the initially equal concentration of Ca2+ in both phases. Spatially confined mineralization was quantified by sampling the phases during bulk reactions and also directly observed in microscale systems by optical microscopy. Decreasing the volume of the Dx-rich phase relative to that of the PEG-rich phase significantly enhanced the local urease concentration in the Dx-rich phase, increasing local reaction rates. The PEG and Dx polymers, though present at up to 30 wt% in the ATPS, did not strongly influence the morphology of CaCO3(s) observed. However, addition of ovalbumin (1.5 wt%) caused marked changes in crystal morphology. The PEG/dextran ATPS reaction medium captured several key aspects of the biological environment including macromolecular crowding, localized reagent production via enzymatic activity, and reaction compartmentalization while not precluding the use of structure-directing additives such as proteins.
May I have your attention, please: Electrocortical responses to positive and negative stimuli

Previous research has shown that negative stimuli elicit more attention than do positive stimuli. However, this research has relied on response-based measures to assess attention. The current research uses the P1 component of the event-related brain potential (ERP) as a proximal index of attention allocation to valenced stimuli. In two studies, P1 amplitude was measured while participants evaluated positive and negative pictures. In both studies, principal components analysis showed that P1 amplitudes to frequent stimuli and to rare negative stimuli were larger than P1 amplitudes to rare positive stimuli. This is (a) evidence for the extremely rapid (<120 ms) differentiation of positive and negative stimuli and (b) process-based evidence for a negativity bias in attention allocation.
Regulation of VDR Expression in Apc-Mutant Mice, Human Colon Cancers and Adenomas

One variable that may affect the ability of vitamin D to reduce colon cancer risk is the expression of its high-affinity receptor, VDR. Here, we show that vitamin D does not reduce tumor formation in Apc(Δ14/+) mice and that VDR expression is lost in the majority of the colon tumor cells. The extent of VDR loss corresponded inversely to the level of β-catenin nuclear localization and could be observed in early lesions composed of just a few crypts. Analysis of reported VDR regulators showed that the repressing class I histone deacetylases (HDAC) were significantly elevated in the tumors (up to 4-fold), whereas the VDR-activating retinoid X receptors (RXR) were downregulated (∼50%). Expression of the Slug repressor was also increased, but was found primarily in stromal cells. Analysis of epigenetically active compounds on colon cell lines and intestinal organoids showed that HDAC inhibitors were particularly adept at stimulating VDR expression. Treatment of tumor-bearing Apc(Δ14/+) mice with the HDAC inhibitor panobinostat increased VDR expression in the tumors and normal mucosa. The RXR agonist bexarotene failed to activate VDR expression, indicating that RXR ligands were not limiting. Analysis of human microarray data indicated that VDR mRNA is frequently downregulated in colon adenomas, which correlated positively with RXRA expression and inversely with HDAC 2 and 8 expression. Human adenomas showed variable VDR protein expression levels, both between and within individual lesions. Determining the mechanisms of VDR regulation in colon neoplasms may significantly enhance our ability to use vitamin D as a cancer prevention agent.
Environmental barriers and subjective health among people with chronic spinal cord injury: A cohort study

AbstractObjectiveAlthough previous studies have found environmental barriers to be associated with social participation and life satisfaction after spinal cord injury (SCI), few studies exist reporting their effects on subjective health after SCI. Our purpose was to identify the prevalence of perceived environmental barriers and their effects on subjective health in persons with chronic SCI who completed two repeated measurements during a 5-year longitudinal study.DesignThis is a prospective cohort study. Environmental barriers were measured at baseline by the Craig Hospital Inventory of Environmental Factors-Short Form. Subjective health was measured at baseline and 5-year follow-up by days of physical and mental health not good. Other control variables included sex, race, age at injury, years since injury, and injury severity at baseline.SettingData were collected at a specialty hospital and analyzed at a medical university in the Southeastern USA.ParticipantsA total of 1635 participants completed both ...
Numerical analysis of cavitational flow-theory

We present theoretical results on the numerical approximation of ideal two dimensional flows of jets and cavities.
An assessment of promotion and tenure requirements at dental schools.

Tenure and promotion are integral parts of the academic environment; however, in this era of growing shortages of faculty, as the baby boomers retire and the majority of dentists choose private practice, recruitment and retention may be affected by the way institutions handle promotion and tenure. A national survey of U.S. dental schools conducted in 2007 assessed the existence of multiple employment tracks for faculty and examined the requirements for promotion and tenure. All responding schools reported the existence of multiple tracks for academic faculty appointments. Many dental schools reported that they provided opportunity for faculty members to switch from one track to another, thus circumventing the traditional “up-or-out” policy. The number of schools offering non-tenure appointment tracks has also increased. This finding indicates an apparent increase over time in flexibility regarding tracks and tenure. The majority of schools did not report requirements for the number of publications necessary for promotion. Those that did report requirements showed an increase in expected scholarly activity relative to past studies, indicating that it may be more difficult than ever to achieve promotion.
Performance analysis of reservation based CSMA/CD protocols for two priority classes

The carrier sense multiple access with collision detection (CSMA/CD)-based two-channel reservation network (TCRN) described by H. Barghi (1988) combines the advantages of random access and reservation protocols to give a better performance than CSMA/CD. The authors describe and compare two priority TCRN-based protocols: are with a preemptive priority (TCRN/PP) and the other with a nonpreemptive priority (TCRN/NPP). The performance of these protocols is analyzed, simulation results are presented, and comparisons are made with some other popular protocols. The results clearly indicate that TCRN/PP is more efficient than TCRN/NPP. The comparison between the performances of TCRN/PP and of CSMA/CD and split-channel reservation multiple access (SRMA) reveals that this protocol gives better delay-throughput characteristics. >
Software for Economic Optimal Control Models

The revolution in microelectronics is offering new opportunities for the development of software for economic optimal control models that is easier to use. This paper contrasts the software of the past with the software of the present and outlines the likely form of the software of the future. In so doing it chronicles the evolution of input and output from numbers to equations to graphics.
High Energy Astrophysical Neutrino Signals

The goal of this paper is to give a popular account for the high energy astrophysical neutrinos detected by the IceCube Collaboration. We start with a discussion of the importance of the detection of astrophysical neutrinos and of the atmospheric neutrino background for such detections. Then we discuss the high energy neutrino events. At the end of the presentation we compare the arrival directions of these events with those of extragalactic gamma-ray sources and ultrahigh energy cosmic rays.
An Introduction to Combinatorial Group Theory and the Word Problem

(1997). An Introduction to Combinatorial Group Theory and the Word Problem. Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 70, No. 1, pp. 3-10.
High Spatial-Resolution Analysis of Lateral Suicide Formation

Thin-film Ni-Si lateral-diffusion couples were annealed at 450°C for 12 hours to cause formation of the suicide phases: Ni 3 Si, Ni 5 -Si 2 , Ni 2 Si, and NiSi. Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) was used to investigate the suicide growth. The mechanism of Ni transport to the growth front was shown to be bulk phase diffusion, as evidenced by a bulk phase concentration gradient of 0.03 atomica Ni/nm in the NiSi phase. The transition from thin film kinetic behavior to bulk couple kinetic behavior was found to be greater than 200 nm. The absence of the Ni 3 Si 2 phase in the lateral-diffusion couple was attributed to a nucleation barrier. An excess amount of Ni in the Ni 2 Si phase at the Ni 2 Si-NiSi interface indicates the interdiffusivity is lower in NiSi than in Ni 2 Si, thereby limiting Ni diffusion out of the Ni 2 Si phase.
Legionella pneumophila growth in macrophages from susceptible mice is genetically controlled.

AbstractGrowth of the intracellular opportunistic bacterium Legionella pneumophila in macrophages from A/J mice is as vigorous as growth in macrophages from susceptible guinea pigs and human monocytes, whereas growth is inhibited in macrophages from other mouse strains, such as nonpermissive BALB/c mice. Permissiveness versus nonpermissiveness of macrophages from A/J versus BALB/c mice appeared to be controlled by a genetic mechanism dependent upon a single gene or a closely clustered family of genes. Susceptibility versus resistance of macrophages from F1 offspring of these two strains of mice and macrophages from backcrossed mice prepared from F1 hybrids and the original parental strain showed a segregation of permissiveness for growth of Legionella in vitro, consistent with genetic control.
Embodying the sacred and profane: how temporal empires, narratives of salvation, and the prison regime value bodies in the United States

AbstractAlthough analyses of the ‘sacred’ and ‘profane’ tend to remain within the discipline of religious studies, categories of sacrality and profane-ness actively shape and label all bodies in the United States. Combining theories of the sacred and profane with formulations of race, gender and sexuality, I investigate the social de/valuation of specific bodies at the turn of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. During each period, three structural factors influence these categorisations: empires of hegemonic social time, dominant Christian narratives of salvation and the role of prison. A comparative analysis demonstrates both continuity and specificity in producing sacred and profane bodies.
Comparison of ovarian stimulation response in patients with breast cancer undergoing ovarian stimulation with letrozole and gonadotropins to patients undergoing ovarian stimulation with gonadotropins alone for elective cryopreservation of oocytes

AbstractThe primary objective of this study is to compare the oocyte yield in breast cancer patients undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) using letrozole and gonadotropins with patients undergoing COS with standard gonadotropins for elective cryopreservation of oocytes. Odds ratios (OR) for the number of mature oocytes were estimated. Pregnancy outcomes for breast cancer patients undergoing frozen-thawed 2-PN embryo transfers (FETs) after oncologic treatment were also noted. 220 and 451 cycles were identified in the breast cancer and the elective cryopreservation groups, respectively. Patients in the former group had lower peak estradiol levels [464.5 (315.5–673.8) pg/mL] compared to the latter [1696 (1058–2393) pg/mL; p < 0.01]. More oocytes were retrieved in the breast cancer group (12.3 ± 3.99) compared to the elective cryopreservation group (10.9 ± 3.86; p < 0.01). The odds for mature oocytes with letrozole and gonadotropins was 2.71 (95% CI 1.29–5.72; p = 0.01). Fifty-six FETs occurred in ...
Present Situation and Analysis on Human Resources of Universities Basketball League Tournament of Anhui Province

Through the questionnaire and interviewing method,this paper studies the resources,payment and management of sportsmen,coaches and referees attending the 6th AUBLT.The result shows that a great lack in reserved personnel for AUBLT,and the poor payment seriously hinder the development of AUBLT,there are generally no qualified referees lie in the lack of a stable referee team.The reason is the lack of systematic management and long-range targets.
Fourier Deconvolution Methods for Resolution Enhancement in Continuous-Wave EPR Spectroscopy

An overview of resolution enhancement of conventional, field-swept, continuous-wave electron paramagnetic resonance spectra using Fourier transform-based deconvolution methods is presented. Basic steps that are involved in resolution enhancement of calculated spectra using an implementation based on complex discrete Fourier transform algorithms are illustrated. Advantages and limitations of the method are discussed. An application to an experimentally obtained spectrum is provided to illustrate the power of the method for resolving overlapped transitions.
Matrix-Free Time-Domain Method for General Electromagnetic Analysis in 3-D Unstructured Meshes—Modified-Basis Formulation

We develop a new matrix-free time-domain method, which requires no matrix solution, in unstructured meshes for general 3-D electromagnetic analysis. The method handles arbitrary unstructured meshes with the same ease as a finite-element method. Meanwhile, it is free of matrix solutions manifested by a naturally diagonal mass matrix, just like a finite-difference time-domain method. Different from our previous formulation where traditional curl-conforming vector bases are employed, modified vector bases are developed in this paper to directly connect the unknown coefficients of the vector basis functions employed to represent E (or H) with the unknowns obtained from the curl of H (or E), without any need for transformation. The proposed method employs only a single mesh. It does not require any interpolation and projection to obtain one field unknown from the other. Its accuracy and stability are guaranteed theoretically. Numerous experiments on unstructured triangular prism and tetrahedral meshes, involving both homogeneous and inhomogeneous and lossy materials, demonstrate the generality, accuracy, stability, and computational efficiency of the proposed method. The modified higher order vector bases developed in this paper can also be used in any other method that employs higher order bases to obtain an explicit relationship between unknown fields and unknown coefficients of vector bases.
Moderate chronic fetal alcohol exposure causes a motor learning deficit in adult outbred Swiss-Webster mice

Prenatal ethanol exposure can negatively affect development, causing physical and/or cognitive deficits in the offspring. Behavioral changes are typically characterized during childhood, but they can also persist into adulthood. The extent of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) abnormalities depends upon the amount and manner of ethanol intake, leading to a large variety of animal models. In order to mimic the genetically diverse human condition, we examined an outbred strain of mice exposed to chronic gestational ethanol and characterized subsequent behavioral alterations during adulthood. To detect deficits in cognitive ability and/or motor function, we ran the mice through tests designed to detect either memory/learning ability or motor strength/skill. We tested cognitive responses using the Barnes Maze and the Open Field Aversion Test, and motor skills using Kondziela’s Inverted Screen Test and the rotarod. As adults, the FASD mice showed no significant differences on grip strength, open field, or the Barnes maze; however, we found that outbred mice who had experienced moderate prenatal ethanol exposure were slower to learn the rotarod as adults, though they did not differ in overall performance. Our data suggest a specific FASD vulnerability in motor learning ability, and also open the door to further investigation on the effect of ethanol on brain areas involved in motor learning, including the striatum.
Multi-sensor fusion architecture for human-autonomy teaming

The adaptation of a sensor fusion architecture typically utilized in multi-sensor autonomous systems toward a human-autonomy driving system is presented. The adapted sensor fusion architecture employs a simplified methodology for estimating the expected and actual performance of human and autonomous counterparts in a joint task. The aim of this estimation strategy is to mitigate human bias and miscalibrated trust-in-autonomy (TiA), through real-time visual feedback to the human subject to recommend authority toggling between the agents, and thereby increase system resilience.
Computational investigation of half-Heusler compounds for spintronics applications

The authors investigate the properties of 378 half-Heusler compounds using density functional theory with the goal of identifying promising candidates for spintronic applications, e.g. half-metals. Although DFT has often been applied to the search for half-metals, this study may be the most comprehensive attempt to identify which of the compounds predicted by DFT to be half-metals are likely to be fabricated. The calculated formation energy of each of the 378 potential half Heuslers was compared to that of all competing phases and combination of phases in the Open Quantum Materials Database. Those semiconductors, half-metals, and near half-metals within an empirically determined 0.1 eV/atom hull distance margin for neglected effects were deemed of interest for further experimental investigation.