cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Better big data

By 2018, Medicare payments will be tied to quality of care. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services currently use quality-based metric for some reimbursements through their different programs. Existing and future quality metrics will rely on risk adjustment to avoid unfairly punishing those who see the sickest, highest-risk patients. Despite the limitations of the data used for risk adjustment, there are potential solutions to improve the accuracy of these codes by calibrating data by merging databases and compiling information collected for multiple reporting programs to improve accuracy. In addition, healthcare staff should be informed about the importance of risk adjustment for quality of care assessment and reimbursement. As the number of encounters tied to value-based reimbursements increases in inpatient and outpatient care, coupled with accurate data collection and utilization, the methods used for risk adjustment could be expanded to better account for differences in the care delivered in diverse settings.
Self-induced air emphysema of the face and neck

Abstract A case of self-induced air emphysema following an accidental soft-tissue puncture wound is reported. No previous cases have been reported in which the patient has had an accidental self-induced soft-tissue wound with self-induced air emphysema.
Economic determinants of consumer sentiment

Abstract A few objective variables explain most fluctuations in the Index of Consumer Sentiment. These relationships reveal sources of consumer satisfaction and can test hypotheses from psychological economics. The study questions the practical value of the Index to forecasters because objective data contain the same basic information. However, the Index reflected Watergate and the Arab oil embargo, and information on consumer response to such extraordinary non-systematic factors might assist forecasters. Granger causality tests support the exogeneity of certain explanatory variables and are consistent with the hypothesis that consumer sentiment affects automobile sales and purchases of consumer durables without feedback.
Genetically encoded fluorescent probe to visualize intracellular phosphatidylinositol 3,5-bisphosphate localization and dynamics

Phosphatidylinositol 3,5-bisphosphate [PI(3,5)P2] is a low-abundance phosphoinositide presumed to be localized to endosomes and lysosomes, where it recruits cytoplasmic peripheral proteins and regulates endolysosome-localized membrane channel activity. Cells lacking PI(3,5)P2 exhibit lysosomal trafficking defects, and human mutations in the PI(3,5)P2-metabolizing enzymes cause lysosome-related diseases. The spatial and temporal dynamics of PI(3,5)P2, however, remain unclear due to the lack of a reliable detection method. Of the seven known phosphoinositides, only PI(3,5)P2 binds, in the low nanomolar range, to a cytoplasmic phosphoinositide-interacting domain (ML1N) to activate late endosome and lysosome (LEL)-localized transient receptor potential Mucolipin 1 (TRPML1) channels. Here, we report the generation and characterization of a PI(3,5)P2-specific probe, generated by the fusion of fluorescence tags to the tandem repeats of ML1N. The probe was mainly localized to the membranes of Lamp1-positive compartments, and the localization pattern was dynamically altered by either mutations in the probe, or by genetically or pharmacologically manipulating the cellular levels of PI(3,5)P2. Through the use of time-lapse live-cell imaging, we found that the localization of the PI(3,5)P2 probe was regulated by serum withdrawal/addition, undergoing rapid changes immediately before membrane fusion of two LELs. Our development of a PI(3,5)P2-specific probe may facilitate studies of both intracellular signal transduction and membrane trafficking in the endosomes and lysosomes.
Ultrabroadband phase-matched optical parametric generation in the ultraviolet by use of guided waves

We present what is believed to be the first experimental demonstration of guided-wave phase-matched frequency mixing and harmonic conversion in gases. Broad-bandwidth ultrafast pulses, tunable around 270 nm, were generated from an ultrafast Ti:sapphire amplifier system using 2ω+2ω-ω parametric wave mixing in a capillary waveguide. We achieved nonresonant phase matching by coupling both the fundamental and the second-harmonic light into the lowest-order mode. The output 3ω pulses have an energy of >4 µJ at a 1–kHz repetition rate. Simple extensions of this method can generate higher-energy 10–20-fs pulses tunable throughout the vacuum ultraviolet.
Multi-parameter sensing using fiber Bragg grating sensors

Many applications of fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors take advantage of the serial multiplexibility of these sensing devices, but the measurement application is typically restricted to a single measurand (e.g. strain). This paper discusses the use of FBG-based sensors employed as multi-parameter sensing elements where a single instrumentation system can be utilized to provide measurements of strain, temperature, pressure, acceleration, etc. FBG-based strain, temperature, and acceleration sensors are serially multiplexed to monitor a lathe cutting process. Issues regarding serial multiplexing, wavelength spacing, and sensor transducer design are discussed along with experimental examples of various sensor transducers. An experimental case of serially multiplexed acceleration, strain, and temperature sensors is shown to demonstrate the multi-parameter sensing capability of FBG sensors.
Variants of the Rogers-Ramanujan Identities

We evaluate several integrals involving generating functions of continuous q-Hermite polynomials in two different ways. The resulting identities give new proofs and generalizations of the Rogers?Ramanujan identities. Two quintic transformations are given, one of which immediately proves the Rogers?Ramanujan identities without the Jacobi triple product identity. Similar techniques lead to new transformations for unilateral and bilateral series. The quintic transformations lead to curious identities involving primitive fifth roots of unity which are then extended to primitive pth roots of unity for odd p.
Pressure-Dependent NMR Spectroscopy Indicates That Internal Rotation of Gas-Phase Formamide Follows Statistical Kinetics

Pressure-dependent internal rotation rate constants for [15N]formamide in gas mixtures containing 1.3 Torr of [15N]formamide and SF6 pressures ranging from 150 to 5225 Torr were determined from ana...
Spatial Updating of Self-Position and Orientation During Real, Imagined, and Virtual Locomotion

Two studies investigated updating of self-position and heading during real, imagined, and simulated locomotion. Subjects were exposed to a two-segment path with a turn between segments; they responded by turning to face the origin as they would if they had walked the path and were at the end of the second segment. The conditions of pathway exposure included physical walking, imagined walking from a verbal description, watching another person walk, and experiencing optic flow that simulated walking, with or without a physical turn between the path segments. If subjects failed to update an internal representation of heading, but did encode the pathway trajectory, they should have overturned by the magnitude of the turn between the path segments. Such systematic overturning was found in the description and watching conditions, but not with physical walking. Simulated optic flow was not by itself sufficient to induce spatial updating that supported correct turn responses.
Transitional cell carcinoma associated with marijuana: case report and review of the literature.

Abstract Transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder tends to occur in older patients with a history of tobacco use. We recently evaluated and treated a 45-year-old man with a history of heavy marijuana use. The patient’s only risk factor for transitional cell carcinoma was the inhalation of up to five marijuana cigarettes daily for more than 30 years. We present our case and review the literature.
Activating protein factor binds in vitro to upstream control sequences in heat shock gene chromatin

DNA sequences, important for the control of Drosophila heat shock gene expression, are packaged in chromatin in a nuclease hypersensitive configuration. Recently, two protein-binding (exonuclease-resistant) sites which cover the TATA box sequence and an upstream control element were shown to occur in vivo amidst the 5' terminal hypersensitive regions of several heat shock genes. Protein-binding at the TATA box is independent of heat shock, but the binding at the upstream element is heat shock dependent, and it was proposed that a heat shock activator protein, HAP, positively regulates the genes. Here, I report the detection of HAP activity in heat shocked cell extracts by reconstituting specific binding to hsp82 gene chromatin in vitro. Inhibition of the binding by free DNA from the 5' region of heat shock genes implies a coordinate regulation of the gene family through HAP interaction with the upstream heat shock consensus sequence. Furthermore, the special ease of induction of the hsp82 gene over other heat shock genes can be explained in molecular terms by the higher affinity of HAP for the hsp82 binding site, which contains a 28 base sequence with almost perfect dyad symmetry, GAAGCCTCTAGAAG/TTTCTAGAGACTTC.
Late Holocene human-induced modifications to a central Polynesian island ecosystem.

A 7000-year-long sequence of environmental change during the Holocene has been reconstructed for a central Pacific island (Mangaia, Cook Islands). The research design used geomorphological and palynological methods to reconstruct vegetation history, fire regime, and erosion and depositional rates, whereas archaeological methods were used to determine prehistoric Polynesian land use and resource exploitation. Certain mid-Holocene environmental changes are putatively linked with natural phenomena such as eustatic sea-level rise and periodic El Nino-Southern Oscillation events. However, the most significant changes were initiated between 2500 and 1800 years and were directly or indirectly associated with colonization by seafaring Polynesian peoples. These human-induced effects included major forest clearance, increased erosion of volcanic hillsides and alluvial deposition in valley bottoms, significant increases in charcoal influx, extinctions of endemic terrestrial species, and the introduction of exotic species.
The effect of reducing agents on the structure of mammalian β-adrenergic receptors

Abstract Under reducing conditions (5% β-mercaptoethanol) the mammalian β-adrenergic receptor binding site from both β1 (porcine heart membranes) and β2 receptors (hamster lung and rat erythrocyte membranes) appears to reside on peptides of Mr 62,000–65,000 as determined by photoaffinity labeling with p-azido-m-[125I]iodobenzylcarazolol and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. When similar experiments are performed in these same systems under a variety of non-reducing conditions, there are minimal changes in the apparent molecular weight of both the β1- and β2-adrenergic receptor binding subunits and no specifically labeled higher molecular weight proteins are observed suggesting that there are no disulfide linked subunits in mammalian β-adrenergic receptors.
Single-scattering Optical Tomography: Simultaneous Reconstruction of Scattering and Absorption

We report theory and numerical simulations that demonstrate the feasibility of simultaneous reconstruction of the three-dimensional scattering and absorption coefficients of a mesoscopic system using angularly resolved measurements of scattered light. Image reconstruction is based on the inversion of a generalized (broken ray) Radon transform relating the scattering and absorption coefficients of the medium to angularly resolved intensity measurements. Although the single-scattering approximation to the radiative transport equation (RTE) is used to devise the image reconstruction method, there is no assumption that only singly scattered light is measured. That is, no physical mechanism for separating single-scattered photons from the rest of the multiply-scattered light (e.g., time gating) is employed in the proposed experiments. Numerical examples of image reconstruction are obtained using samples of optical depth of up to 3.2. The forward data are obtained from numerical solution of the RTE, accounting for all orders of scattering.
Conversion of ab-initio force fields and structures to molecular mechanics energy functions

Abstract The rapid development of computers in recent years has brought increasingly complex compounds into the range of high level ab-initio calculations. Such calculations produce valuable results which in many cases would be difficult or even impossible to obtain, with comparable accuracy, in any other way (Fogarasi & Pulay, Annu. Rev. Phys. Chem. 35, 191, 1984). Thus, it is highly desirable to be able to utilize these results in the construction of potential energy functions used in molecular mechanics (MM), molecular dynamics and Monte-Carlo calculations. For instance, the significance of quadratic cross terms in MM energy functions is still insufficiently explored (Lii & Allinger, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 111, 8566, 1989). In order to make possible the complete utilization of ab-initio results in MM calculations, we have developed a method by which scaled ab-initio (or empirical) force fields and structures can be directly converted to MM potential energy parameters, without sacrificing any of the original accuracy with regard to vibrational frequencies or structure. Here we briefly outline the conversion procedure, a more complete analysis being published separately.
Text extraction via an edge-bounded averaging and a parametric character model

We present a deterministic text extraction algorithm that relies on three basic assumptions: color/luminance uniformity of the interior region, closed boundaries of sharp edges and the consistency of local contrast. The algorithm is basically independent of the character alphabet, text layout, font size and orientation. The heart of this algorithm is an edge-bounded averaging for the classification of smooth regions that enhances robustness against noise without sacrificing boundary accuracy. We have also developed a verification process to clean up the residue of incoherent segmentation. Our framework provides a symmetric treatment for both regular and inverse text. We have proposed three heuristics for identifying the type of text from a cluster consisting of two types of pixel aggregates. Finally, we have demonstrated the advantages of the proposed algorithm over adaptive thresholding and block-based clustering methods in terms of boundary accuracy, segmentation coherency, and capability to identify inverse text and separate characters from background patches.
Clavicle and acromioclavicular joint injuries: a review of imaging, treatment, and complications.

Fractures of the clavicle account for 2.6–5% of all fractures. Clavicular fractures have traditionally been treated conservatively, however, there has recently been increased interest in surgical repair of displaced clavicular fractures, with resultant lower rates of nonunion and malunion. Treatment of acromioclavicular (AC) separation has traditionally been conservative, with surgery reserved for patients with chronic pain or significant dislocation and acute soft tissue injury. It is important for the radiologist to become familiar with the surgical techniques used to fixate these fractures as well as the post-operative appearance and potential complications.
Deposition rates for sulfur and nitrogen to a hardwood forest in Northern Connecticut, U.S.A.

Abstract Wet and dry deposition fluxes in north-central Connecticut were estimated using a three-stage filterpack system and a dry deposition inferential model (DDIM). When compared with measurements from northeastern U.S.A. sites of the E.P.A. National Dry Deposition Network (NDDN), north-central Connecticut atmospheric concentration values generally were higher than Hubbard Brook, NH and lower than West Point, NY. Total nitrogen deposition for 1990 was 8.78 kg ha −1 with 60.0% dry deposition and for 1991 was 7.24 kg ha −1 with 45.6% dry. Total sulfur deposition for 1990 was 10.31 kg ha −1 with 26.6% dry and for 1991 was 12.90 kg ha −1 with 32.6% dry. Quarterly wet plus dry fluxes for both nitrogen and sulfur showed a second quarter peak over the two and a half year study period (from July 1989 to January 1991). Dry deposited nitrogen exceeded the wet component during four of the 10 quarters whereas wet deposited sulfur always exceeded the dry deposition. Possible errors in the DDIM calculations due to the location of the measurements in a forest clearing are discussed.
Evaluation of Wintering Waterbird Habitats on Louisiana Barrier Islands

ABSTRACT Curtiss, D. and Pierce, A.R., 2016. Evaluation of wintering waterbird habitats on Louisiana barrier islands. Louisiana's barrier islands provide unique habitats for waterbirds throughout the year. Unfortunately, barrier islands such as those within the Isles Dernieres Barrier Island Refuge (IDBIR) are rapidly degrading, and critical waterbird habitats are disappearing. The majority of waterbird research projects in the northern Gulf of Mexico have focused on important breeding habitats, but little information exists on preferred habitats during the nonbreeding wintering period. The goal of this study was to identify important waterbird habitats on barrier islands during the nonbreeding period to enhance barrier island management for year-round use by waterbirds. Biweekly surveys were conducted at the IDBIR during the 2010–2011 and 2011–2012 nonbreeding seasons to determine waterbird use of beach habitats. Habitat maps of the IDBIR were also created to calculate bird densities and species richness...
A Case Study for Inferring Freshwater Lake Ice Thickness by GPS Interferometric Reflectometry

The potential for inferring freshwater lake ice thickness by using the global positioning system (GPS) is explored. In particular, lake ice thickness is estimated by using a nonlinear least squares fitting algorithm. The inputs to this algorithm are GPS signals and a simple GPS interferometric reflectometry (GPS-IR) model. The elevation angles of interest at the GPS receiving antennna are between 5 degrees and 25 degrees. A 1-day experiment with a snow-covered frozen lake using GPS satellite PRN 10 shows potential for inferring lake ice thickness by incorporating the GPS-IR model. For this satellite, the average inferred thickness (38.0 cm) slightly underestimates the in situ measurements (39.4 cm +/- 1.3 cm). GPS satellites PRN 2 and PRN 24 are also used in this study. However, their received signals did not provide the necessary information to infer a reasonable lake ice thickness.
The evidence for technical considerations in pancreatic resections for malignancy

The surgeon who wishes to perform successful resections for malignant processes involving the pancreas has to be conversant with a broad range of topics. There are extensive collections of data that usually give excellent guidance, but sometimes also provide conflicting advice. No matter what the data suggest might work best, the surgeon and local collaborators must be able to deliver the quality care cited in some of these reports; usually it is the best results that are published. There is a difference between results that are statistically significant, clinically significant, and important to the patient, and these concepts should never be confused.
Metaplastic Breast Cancer: To Radiate or Not to Radiate?

Background The role of radiation therapy (RT) is unclear for metaplastic breast cancer (MBC). We hypothesized that RT would improve overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS).
Femtosecond laser machining of steel

Femtosecond laser processing is a promising new technology for the fabrication of micro-scale components from engineering materials, such as metals. In the femtosecond time regime, the ablation process is nearly a solid to vapor transition, thereby providing access to cut smaller features. Sandia National Laboratories has constructed a femtosecond laser microfabrication system to study the ability to produce microscale components in metals and glasses. In this paper, we will report on our initial studies to understand the metal ablation process with respect to manufacturing process parameters. With this understanding, we will show that femtosecond laser processing can fabricate complex components with fine feature detail and clean surfaces. A key finding in this work is the substantial effect of layer decrement on resulting recast material deposition when processing in air.
Studies on the feed-back regulation of cholesterol synthesis

Summary 1. By means of a newly developed gas-liquid Chromatographic technique it has been possible to measure the synthesis of both β -hydroxy- β -methylglutaric acid and mevalonic acid; this procedure has permitted the direct confirmation of our earlier conclusions that the site of the cholesterol negative feed-back system is specifically located at the point of conversion of β -hydroxy- β -methylglutaric acid to mevalonic acid. 2. The specific inhibitor of this reaction appears to be a cholesterol lipoprotein complex which is capable of causing inhibition of cholesterol synthesis within 2½ hr after parenteral injection. 3. An examination of the intracellular site of the cholesterol feed-back reaction has demonstrated that this system is localized to the microsome and more specifically to the membraneous portion of the microsome. 4. Finally, studies of three separate hepatomas derived from three animal species, including man, have demonstrated that the cholesterol feed-back system is absent from these hepatomas, a finding which provides experimental evidence for the suggestion that the deletion of feed-back control may be related in some manner to carcinogenesis.
Photo-induced charge transfer and nonlinear absorption in dyads composed of a two-photon-absorbing donor and a perylene diimide acceptor

This paper reports the synthesis and electrochemical and optical properties of two molecular dyads (Dyad 1 and Dyad 2) consisting of a 2,7-bis(4-(diarylamino)styryl)carbazole two-photon-absorbing donor chromophore, connected by different linkers to a perylene diimide (PDI) acceptor. The photo-induced charge transfer in these compounds is characterised using transient absorption measurements. The use of the compounds for optical limiting is discussed; because of spectral overlap between the donor two-photon absorption band and the one-photon absorption band of the PDI radical anion, the dyads exhibit enhanced nonlinear absorption at wavelengths between 700 and 800 nm relative to that seen for the two-photon absorbing donor chromophore. The stronger nonlinear absorption observed for Dyad 1vs.Dyad 2 is attributed to a higher yield of photo-generated radical ions and a longer lived charge-separated state, resulting from differences in the linker between the donor and acceptor.
Host responses to Candida albicans: Th17 cells and mucosal candidiasis

Candida albicans causes mucosal and disseminated candidiasis, which represent serious problems for the rapidly expanding immunocompromised population. Until recently, Th1-mediated immunity was thought to confer the primary protection, particularly for oral candidiasis. However, emerging data indicate that the newly-defined Th17 compartment appears to play the predominant role in mucosal candidiasis.
Social Media and the Elections

In the United States, social media sites—such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube—are currently being used by two out of three people ( 1 ), and search engines are used daily ( 2 ). Monitoring what users share or search for in social media and on the Web has led to greater insights into what people care about or pay attention to at any moment in time. Furthermore, it is also helping segments of the world population to be informed, to organize, and to react rapidly. However, social media and search results can be readily manipulated, which is something that has been underappreciated by the press and the general public.
Colorectal cancer screening by primary care physicians: what are the next steps?

Sharma et al. (1) report on the practices of primary care physicians (PCPs) regarding colorectal cancer screening (CRCS). Their study's focus on CRCS in primary care settings is an important one, given continued high rates of mortality from CRC in the US and low rates of CRCS in the age-eligible population (2, 3).
Progressive macular hypomelanosis: An update

Progressive macular hypomelanosis (PMH) is a common and often misdiagnosed disorder characterized by numerous nummular, coalescing hypopigmented macules on the trunk of adolescents, and young adults. It was originally described in patients with Fitzpatrick skin types V-VI from tropical countries, but is now understood to have a worldwide distribution in a variety of skin types. The pathogenesis of PMH is unknown, but is thought to involve Propionibacterium acnes, which has been found in abundance in the pilosebaceous units of lesional skin. Biopsies of lesions demonstrate normal architecture of epidermis and dermis, but exhibit decreased melanin content. It is important to note that this is different from vitiligo, which has a total absence of melanin. Many patients with PMH often times go misdiagnosed for tinea (pityriasis) versicolor, postinflammatory hypopigmentation, and other dyschromias. Topical antifungal and corticosteroid therapy have proven ineffective in PMH, but successes have been reported with topical and systemic antibacterial treatment modalities and even phototherapy. Given the increasing prevalence of patients with skin of color, it is important to better understand the nature of this condition, along with its diagnosis, management, and treatment.
Adiabatic variation. Part IV. Action change of a pendulum for general frequency

The first approximation to the total change in the action is found for a general class of analytic frequency functions, and is expressed in terms of integrals over Bessel functions, by Langer's turning point method.
Detection of influential observations in the determination of the weighted-mean KCRV

Since the signing of the Mutual Recognition Arrangement, national metrology institutes (NMIs) have carried out many key comparisons in a wide range of metrological areas to establish the equivalence of their measurement standards. The determination of a key comparison reference value (KCRV) and its associated uncertainty is the central task in the evaluation of key comparison data. One of the most popular ways to estimate the KCRV is to use a weighted mean of the NMI's reported values, with weights inversely proportional to the variances of the reported value. One potential problem with the use of the weighted mean is its reliance on weights, which may vary greatly across NMIs. Consequently, some of the NMIs can be influential in the determination of the weighted-mean KCRV. Thus it is of interest to identify the influential NMIs based on some simple and well-defined criteria. In this paper, we present several easy-to-use criteria for detecting influential data in the calculation of the weighted-mean KCRV.
Thin films of SnO2 as solid state gas sensors

Thin films of SnO2 were prepared by the radio frequency (13.56 MHz) sputtering technique in a wide range of oxygen/argon concentrations within the sputtering system. The films were analyzed by means of transmission and scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffractometry and Auger electron spectroscopy. The results showed the films to be polycrystalline with an average grain size of 400 A. Room temperature resistances of as-sputtered films showed a strong dependence on the oxygen concentration in the sputtering environment. Electrical conductivity studies of these films in oxygen and in hydrogen revealed the fundamental charge transfer mechanisms in the observed gas sensitivity of the material to be due to an interaction of the hydrogen with chemisorbed oxygen ions on the semiconductor surface. Finally, a means of providing selectivity between H2S and H2 responses was studied.
Effect of supplemental phytate and/or tricalcium phosphate on weight gain, feed efficiency and zinc content in vertebrae of channel catfish

Abstract A 12-week feeding experiment was conducted with fingerling channel catfish ( Ictalurus punctatus ) to determine the effect of supplemental phytate and/or tricalcium phosphate on weight gain, feed efficiency and zinc content in vertebrae. Catfish fed a diet containing 2.2% phytic acid had significantly reduced weight gain and feed efficiency (653 vs 853 and 0.90 vs 1.02, respectively) compared to fish fed a diet containing 1.1% phytic acid. Zinc content in vertebrae was significantly reduced from 132.7 to 59.1 μg/g as the level of supplemental phytic acid was increased from 0 to 2.2% in fish fed diets containing 50 mg zinc/kg diet. Vertebral zinc content was not reduced when phytic acid was supplemented to diets containing 150 mg zinc/kg diet. There was no effect of supplemental tricalcium phosphate on weight gain or zinc content in vertebrae.
Title indexes as alerting services in the chemical and life sciences

The principles underlying alerting services are discussed. General alerting services (as distinct from SDI systems) need to transfer to their users a large quantity of current but mainly irrelevant information as speedily as possible. As title indexes are the easiest to prepare, and are therefore common, the user needs to know how much significant information is not discernible from a documents title. This is estimated to be 20–25% but can vary with subject and type of information sought. If a search of, say, Chemical Titles is made, ignoring synonyms but allowing for all syntactical variants, only about one third of the significant information will be recovered. Synonyms and other nomenclature problems are discussed. Delay times and time of use are the two most important factors in evaluating an alerting service and are reviewed for some typical services.
Tax services, consequence severity, and jurors' assessment of auditor liability

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to determine whether the type of tax services provided by a public accounting firm to its audit client and the consequence severity of an audit failure impact jurors' assessment of audit quality and auditor liability. Design/methodology/approach – The authors administer a court case to 168 jurors manipulating three levels of tax services provided to an audit client (none, tax preparation, and aggressive tax planning services); two levels of consequence severity of the alleged audit failure, observing the impact on jurors' assessment of audit quality, auditor responsibility for audit failure; and damages awarded the plaintiff. Findings – Consistent with recent US regulations, jurors perceive the quality of the audit to be lower when auditors provide aggressive tax planning services, but not for tax preparation services. Damages are greater when auditors provide aggressive tax planning services across both levels of consequence severity. Research limitations/implica...
The Number of D and E Regions in the Fibrinogen Molecule

Abstract The regional structure of fibrinogen was considered in reference to the terminal plasmin-cleavage fragments, D and E. By two independent approaches, a yield of two D and two E fragments was determined and this established the presence of two D and two E regions in each fibrinogen molecule. Immunochemically, it was shown that the expression of native fibrinogen determinants by the D:E complex was fully reconstituted by an equimolar mixture of D and E fragments, while other recombinant ratios failed to yield optimal reconstitution. Utilizing the cleavage-associated neoantigen of fibrinogen, fg-Dneo, as a quantitative immunochemical marker, it was determined that complete digestion of fibrinogen by plasmin yielded two D fragments. Since the D:E complex appeared to consist of an equal number of D and E fragments, the presence of two E regions and two D regions in fibrinogen was indicated. In polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the linear relationship between the concentration of the D or E fragment and its densitometric area in the gel was utilized to quantitate the yield of D and E fragments in terminal digests. The yield of two D and two E fragments was demonstrated and it was also shown that the yield of fragments was independent of the plasmin concentration and of the length of exposure of the D and E fragments to the enzyme. Thus, it appears that fibrinogen is a highly symmetrical molecule consisting of two E regions as well as two D regions.
Hydrologic Implications of Dynamical and Statistical Approaches to Downscaling Climate Model Outputs

Six approaches for downscaling climate model outputs for use in hydrologic simulation were evaluated, with particular emphasis on each method's ability to produce precipitation and other variables used to drive a macroscale hydrology model applied at much higher spatial resolution than the climate model. Comparisons were made on the basis of a twenty-year retrospective (1975–1995) climate simulation produced by the NCAR-DOE Parallel ClimateModel (PCM), and the implications of the comparison for a future(2040–2060) PCM climate scenario were also explored. The six approaches were made up of three relatively simple statistical downscaling methods – linear interpolation (LI), spatial disaggregation (SD), and bias-correction and spatial disaggregation (BCSD) – each applied to both PCM output directly(at T42 spatial resolution), and after dynamical downscaling via a Regional Climate Model (RCM – at 1/2-degree spatial resolution), for downscaling the climate model outputs to the 1/8-degree spatial resolution of the hydrological model. For the retrospective climate simulation, results were compared to an observed gridded climatology of temperature and precipitation, and gridded hydrologic variables resulting from forcing the hydrologic model with observations. The most significant findings are that the BCSD method was successful in reproducing the main features of the observed hydrometeorology from the retrospective climate simulation, when applied to both PCM and RCM outputs. Linear interpolation produced better results using RCM output than PCM output, but both methods (PCM-LI and RCM-LI) lead to unacceptably biased hydrologic simulations. Spatial disaggregation of the PCM output produced results similar to those achieved with the RCM interpolated output; nonetheless, neither PCM nor RCM output was useful for hydrologic simulation purposes without a bias-correction step. For the future climate scenario, only the BCSD-method (using PCM or RCM) was able to produce hydrologically plausible results. With the BCSD method, the RCM-derived hydrology was more sensitive to climate change than the PCM-derived hydrology.
Feedback Matching Framework for Semantic Interoperability of Product Data

There is a need to promote drastically increased levels of interoperability of product data across a broad spectrum of stakeholders, while ensuring that the semantics of product knowledge are preserved, and when necessary, translated. In order to achieve this, multiple methods have been proposed to determine semantic maps across concepts from different representations. Previous research has focused on developing different individual matching methods, i.e., ones that compute mapping based on a single matching measure. These efforts assume that some weighted combination can be used to obtain the overall maps. We analyze the problem of combination of multiple individual methods to determine requirements specific to product development and propose a solution approach called FEedback Matching Framework with Implicit Training (FEMFIT). FEMFIT provides the ability to combine the different matching approaches using ranking Support Vector Machine (ranking SVM). The method accounts for nonlinear relations between the individual matchers. It overcomes the need to explicitly train the algorithm before it is used, and further reduces the decision-making load on the domain expert by implicitly capturing the expert's decisions without requiring him to input real numbers on similarity. We apply FEMFIT to a subset of product constraints across a commercial system and the ISO standard. We observe that FEMIT demonstrates better accuracy (average correctness of the results) and stability (deviation from the average) in comparison with other existing combination methods commonly assumed to be valid in this domain.
Mechanics of the Cell Nucleus as a Function of Lamin Expression in Granulocyte Differentiation

The ability of cells to deform through narrow spaces is critical for processes ranging from immune function to metastasis. Neutrophils are the most abundant white blood cell, which are required to transit through spaces less than 1/5 of the cell's diameter. As the nucleus is typically the stiffest organelle in the cell, the lobulated shape of the neutrophil nucleus is thought to facilitate its transit. However, neither the mechanical properties of the nuclei, nor the mechanism underlying the transition from ovoid to lobulated nuclear shape, are fully understood. We used HL60 cells as a differentiable model system to study nuclear shape transitions and the effects on cell mechanics. To elucidate the effects of the nuclear envelope protein, lamin A, we genetically modified the cells to generate subpopulations of cells with well-defined lamin A levels. Quantitative image analysis revealed that increased lamin A expression inhibits the nuclear shape transition to the typical lobulated morphology. To determine the effect on whole-cell mechanics, we measured cell deformability by flowing cells through channels of a microfluidic device, monitoring transit time and nuclear deformation. In addition, we performed functional assays to test if the impaired transition in nuclear morphology is also associated with defects in phagocytotic function, and thus reflect overall impairment of differentiation due to increased lamin levels. These results help to elucidate the molecular mechanism of granulocyte differentiation, and may have possible implications for understanding reduced immune function in aging, where lamin A has been reported to accumulate at the nuclear envelope.
Dynamic load balancing without packet reordering

Dynamic load balancing is a popular recent technique that protects ISP networks from sudden congestion caused by load spikes or link failures. Dynamic load balancing protocols, however, require schemes for splitting traffic across multiple paths at a fine granularity. Current splitting schemes present a tussle between slicing granularity and packet reordering. Splitting traffic at the granularity of packets quickly and accurately assigns the desired traffic share to each path, but can reorder packets within a TCP flow, confusing TCP congestion control. Splitting traffic at the granularity of a flow avoids packet reordering but may overshoot the desired shares by up to 60% in dynamic environments, resulting in low end-to-end network goodputContrary to popular belief, we show that one can systematically split a single flow across multiple paths without causing packet reordering. We propose FLARE, a new traffic splitting algorithm that operates on bursts of packets, carefully chosen to avoid reordering. Using a combination of analysis and trace-driven simulations, we show that FLARE attains accuracy and responsiveness comparable to packet switching without reordering packets. FLARE is simple and can be implemented with a few KB of router state
Discontinuous Spectral Element Methods for Time- and Space-Fractional Advection Equations

We develop spectral element methods for a time- and space-fractional advection equation of the form $\prescript{}{0}{\mathcal{D}}^{\tau}_{t} u(x,t) + \theta\,\, \prescript{}{0}{\mathcal{D}}^{\nu}_{x} u(x,t) = f(x,t)$, of order $\tau\in (0,1]$, $\nu \in (0,1)$, subject to Dirichlet initial/boundary conditions. We present two spectrally accurate and efficient methods for global discretization of both temporal and spatial terms, instead of employing traditional low-order time-integration methods. To this end, we first develop a Petrov--Galerkin in time and discontinuous Galerkin in space (PG-DG) method, where we carry out the time-integration using a single time-domain spectral method (SM), and we perform the spatial discretization using the discontinuous spectral/$hp$ element method (DSEM). This scheme also leads to a more efficient time-integration when the time-derivative is integer-order, i.e., $\tau=1$. We develop the SM-DSEM scheme based on a new spectral theory for fractional Sturm--Liouville problems...
Preservation of Liver Protein Synthesis during Dietary Leucine Deprivation Occurs at the Expense of Skeletal Muscle Mass in Mice Deleted for eIF2 Kinase GCN2

In eukaryotic cells, amino acid depletion reduces translation by a mechanism involving phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor-2 (eIF2). Herein we describe that mice lacking the eIF2 kinase, general control nonderepressible 2 (GCN2) fail to alter the phosphorylation of this initiation factor in liver, and are moribund in response to dietary leucine restriction. Wild-type (GCN2(+/+)) and two strains of GCN2 null (GCN2(-/-)) mice were provided a nutritionally complete diet or a diet devoid of leucine or glycine for 1 h or 6 days. In wild-type mice, dietary leucine restriction resulted in loss of body weight and liver mass, yet mice remained healthy. In contrast, a significant proportion of GCN2(-/-) mice died within 6 days of the leucine-deficient diet. Protein synthesis in wild-type livers was decreased concomitant with increased phosphorylation of eIF2 and decreased phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 and S6K1, translation regulators controlled nutritionally by mammalian target of rapamycin. Whereas translation in the liver was decreased independent of GCN2 activity in mice fed a leucine-free diet for 1 h, protein synthesis in GCN2(-/-) mice at day 6 was enhanced to levels measured in mice fed the complete diet. Interestingly, in addition to a block in eIF2 phosphorylation, phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 and S6K1 was not decreased in GCN2(-/-) mice deprived of leucine for 6 days. This suggests that GCN2 activity can also contribute to nutritional regulation of the mammalian target of rapamycin pathway. As a result of the absence of these translation inhibitory signals, liver weights were preserved and instead, skeletal muscle mass was reduced in GCN2(-/-) mice fed a leucine-free diet. This study indicates that loss of GCN2 eIF2 kinase activity shifts the normal maintenance of protein mass away from skeletal muscle to provide substrate for continued hepatic translation.
The First Report of Beech Bark Disease in Ohio Comes Nineteen Years After the First Report of the Initiating Scale

Beech bark disease (BBD) is a two-part disease complex. It first requires the feeding of an initiating insect scale and is only fully developed when scale-altered bark becomes infected by one of two Neonectria species. In Ohio, there was a 19-year lag between discovery of the initiating scale insect and the development of BBD. In September 1984, the BBD-initiating scale (Cryptococcus fagisuga Lind) was discovered in the Holden Arboretum, Geauga County, OH (2). Nineteen years later (December 2003), A. Iskra discovered the exotic BBD-causing fungus, Neonectria coccinea (Pers.:Fr.) Rossman & Samuels var faginata Lohman, Watson & Ayers, on American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) in the Holden Arboretum. In 1934, Erlich (1) reported that there was normally a delay of at least 1 year between the appearance of the scale and the first appearance of the Neonectria spp. fungus. In the years immediately after the first report of the scale in Ohio (2), pathologists and arboretum staff made frequent visits to the site in an attempt to find Neonectria spp. fruiting. After a decade of searching, these visits became more infrequent. However, it was on one of these visits that A. Iskra found the fungus. He found it on only four trees, none of which had the extensive bark cankering common in chronic Neonectria spp. infections. In North America, the two species of Neonectria that have been involved in BBD mortality are the native N. galligena (Bres.) Rossman & Samuels, or the exotic N. coccinea var faginata. In the absence of beech scale infestations, reports of the native N. galligena infecting American beech are few. Yet, in West Virginia, western Pennsylvania, Michigan, and possibly North Carolina, the fungus first associated with the killing front has been the native N. galligena and not the exotic variety, N. coccinea var faginata. To our knowledge, this is the first report of BBD in Ohio and it is unique because the associated fungus is the exotic variety. References: (1) J. Erlich. Can. J. Res. 10:593, 1934. (2) M. E. Mielke et al. Plant Dis. 69:905, 1985.
Cannabinoid agonist, CP 55,940, facilitates intake of palatable foods when injected into the hindbrain.

Cannabinoids have been shown to influence food intake, and until recently, the neural pathways mediating these effects have remained obscure. It has been previously shown that intracerebroventricular injection of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) causes increased consumption of palatable foods in rats, and we postulated the involvement of the hindbrain in this cannabinoid-induced food intake. Cannulated rats (both female and male groups) trained to consume sweetened condensed milk received either lateral or fourth ventricle injections of CP 55,940 and were presented with sweetened condensed milk 15 min after injection. Rats were injected over a range of doses between 100 pg and 10 μg per rat. Milk intake was recorded for a total of 3 h. Lateral ventricle injection of CP 55,940 increased milk intake at doses in the microgram range. However, CP 55,940 was effective in increasing food intake at nanogram doses when injected into the fourth ventricle. Finally, male rats appeared to be more sensitive to CP 55,940 than female rats inasmuch as milk consumption was increased at the 1 ng dose in male rats, whereas only the 10 ng dose was effective in females. These results indicate that CP 55,940 may act in the hindbrain to influence feeding behavior in rats.