cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simulated 2017 nationwide sampling at 13,940 major U.S. sewage treatment plants to assess seasonal population bias in wastewater-based epidemiology

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is an economical technique for monitoring and managing the health and behavior of human populations. Using 2017 nationwide data on geospatial population demographics as a test case, we simulated repeated sampling at all major U.S. wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs; n = 13,940) under constant biomarker loading conditions, to explore the potential sensitivity of WBE for generating skewed data. Simulation of repeated sewage sampling over all four seasons of 2017 yielded a number of expected, inter-dependent phenomena triggered by cooler wintertime temperatures compared to summertime results, including relatively (i) slower in-sewer biomarker decay, (ii) longer distal reach of WBE, (iii) larger effective sewershed monitoring areas, and (iv) an increase in the population represented. Additional important but not necessarily anticipated simulation outcomes included (v) distinct, non-random changes in demographic parameters of monitored subpopulations (e.g., by household income, educational attainment, military service, unemployment, and lack of health insurance), (vi) recurring observation of the latter demographic patterns across various geospatial scales and regions, and (vii) more evenly distributed results in the winter. In contrast, data obtainable by WBE in the summertime were dominated by households residing closest to the WWTP and subpopulations of relatively lesser wealth, educational achievement, healthcare access and employability. The analytical approach presented here should be readily applicable to other regions worldwide and may help to improve the design, robustness and interpretation of future WBE studies.
Understanding Barriers and Motivations of Non-Traditional Students Learning Programming in an Online CS1 Course

Due to the increasing number of computing jobs and national demands, we are seeing a surge of non-traditional students (aged over 25), entering the online CS1 courses. We are at a large metropolitan public research university, where 30% of the students are non-traditional students. However, the online CS1 course usually consists of 70-75% of non-traditional students. We carried out a study in that course for the last 5 semesters where we interviewed non-traditional students to better understand their characteristics and how those are related to their learning goals and performance. This paper is an attempt to identify the unique characteristics of non-traditional students that can help Computing-ED researchers and admins to design online CS1 courses with appropriate pedagogy, so a better learning experience can be provided to them and their retention rates can be increased
Age Conditional Probability of Ocular and Ocular Adnexal Malignancies.

Aim The aim of this study was to discuss and illustrate the role age-conditional probability has in communicating risk of developing ocular and ocular adnexal malignancies. Methods Cross-sectional incidence for retinoblastoma, uveal melanoma, conjunctival melanoma, and lacrimal gland carcinomas from 2000 to 2017 were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database. Incidence rates were age-adjusted to the 2000 United States population. Age-adjusted incidence was converted to age-interval and cumulative risks. Outcomes were examined in 20-year intervals and cumulatively for adult cancers and yearly for retinoblastoma. Results The risk of each malignancy displayed age-dependent variation. For adult malignancies, men were at higher risk at most age intervals. Uveal melanoma had the greatest cumulative lifetime risk. The probability of developing retinoblastoma declines precipitously after age 3 years. Conclusions Age-conditional probability of developing cancer is a conceptually friendly means of understanding and communicating risk. It is particularly useful in comparing the risks of uncommon or rare cancers, such as those found in and around the eye. The assessment of risk in terms of age-conditional probability is a versatile and an underutilized pedagogical tool.
Observational Discovery of the Asymptotic Giant Branch Bump in Densely Populated Color-Magnitude Diagrams of Galaxies and Star Clusters

The huge photometric databases that are being created for stars in the Magellanic Clouds and in Local Group galaxies not only allow a detailed study of the star formation history of these systems but also provide important information on stellar evolutionary theory. Two low-level features above the red clump in the LMC color-magnitude diagram (CMD) have been discussed by Zaritsky & Lin and Alcock et al. as the possible signature of an intervening population. I conclude that one of the features, which has also been associated with the red giant branch (RGB) bump predicted by theory and observed in globular clusters, is instead produced during asymptotic giant branch (AGB) evolution. I will call it the AGB bump. In this Letter, it will be shown that the stellar evolution predictions about the position and strength of the AGB bump are in very good agreement with the observed structures in the LMC, M31, and globular clusters. The position in the CMD of the other feature is consistent with the location of the blue loops of stars that are a few hundred megayears old, and it has also been observed in the CMD of other galaxies with a young stellar population.
Species traits affect phenological responses to climate change in a butterfly community.

Diverse taxa have undergone phenological shifts in response to anthropogenic climate change. While such shifts generally follow predicted patterns, they are not uniform, and interspecific variation may have important ecological consequences. We evaluated relationships among species’ phenological shifts (mean flight date, duration of flight period), ecological traits (larval trophic specialization, larval diet composition, voltinism), and population trends in a butterfly community in Pennsylvania, USA, where the summer growing season has become warmer, wetter, and longer. Data were collected over 7–19 years from 18 species or species groups, including the extremely rare eastern regal fritillary Speyeria idalia idalia. Both the direction and magnitude of phenological change over time was linked to species traits. Polyphagous species advanced and prolonged the duration of their flight period while oligophagous species delayed and shortened theirs. Herb feeders advanced their flight periods while woody feeders delayed theirs. Multivoltine species consistently prolonged flight periods in response to warmer temperatures, while univoltine species were less consistent. Butterflies that shifted to longer flight durations, and those that had polyphagous diets and multivoltine reproductive strategies tended to decline in population. Our results suggest species’ traits shape butterfly phenological responses to climate change, and are linked to important community impacts.
How to Prevent and Combat Employee Burnout and Create Healthier Workplaces During Crises and Beyond

Abstract Burnout results from chronic work-related stress. People who are burned out are emotionally drained and feel negative and detached from work, which result in decreased performance, inhibited creativity and innovation, workplace accidents, absenteeism, and physical and mental illnesses. Burnout is widespread, pernicious, and costly to human life, firms’ bottom lines, and society – especially during a global crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic, but also during a broader set of pan-global crises yet to come. Fostering healthier workplaces is a necessity at any time, but particularly during a crisis that has intensified job demands (i.e., physical, psychological, social, or organizational aspects of the job that require sustained physical, cognitive, or emotional effort or skills) and drained job resources (i.e., physical, psychological, social, or organizational aspects of the job that help employees deal with stressful situations). Based on a review of the evidence, we provide recommendations and implementation guidelines that can help organizations prevent and combat burnout: 1) provide stress management interventions, 2) allow employees to be active crafters of their work, 3) cultivate and encourage social support, 4) engage employees in decision-making, and 5) implement high-quality performance management. Overall, our evidence-based recommendations, together with the implementation guidelines we provide, will help business leaders promote and create sustainable wellness at work during crises and beyond.
Nerve Evaluation during Laparoscopic Endometriosis Resection

Study Objective This video demonstrates a targeted nervous system evaluation in the setting of a uterine and ovarian conserving surgery Design N/A Setting A single surgical center within a large integrated healthcare system. Patients or Participants The patient is a 49-year-old perimenopausal woman with dysmenorrhea and a left ovarian cyst who presented for evaluation of new onset left hip and leg pain. The left ovarian cyst was first noted 4 years ago and the patient declined surgery at that time, instead opting for surveillance with repeat imaging which now demonstrated an interval increase in the cyst size. The patient had an extensive evaluation for her leg pain including MRI and nerve conduction studies which were all unremarkable. The patient declined medical management or definitive surgical treatment of the suspected endometriosis. She opted for a diagnostic laparoscopy and left ovarian cystectomy. Interventions The patient underwent an uncomplicated diagnostic laparoscopy and left ovarian cystectomy. Given the characteristics of her symptoms, care was taken intra-operatively to examine specific nerves within the lumbosacral plexus. Measurements and Main Results No overt pathology was noted along the sacral, genitofemoral, or obturator nerves. Conclusion In summary, this video demonstrates steps for performing a targeted evaluation of the pelvic nervous system based on patient's symptoms.
Value of Inside Sales Reps in the Presence of Outside Sales Rep in Business-to-Business Selling

Many business-to-business (B2B) selling situations involve outside sales (OS) representatives (reps) interfacing with customers and inside sales (IS) rep largely supporting OS reps. Put differently, OS reps are linchpins, while IS reps generally have auxiliary roles. Perhaps for this reason, the economic value of IS reps for the B2B IS-OS selling process has received little systematic investigation. The authors propose an approach that quantifies the incremental value of IS using observational data that are commonly available in organizational customer relationship management systems. By leveraging observed hierarchies in customer–IS–OS relationships, the authors establish an identification strategy that reliably quantifies the incremental effects of IS reps for generating customer sales. In the application of the proposed approach to field data, they use cross-customer variation to estimate the sales effects of IS reps and exploit the heterogeneity within IS rep collaborations to estimate the sales effects of IS–OS dyadic characteristics. The incremental financial impact of an IS rep for each customer ranges from $1,100 loss to $2,800 gain relative to every $10,000 customer sales.
Pyroptosis-dependent and -independent cross-priming of CD8+ T cells by intestinal epithelial cell-derived antigen

The innate immune system detects pathogens and initiates adaptive immune responses. Inflammasomes are central components of the innate immune system, but whether inflammasomes provide sufficient signals to activate adaptive immunity is unclear. In intestinal epithelial cells (IECs), inflammasomes activate a lytic form of cell death called pyroptosis, leading to epithelial cell expulsion and the release of cytokines. Here we employed a genetic system to show that simultaneous antigen expression and inflammasome activation specifically in IECs is sufficient to activate CD8+ T cells. By genetic elimination of direct T cell priming by IECs, we found that IEC-derived antigens are cross-presented to CD8+ T cells. However, activation of CD8+ T cells by IEC-derived antigen only partially depended on IEC pyroptosis. In the absence of inflammasome activation, cross-priming of CD8+ T cells required Batf3+ dendritic cells (cDC1), whereas cross-priming in the presence of pyroptosis did not. These data suggest the existence of parallel pyroptosis-dependent and pyroptosis-independent but cDC1-dependent pathways for cross-presentation of IEC-derived antigens.
Resolving agency and product market views of cash holdings

Abstract The new finding of this study is product market and firm investment in organization capital (“OC”) together explain cash holdings. The study integrates agency and product market views of cash holdings, resolving conflicting findings in prior literature. Controlling for product market, high OC firms hold less cash than low OC firms. Agency theory predictions regarding cash holdings are not in conflict with a product market view of cash. Univariate tests show high OC firms operate in industries more likely to experience product market strain, have higher cash holdings, take more risk, have lower leverage, lower total shareholder payouts, and higher future growth prospects. Multivariate regressions including product market factors indicate high OC firms hold less cash. It is product market factors such as market concentration and import intensity that are positively associated with cash holdings. OC and cash holdings are positively associated with firm value. Product market stress is negatively associated with firm value. Findings are robust to alternative measures of organization capital, product market and cash holdings.
Clinically Significant Bradycardia and Hypotension Following Consumption of Betel Leaf in a Patient Treated for Chronic Atrial Fibrillation.

PurposeA case of new onset bradycardia and hypotension following betel leaf consumption in combination with verapamil and metoprolol in an atrial fibrillation (AF) patient.SummaryA 66-year-old Nige...
Proustite (Ag 3 AsS 3 ) — An Almost Ideal Nonlinear Material

Results of optical absorption measurements in the vicinity of the interband absorption edge of proustite (Ag3AsS3) are reported with particular emphasis on the implications in nonlinear optical experiments. The data are analyzed in terms of direct and indirect optical transitions together with a band structure and vibration spectrum.
HCV quasispecies assembly using network flows

Understanding how the genomes of viruses mutate and evolve withininfected individuals is critically important in epidemiology. By exploiting knowledgeof the forces that guide viral microevolution, researchers can design drugsand treatments that are effective against newly evolved strains. Therefore, it iscritical to develop a method for typing the genomes of all of the variants of avirus (quasispecies) inside an infected individual cell. In this paper, we focus on sequence assembly of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)based on 454 Lifesciences system that produces around 250K reads each 100-400 base long. We introduce several formulations of the quasispecies assemblyproblem and a measure of the assembly quality. We also propose a novel scalableassembling method for quasispecies based on a novel network flow formulation.Finally, we report the results of assembling 44 quasispecies from the 1700 bplong E1E2 region of HCV.
Analysis of the European Court of Justice's Decision on Competence in the World Trade Organization: Who Will Call the Shots in the Areas of Services and Intellectual Property in the European Union

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Law Reviews at Digital Commons @ Loyola Marymount University and Loyola Law School. It has been accepted for inclusion in Loyola of Los Angeles International and Comparative Law Review by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Loyola Marymount University and Loyola Law School. For more information, please contact digitalcommons@lmu.edu. Recommended Citation
Carvedilol versus controlled-release metoprolol for elderly veterans with heart failure.

OBJECTIVES: To characterize prescribing of carvedilol and controlled-release (CR) metoprolol for veterans with heart failure who were predominantly elderly (aged \u226565) and to compare the time to first hospitalization or death. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort. SETTING: Veterans Health Administration (VHA) nationwide healthcare system. SUBJECTS: Veterans enrolled in fee-for-service Medicare that had a VHA diagnosis of heart failure and a first prescription for carvedilol (n=17,429) or CR metoprolol (n=8,683) between October 1999 and September 2003. MEASUREMENTS: Prescribed daily doses and CR metoprolol-to-carvedilol hazard ratios (HRs) estimated using Cox regression within strata defined according to propensity to prescribe carvedilol. RESULTS: After several months, the majority of prescribed doses in both cohorts were less than 50% of target doses. The risk-adjusted HR was 0.99 (95% confidence interval=0.96\u20131.03) for hospitalization or death and 0.91 (0.85\u20130.96) for death alone. CONCLUSION: Doses of beta-blockers being prescribed to predominantly elderly veterans with heart failure were much lower than proven doses. Whether efforts to increase doses can improve the effectiveness of beta-blocker therapy warrants further study. At the prescribed doses, CR metoprolol was associated with better survival than carvedilol, although unmeasured confounding variables might explain the observed difference in survival.
Wireless sensor networks: from the laboratory to the field

This paper reviews the motivation for, and the design of, an environmental monitoring system based on a network of wirelessly-linked multi-parameter sensors. This approach enables access to more comprehensive data sets in a more timely fashion and with much less effort than is currently required. The design features the tight integration of existing, low-cost sensing, computation, and wireless communication hardware technologies with energy-aware processing and networking software, and can address immediate environmental monitoring needs. While our short-term focus is on environmental monitoring for microclimate field studies, the technology is also appropriate for a number of related applications, including ecosystem management, control of high-performance buildings, hazard/emergency warning systems, and security monitoring.
Mechanistic Aspects of the Photosubstitution and Photoisomerization Reactions of d6 Metal Complexes

Article de synthese sur les etats excites et les mecansimes.Revue generale des reactions des complexes des metaux d 6 : Fe(II), Ru(II) et Os(II), Co(III), Rh(III) et Ir(III), Pt(IV)
Path Integrals and Gauge Theories

Quantization of nonabelian gauge fields has been carried1 out successfully in the path integral formulation of quantum theory due to Dirac2 and Feynman3. Unfortunately the discussion of path integral quantization is completely ignored in most standard text-books on field theory, or is given inadequately. I would like to describe the basic idea involved, so that one can proceed to the quantization of gauge theories by this method.
Effects of Alkylbenzene Sulfonates on Yeasts

Species of Hansenula and Candida are resistant to high concentrations of anionic alkylbenzene sulfonates and degrade subinhibitory concentrations of these detergents.
Loevinger, Jane (1918–2008)

Jane Loevinger was well known for her work in psychometrics, her theory of ego development, and her widely used assessment instrument, the Washington University Sentence Completion Test. Born February 6, 1918, in St. Paul, Minnesota, Loevinger was the third of five children of Gustavus and Millie (Strause) Loevinger. Her father was a German immigrant who became a district court judge. Her mother was a part-time schoolteacher and amateur pianist. Loevinger finished high school a semester early and enrolled at the University of Minnesota. She went to Jack Darley for vocational counseling and was told that psychology was “too mathematical” for her, whereupon she immediately enrolled in trigonometry and declared psychology as her major. Loevinger graduated magna cum laude in psychology at the age of 19, and a year later earned a Master of Science in psychometrics, also from the University of Minnesota (1939). Keywords: ego development; life cycle; sentence completion test; stage theory
A Slicing-Based Coherence Measure for Clusters of DTI Integral Curves

We present a slicing-based coherence measure for clusters of DTI integral curves. For a given cluster, we probe samples from the cluster by slicing it with a plane at regularly spaced locations parametrized by curve arc lengths. Then we compute a stability measure based on the spatial relations between the projections of the curve points in individual slices and their change across the slices. We demonstrate its use in refining agglomerative hierarchical clustering results of DTI curves that correspond to neural pathways. Expert evaluation shows that refinement based on our measure can lead to improvement of clustering that is not possible directly by using standard methods.
Pre- and postweaning food restrictions interact to determine reproductive success and milk volume in rats.

This study was designed to determine if nutrient availability during gestation and early life modifies the effects of subsequent dietary intake on reproductive and lactation performance. Rat pups, whose mothers had been allowed free access to food or were food-restricted to 50% of ad libitum consumption were assigned to free access or food restricted groups after weaning, creating 4 groups (pre- and postweaning diet). Pre- and postweaning diets interacted significantly to influence age at conception, number of pups born, and milk yield on d 14 of lactation. Early undernutrition deterred conception in dams later allowed free access to food and resulted in fewer pups born to dams later allowed free access to food, but not those in the food-restricted group. By d 15 of lactation, only dietary treatment after weaning influenced litter weight. Milk yield per gram dam weight was not impaired in the food restricted-ad libitum group but was lowered in dams in the ad libitum-food restricted group. Milk yield per gram litter weight was not impaired in ad libitum-food restricted dams but was reduced in food restricted-ad libitum dams. These results extend to the preweaning period our previous finding that past or current food restriction impairs reproductive success and decreases milk yield in rats. J. Nutr. 125 : 2400-2406, 1995.
Continuous-dilution differential refractometry at useful precision Isotope effects on polarizability in liquids. A new method to determine excess volumes. Application to (water + deuterium oxide), (acetone + d6- acetone), and atT= 298.15 K and λ = (470, 520, 559 and 650) nm

Abstract The design and operation of an interferometric continuous-dilution differential refractometer (c.d.d.r.) is described. For typical solutions, and even for solutions of isotopomers, the refractive index differences between solution and reference (usually one or the other pure component), are large enough to give interferograms amounting to many fringes. Deconvolution yields profiles of refractive index against concentration which can be interpreted straightforwardly in terms of the refractive indices and molar volumes of the pure components and the excess volume of the solutions. The c.d.d.r. method is illustrated with new refractive index data for (water + deuterium oxide), (acetone + d 6 - acetone), and (water + acetone) at T = 298.15 K and λ = (470, 520, 559 and 650) nm.
Improved Thermodynamic Model for Aqueous NaCl Solutions from 350 to 400 °C

A model, based on Helmholtz energy, that can be used to describe thermodynamics of NaCI solutions in the water near-critical region has been developed and tested as a function of temperature (350-400 °C), pressure (18-41 MPa), and solute concentration (0-5 molal) using literature densities, apparent NaCl (aq) molar volumes, heats of dilution, and apparent isobaric molar heat capacities. Densities, heats of dilution, apparent molar isobaric heat capacities, and apparent NaCl (aq) molar volumes calculated using the model agree well with literature values over the conditions studied. Calculated apparent molar isobaric heat capacities agree with literature data up to 450 °C, even though the data used in model regression were valid only at temperatures from 350 to 400 °C. Since calculation of apparent molar isobaric heat capacities involves the second temperature derivative of Helmholtz energy, extrapolation to temperatures > 400 °C is expected to give reasonable results.
The development of the atrioventricular node and bundle in the ferret heart

The development of the atrioventricular (AV) node and bundle in the ferret heart was examined at the light microscopic level. The AV node develops from two primordia which were first observed in the posterior wall of the common atrium during the stage when the single heart tube convolutes. During septation of the heart, the AV nodal primordia eventually fuse and come to lie at the base of the interatrial septum. The right AV nodal primordium is located below the attachment of the right venous valve to the interatrial septum. The left AV nodal primordium maintains a position anterior to the prospective ostium of the coronary sinus. At 16 days of gestation, large pale cells were seen in the dorsal AV canal. By 21 days of gestation these AV canal cells have been replaced by AV bundle cells. At this time the bundle is continuous with both nodal primordia. At birth the AV bundle is continuous mainly with the component of the AV node that is derived from the right AV node primordium. The anulus fibrosus begins to undergo the greatest developmental change after the AV node and bundle attain their final position in the AV junction. However, the anulus does not completely separate the atria from the ventricles during the later stages of development nor at birth, so that accessory AV pathways are present in the newborn ferret heart. Both the AV node and the AV bundle also demonstrated continuity with the myocardial cells of the interventricular septum in the neonatal heart. During development there was no evidence that rings of specialized tissues at the junctions of the cardiac chambers give rise to any component of the cardiac conduction system.
PACS Training Modules at Texas Children’s Hospital

In 1999, the Performance Improvement Committee of the Diagnostic Imaging Services of Texas Children’s Hospital identified the need for smoother integration of the picture archiving and communications system (PACS) technology into the workflow of the rest of the department. An effort was then launched to document prevalent issues, as well as to define the processes needed to implement a department-wide program to acquaint the staff with this new technology. The department’s application trainer, with the guidance of the Performance Improvement Committee, spearheaded the design and implementation of the PACS training program and has continued to develop it during the past 2 years. This article describes the format and components of the PACS training modules now in use, and details some of the positive effects of this effort.
Customer intention to return online: price perception, attribute‐level performance, and satisfaction unfolding over time

Purpose – Compared with the emphasis that service quality research has received in online marketing, much less work has been done on the role of price perception, service attribute‐level performance and satisfaction that unfolds over time, and their effects on customer retention. This paper seeks to fill this gap in the literature.Design/methodology/approach – This paper builds propositions about the role of price and customer satisfaction at different stages on customers' intention to return. Research hypotheses are developed based on theory from the combined literatures of services, product pricing, and behavioral decision theory. Data from the e‐retailing industry related to two specific periods of shopping experience (at checkout and after delivery) are used in the empirical tests. Structural equation modeling is employed to test the hypothesized relationships.Findings – The findings of this study indicate that after‐delivery satisfaction has a much stronger influence on both overall customer satisfac...
Relationship of Self-Beliefs, Social Support, and University Comfort with the Academic Success of Freshman College Women

The relationships of self-beliefs, social support, and university comfort with the academic persistence decisions and first-year grade point averages of 527 first semester female undergraduates were examined. Data were gathered in 56 classes or group meetings. These three constructs predicted academic persistence decisions, with social support as the strongest predictor, followed by self-beliefs, and then university comfort. Although there were no differences between Euro-American women and women of color on initial academic persistence decisions, Euro-American women had higher first-year GPAs than did the women of color. Research-informed practice and policy implications for increasing the persistence decisions and academic success of first-year female college students are discussed.
Organic aggregate formation in aerosols and its impact on the physicochemical properties of atmospheric particles

Abstract Fatty acid salts and “humic” materials, found in abundance in atmospheric particles, are both anionic surfactants. Such materials are known to form organic aggregates or colloids in solution at very low aqueous concentrations. In a marine aerosol, micelle aggregates can form at a low fatty acid salt molality of ∼10 −3 m. In other types of atmospheric particles, such as biomass burning, biogenic, soil dust, and urban aerosols, “humic-like” materials exist in sufficient quantities to form micelle-like aggregates in solution. I show micelle formation limits the ability of surface-active organics in aerosols to reduce the surface tension of an atmospheric particle beyond about 10 dyne cm −1 . A general phase diagram is presented for anionic surfactants to explain how surface-active organics can change the water uptake properties of atmospheric aerosols. Briefly such molecules can enhance and reduce water uptake by atmospheric aerosols at dry and humid conditions, respectively. This finding is consistent with a number of unexplained field and laboratory observations. Dry electron microscope images of atmospheric particles often indicate that organics may coat the surface of particles in the atmosphere. The surfactant phase diagram is used to trace the particle path back to ambient conditions in order to determine whether such coatings can exist on wet ambient aerosols. Finally, I qualitatively highlight how organic aggregate formation in aerosols may change the optical properties and chemical reactivity of atmospheric particles.
Statistical Analysis of Scores from Counterbalanced Tests

(1955). Statistical Analysis of Scores from Counterbalanced Tests. The Journal of Experimental Education: Vol. 23, No. 3, pp. 187-207.
Effects of pigment-deficient mutants on the accumulation of photosynthetic proteins in maize

We have monitored the accumulation of photosynthetic proteins in developing pigment-deficient mutants of Zea mays. The proteins examined are the CO2-fixing enzymes, phoshoenolpyruvate carboxylase (E.C. 4.1.1.31) and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (E.C.4.1.1.39), and three thylakoid membrane proteins, the light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b binding protein (LHCP) of photosystem II, the 65 kilodalton chlorophyll a binding protein of photosystem I and the alpha subunit polypeptide of coupling factor I. Using a sensitive protein-blot technique, we have compared the relative quantities of each protein in mutants and their normal siblings. Carboxylase accumulation was found to be independent of chlorophyll content, while the amounts of the thylakoid proteins increase at about the same time as chlorophyll in delayed-greening mutants. The relative quantity of LHCP is closely correlated with the relative quantity of chlorophyll at all stages of development in all mutants. Because pigment-deficient mutants are arrested at early stages in chloroplast development, these findings suggest that the processes of chloroplast development, chlorophyll synthesis and thylakoid protein accumulation are coordinated during leaf development but that carboxylase accumulation is controlled by different regulatory mechanisms. A white leaf mutant was found to contain low levels of LHCP mRNA, demonstrating that the accumulation of LHCP mRNA is not controlled exclusively by phytochrome.
Contour estimation in tagged cardiac magnetic resonance images

Tracking magnetic resonance tags in myocardial tissue promises to be an effective tool in the assessment of myocardial motion and deformation [1]. The amount of data acquired is very large, requiring automated tracking methods. We describe a hierarchy of image processing steps that quickly detect the contours of the myocardial boundaries of the left ventricle (LV) and the spines of tags placed in the myocardium. We are currently using our technique to process short axis (SA) images containing a radial tag pattern and long axis (LA) images containing a parallel tag pattern. Other tag patterns, such as striped tags or a rectangular grid, may be detected with minor modifications to the algorithm.
Stretch-induced growth in chicken wing muscles: role of soluble growth-promoting factors

The involvement of soluble growth-promoting factors in stretch-induced hypertrophy of the Patagilis muscle (PAT) in the chicken wing was investigated. Soluble extracts were prepared from young chicken PAT muscle made hypertrophic by passive stretch and from unstretched contralateral controls. Extracts were tested for their ability to stimulate cell proliferation and creatine phosphokinase (CPK) activity in primary monolayer cultures of chick embryo muscle cells. Factors were present in muscle extracts which showed a dose-dependent stimulation of cell proliferation and CPK activity in vitro. Passive stretch for 5 days produced a rapid hypertrophy of the PAT which was accompanied by a dramatic increase in the activity of the growth factor(s). Release of stretch resulted in an arrest of growth and an immediate fall in growth factor activity. The difference in growth-stimulating activity between control and stretched PAT extracts could be demonstrated in chicken transferrin-sensitive chick myoblast cultures. Stretch thus induces an increase in a class-specific growth factor, possibly Transferrin, in the PAT. Stretched PAT extracts stimulated: (a) chick myoblast proliferation to a greater extent than an optimum concentration of chick embryo extract, and (b) CPK activity in vitro to a greater extent than excess Transferrin. Both control and stretched PAT extracts supported the growth of rat myoblasts. We conclude that PAT muscle extracts also contain unknown growth factor(s) which are different from Transferrin.
A maximal Fourier integral operator and an application

In this note we establish a strong type \(L^2\) inequality for a maximal Fourier integral operator, generalizing a related result of Rubio de Francia (Duke Math J 53:395–404, 1986). As an application, we also give an alternative proof of Sogge’s theorem (Fourier integrals in classical analysis, Cambridge University press, Cambridge, 1993) on the boundedness of the spherical maximal operator on the \(n\)-sphere, whenever \(p>n/(n-1)\) and \(n\ge 3 \).
Relationship between environmental light intensity and retina-mediated suppression of rat pineal serotonin-N-acetyl-transferase.

Abstract The dose-response relationship between intensity of ambient lighting and pineal biosynthetic activity was characterized by measuring serotonin-N-acetyl-transferase activity in pineals from rats exposed to strong light for two days, and then to darkness or to various light intensities for three hours. As little as 0.5 μwatts/cm2 caused a greater than 50% suppression of serotonin-N-acetyl-transferase activity; maximum inhibition was obtained with 15 μwatts/cm2.
Thyroid: Medullary carcinoma

Medullary thyroid cancers (MTC) are rare neuroendocrine tumors arising from the parafollicular C-cells of the thyroid. In this review, we provide a general overview of the classification, pathology, and clinical management of MTC. In the latter half, we survey the underlying genetic framework of MTC and its potential implications within a diagnostic and therapeutic context.
New hot-carrier-resistant P-I-N MOSFET structure

A new P-I-N MOSFET structure has been developed with near-intrinsic doping (1015 - 1016 cm-3 in our case) in the channel near the source/drain regions. The new structure is more effective in reducing the peak electric field at the channel/drain junction than LDD structures, and hence results in better hot carrier suppression. Also, the near intrinsic region near the drain reduces the transverse electric field and gives rise to higher carrier mobility and drive current than LDD devices.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Thermal Simulation of an Off-Grid Zero Emissions Building

This paper presents a simulation of the thermal response of the off-grid zero emissions building at the Florida State University Energy and Sustainability Center in efforts to assess the development of effective thermal management strategies for the building. The paper describes the OGZEB and its energy systems and presents a thermal model to compute the temperature and humidity distribution using a volume element methodology. The energy characterization conducted in this paper will be used in future studies to develop control strategies and minimize energy consumption.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Twisted Coil Geometry in Plasma Confinement Devices

Twisted coils, ie., coils for which windings do not lie in a plane, are used widely in plasma confinement devices, especially those in the general class of stellerator-type devices. In the design of these devicesad hoc expressions for the positions of turns and the outer envelope of the windings are usually assumed. However, these expressions do not correctly represent the true shape taken by windings as successive turns and layers of turns are applied to a curved surface. In the present work, the techniques of differential geometry are used to determine the actual location of turns as they are wound on arbitrary surfaces. In the process, a set of natural winding coordinates is derived; the Biot Savart law for calculation of magnetic fields is expressed in terms of these natural coordinates. Next, the advantages of using a class of surfaces, called developables, for winding surfaces are discussed. A particular developable, called the rectifying developable, offers the additional advantages that the turns on it are geodesies and that wide flat conductors can be wound on it to minimize bending strains. Finally, the problem of windings with conductors of finite thickness is briefly discussed.
Leveraging web streams for contractual situational awareness in operational BI

The capability of correlating streaming web data with internal data in near real time gives enterprises a tremendous competitive advantage by enabling them to be aware of external events that can affect their business operations. This situational awareness gives business managers the opportunity to make informed operational decisions before it is too late. SIE-OBI is a platform being developed at HP Labs that responds to this need. In this paper we present an application of SIE-OBI to provide awareness of world events that could affect contractual relationships. We present the main components of the platform architecture and illustrate their functionality in the contractual situational awareness scenario.
Response of the bovine corpus luteum to increased secretion of luteinizing hormone induced by exogenous gonadotropin releasing hormone.

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to investigate the response of the bovine corpus luteum to surges of luteinizing hormone (LH) induced by natural gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) administered twice during the same estrous cycle. In experiment 1, eight mature beef cows, each cow serving as her own control, were injected intravenously (iv) with saline on days 2 and 8 of the cycle (day of estrus = day 0 of the cycle), then with 100 μg GnRH on days 2 and 8 of the subsequent cycle. Jugular blood samples were taken immediately prior to an injection and at 15, 30, 45, 60, 120 and 240 min postinjection, to quantitate changes in serum luteinizing hormone. Blood was also collected on alternate days after an injection until day 16 of the cycle, to characterize changes in serum progesterone concentrations. Although exogenous GnRH caused release of LH on days 2 and 8 of the cycle, the quantity of LH released was greater on day 8 (P In experiment 2, five mature beef cows, each serving as her own control, were injected iv with saline on days 2 and 8 of the estrous cycle. After an intervening cycle of normal duration, cows were injected iv with 100 μg GnRH on days 2 and 8 of the succeeding cycle. Corpora lutea were obtained per vaginam on day 10 of each cycle. Luteal tissue was sliced and incubated for 2 hr with saline (control) or LH (10 ng/ml). Treatment of cows with GnRH on days 2 and 8 caused a significant increase in in vitro basal progesterone production (μg/g) by luteal slices (control, 37.45 ± 2.93 vs. GnRH days 2 and 8, 53.18 ± 3.03) but suppressed the ability of luteal tissue to respond to LH (P
Reliability of MEMS deformable mirror technology used in adaptive optics imaging systems

Deformable mirror (DM) technology based on microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology produced by Boston Micromachines Corporation has been demonstrated to be an enabling component in a variety of adaptive optics applications such as high contrast imaging in astronomy, multi object adaptive optics, free-space laser communication, and microscopy. Many of these applications require DMs with thousands of actuators operating at frame rates up to 10 kHz for many years requiring sufficient device reliability to avoid device failures. In this paper we present improvements in MEMS deformable mirrors for reliability along with test data and device lifetime prediction that show trillions of actuator-cycles can be achieved without failures.
HSPCs in the balance: The vascular niche.

Recently, in Nature Cell Biology, Kobayashi et al. (2010) report that Akt-activated sinusoidal endothelial cells within the bone marrow modulate the self-renewal and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells. This finding demonstrates a mechanistic role for endothelial cells in regulating the hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells' pool during homeostasis and in response to myeloablative stress.
Frontiers of Two-Dimensional Correlation Spectroscopy. Part 1. New concepts and noteworthy developments

A comprehensive survey review of new and noteworthy developments, which are advancing forward the frontiers in the field of 2D correlation spectroscopy during the last four years, is compiled. This review covers books, proceedings, and review articles published on 2D correlation spectroscopy, a number of significant conceptual developments in the field, data pretreatment methods and other pertinent topics, as well as patent and publication trends and citation activities. Developments discussed include projection 2D correlation analysis, concatenated 2D correlation, and correlation under multiple perturbation effects, as well as orthogonal sample design, predicting 2D correlation spectra, manipulating and comparing 2D spectra, correlation strategy based on segmented data blocks, such as moving-window analysis, features like determination of sequential order and enhanced spectral resolution, statistical 2D spectroscopy using covariance and other statistical metrics, hetero-correlation analysis, and sample–sample correlation technique. Data pretreatment operations prior to 2D correlation analysis are discussed, including the correction for physical effects, background and baseline subtraction, selection of reference spectrum, normalization and scaling of data, derivatives spectra and deconvolution technique, and smoothing and noise reduction. Other pertinent topics include chemometrics and statistical considerations, peak position shift phenomena, variable sampling increments, computation and software, display schemes, such as color coded format, slice and power spectra, tabulation, and other schemes.
Semiclassical calculation of matrix elements

Abstract A new semiclassical method for calculation of one-electron matrix elements is tested by comparison with exact results of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics. The method is found to be good to 10% for a variety of cases including dipole matrix elements for bound-bound (line) and photoelectric transitions of electrons in hydrogenic and non-hydrogenic atomic potentials. When applied to radiative transitions, the method gives a vivid intuitive picture and provides a more precise understanding of the relation between quantum and classical results.
Impact of high flaxseed diet on mitogen-induced proliferation, IL-2 production, cell subsets and fatty acid composition of spleen cells from pregnant and F1 generation Sprague–Dawley rats

Abstract Flaxseed (FS) being rich in α-linolenic acid may alter the immune parameters. Therefore, we assessed the impact of FS and defatted flaxseed meal (FLM) on fatty acid composition, cell subsets, proliferation and IL-2 production by splenic lymphocytes. Pregnant female Sprague–Dawley rats were fed diets containing 0% FS and FLM, 20 or 40% FS, 13 or 26% FLM during gestation or gestation, lactation and 8 week post-weaning period. FS and FLM resulted in up to 8.3 fold and 4.6 fold increase in splenic ALA among pregnant rats, 4.5 fold and 1.2 fold increase in splenic ALA among F 1 generation rats. Splenic linoleic acid (LA) and arachidonic acid (AA) were 18 and 40% lower in 40% FS fed pregnant rats, and AA was 15% lower in all the other groups. Among F 1 rats, splenic LA and AA were 16 and 48% lower in 40% FS group, and AA was 18% lower in 20% FS and 26% FLM groups. Concanavalin A and phytohemagglutinin mediated proliferation of spleen cells were 60 and 52% lower in 40% FS fed pregnant and F 1 generation rats, respectively. No significant changes were observed in the cell subsets or IL-2 production by splenic cells from different groups.
Using Community-based Participatory Research (CBPR) To Target Health Disparities in Families

Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is an action research approach that emphasizes collaborative partnerships between community members, community organizations, health care providers, and researchers to generate knowledge and solve local problems. Although relatively new to the field of family social science, family and health researchers have been using CBPR for over a decade. This paper introduces CBPR methods, illustrates the usefulness of CBPR methods in families and health research, describes two CBPR projects related to diabetes, and concludes with lessons learned and strengths and weaknesses of CBPR.
Recent perspectives on active life expectancy for older women.

SUMMARY This article provides a critical review of recent active life expectancy literature, describing trends of special interest to women. We review findings from leading perspectives used to study life expectancy and active life expectancy, including gender, racial and socioeconomic differences, disease-specific effects, and biodemography. We examine three competing theories of population health that frame active life expectancy research—compression of morbidity, expansion of morbidity, and dynamic equilibrium—concluding there is support for both the compression of morbidity and dynamic equilibrium theories. Policy implications for women include a greater understanding of the role of education and racial and ethnic diversity in active life trends, and an increased public policy emphasis on prevention and treatment of chronic disease, together with adoption of more healthy lifestyles.