cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development and validation of a reversed-phase HPLC method for the determination of γ-tocotrienol in rat and human plasma.

γ-Tocotrienol (γ-T3) is a member of the vitamin E family. Recently, γ-T3 has attracted the attention of the scientific community due to its potent anticancer activity and other therapeutic benefits. The objective of this study was to develop and validate a simple and practical reversed-phase HPLC method with satisfactory sensitivity for the routine quantification of γ-T3 in rat and human plasma. The separation of γ-T3 from the plasma components was achieved with a C18 reversed-phase column with an isocratic elution using a mixture of methanol, ethanol and acetonitrile (85:7.5:7.5, v/v/v) with a UV detection at 295 nm. γ-T3 was extracted from rat and human plasma by liquid–liquid extraction with an average recovery of 60%. The method proved linear in the range 100–5000 ng/mL. The inter-day precision ranged from 5.8 to 12.8% and the accuracy ranged from 92.4 to 108.5%, while the intra-day precision ranged from 0.7 to 7.9% in both rat and human plasma. This data confirm that the developed method has a satisfactory sensitivity, accuracy and precision for the quantification of γ-T3 in plasma. To assess its applicability the method was successfully applied to the quantitative analysis for pharmacokinetic studies of γ-T3 in rats administered a 10 mg/kg single oral dose. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multiperson Tournaments: An Experimental Examination

Modern hierarchical organizations, like corporations, must motivate agents to work hard. Given their pyramid structure, it is not surprising that one commonly used motivator is the promotion tournament. In such tournaments, agents compete to advance to positions at higher organizational levels. Though these tournaments are common, little research has empirically looked at the interface of organizational structure and tournament design. This paper aims to take a step in filling this void by comparing the performance of various tournament designs using controlled laboratory techniques.
Profiling and reducing processing overheads in TCP/IP

This paper presents detailed measurements of processing overheads for the Ultrix 4.2a implementation of TCP/IP network software running on a DECstation 5000/200. The performance results were used to uncover throughput and latency bottlenecks. We present a scheme for improving throughput when sending large messages by avoiding most checksum computations in a relatively safe manner. We also show that for the implementation we studied, reducing latency (when sending small messages) is a more difficult problem because processing overheads are spread over many operations; gaining a significant savings would require the optimization of many different mechanisms. This is especially important because, when processing a realistic workload, we have found that nondata-touching operations consume more time in aggregate than data-touching operations.
Immunoreactivity of Central Vasopressin and Oxytocin Pathways in Microtine Rodents: A Quantitative Comparative Study

The genus Microtus includes several closely related species of voles with diverse patterns of social organization. Comparative studies of these species have previously tested hypotheses related to the evolution of monogamy and affiliation. In earlier studies, monogamous voles have been reported to differ from closely related nonmonogamous voles in the neural distribution of oxytocin and vasopressin receptors. These receptors have also been implicated in the behavioral differences relevant to monogamy, as oxytocin and vasopressin influence pair-bond formation in the monogamous species. In the current study, two monogamous and two nonmonogamous vole species were compared for the distribution of oxytocin and vasopressin immunoreactivity. Contrary to our predictions, gender dimorphisms in vasopressin immunoreactivity were as evident in the monogamous as in the nonmonogamous species. Also, species differences in oxytocin and vasopressin staining were subtle relative to the profound species differences previously reported for receptor binding. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that neuroendocrine systems may evolve by changes in receptor distribution rather than by restructuring the presynaptic pathway.
Evolution, atmospheric oxygen, and complex disease

If evolution is an accurate statement of our biology, then disease must be tightly associated with its patterns. We considered selection for more optimal capacity for energy transfer as the most general pattern of evolution. From this, we propose that the etiology of complex disease is linked tightly to the evolutionary transition to cellular complexity that was afforded by the steep thermodynamic gradient of an oxygen atmosphere. In accord with this thesis, clinical studies reveal a strong statistical link between low aerobic capacity and all-cause mortality. In addition, large-scale unbiased network analyses demonstrate the pivotal role of oxygen metabolism in cellular function. The demonstration that multiple disease risks segregated during two-way artificial selection for low and high aerobic capacity in rats provides a remote test of these possible connections between evolution, oxygen metabolism, and complex disease. Even more broadly, an atmosphere with oxygen may be uniquely essential for development of complex life anywhere because oxygen is stable as a diatomic gas, is easily transported, and has a high electronegativity for participation in energy transfer via redox reactions.
A Density-sensing Factor Regulates Signal Transduction in Dictyostelium

Dictyostelium discoideum initiates development when cells overgrow their bacterial food source and starve. To coordinate development, the cells monitor the extracellular level of a protein, conditioned medium factor (CMF), secreted by starved cells. When a majority of the cells in a given area have starved, as signaled by CMF secretion, the extracellular level of CMF rises above a threshold value and permits aggregation of the starved cells. The cells aggregate using relayed pulses of cAMP as the chemoattractant. Cells in which CMF accumulation has been blocked by antisense do not aggregate except in the presence of exogenous CMF. We find that these cells are viable but do not chemotax towards cAMP. Videomicroscopy indicates that the inability of CMF antisense cells to chemotax is not due to a gross defect in motility, although both video and scanning electron microscopy indicate that CMF increases the frequency of pseudopod formation. The activations of Ca2+ influx, adenylyl cyclase, and guanylyl cyclase in response to a pulse of cAMP are strongly inhibited in cells lacking CMF, but are rescued by as little as 10 s exposure of cells to CMF. The activation of phospholipase C by cAMP is not affected by CMF. Northern blots indicate normal levels of the cAMP receptor mRNA in CMF antisense cells during development, while cAMP binding assays and Scatchard plots indicate that CMF antisense cells contain normal levels of the cAMP receptor. In Dictyostelium, both adenylyl and guanylyl cyclases are activated via G proteins. We find that the interaction of the cAMP receptor with G proteins in vitro is not measurably affected by CMF, whereas the activation of adenylyl cyclase by G proteins requires cells to have been exposed to CMF. CMF thus appears to regulate aggregation by regulating an early step of cAMP signal transduction.
Psychopathology and Seasonal Preferences; An Aspect of Temporal Experience

Summary Numerous writers have commented upon the relationship of time to personal identity and to death. Temporality and duration are held to be key elements in human self-awareness and existence. Since seasonal changes serve to mark off the passage of time, one's feelings about the seasons can be viewed as a special case of one's attitudes toward time more generally, and as one point of entry into the individual's inner universe of experience. Findings of the present study indicate that individuals differ in the feelings they invest in the seasonal context of their existence, and that these feelings are significantly influenced by the individual's emotional status.
Multilevel algebraic reconstruction technique for x-ray computed tomography

The performance of an iterative image reconstruction technique, the Algebraic Reconstruction Technique (ART), was improved to be basically a one-iteration noniterative technique producing even better image quality for x-rayCT. In this thesis, the factors affecting the performance of ART were first analyzed. Then a novel projection access order, the multilevel scheme (MLS) for ART was proposed. MLS is exactly the sequence of 1D FFT if the number of projections is a power of 2. Experimental tests using real CT data demonstrated that the new MLS-ART technique outperforms the conventional Convolution Backprojection (CBP) method, by producing higher spatial resolution when the number of projections is taken satisfying the sampling criterion and smaller noise when the number of projections is relatively small. A computer simulation study which matches the real CT dosage and noise conditions further quantifies that MLS produces a larger MTF when the number of projections is taken above half of that required by the sampling criterion and a larger SNR when the number of projections is taken below that half. It also improves the performance of ART itself, in both the computational speed (by more than 10 times) and the physical image quality (both the high and low contrast detectabilities). This work provides a thorough physical comparison among different CTreconstruction techniques and it confirms that MLS ART will find applications in reconstructions of different CT models, especially in situations where the projection data are limited.
Gravity and shear wave stability of free surface flows. Part 1. Numerical calculations

Etude aux grands nombres de Reynolds de la stabilite lineaire bidimensionnelle d'ecoulements descendant sur un plan incline. Etude numerique des ondes de surface et de cisaillement suivant l'angle d'inclinaison, la tension superficielle et le facteur de forme
Promotion and selection by serum growth factors drive field cancerization, which is anticipated in vivo by type 2 diabetes and obesity

Individuals suffering from type 2 diabetes or obesity exhibit a significant increase in the incidence of various types of cancer. It is generally accepted that those conditions arise from overnutrition and a sedentary lifestyle, which lead to insulin resistance characterized by overproduction of insulin acting as a growth factor. There is a consensus based largely on epidemiological data that chronic overproduction of insulin is responsible for the increased incidence of cancer. A model system in culture of NIH 3T3 cells induces the collective effects of serum growth factors on progression through the stages of field cancerization. It shows that the driving force of progression is promotion of cell growth under selection at high cell density, with no requirement for exogenous carcinogenic agents. The early effect is gradual selection among many preexisting, low-penetrance preneoplastic mutations or stable epigenetic variants, followed by sporadic, high-penetrance transforming variants, all dependent on endogenous processes. The significance of the results for cancer in diabetic and obese individuals is that the initial stages of the process involve multiorgan metabolic interactions that produce a systemic insulin resistance with chronic overproduction of insulin and localized field cancerization. Hypomagnesemia is prevalent in the foregoing metabalo/systemic disorders, and may also provide a selective microenvironment for tumor development.
Fluid Responsiveness and the Six Guiding Principles of Fluid Resuscitation.

The advanced life support technology, which is provided in the ICU, is intended to provide temporary physiologic support for patients with reversible organ dysfunction allowing homeostatic mechanisms to return the patients to their previous level of functioning (1). The introduction of the pulmonary
Nonstatic relations between magnetic moments in the quark model

Relations between baryon magnetic moments are derived which are independent of orbital corrections, relativistic corrections, and two-body exchange corrections (and generally any two-body correction) in the quark model, provided that the wave-function contributions leading to these corrections are $\mathrm{SU}(3)$-symmetric. Among the relations derived are $\ensuremath{\mu}({\ensuremath{\Xi}}^{\ensuremath{-}})+3\ensuremath{\mu}({\ensuremath{\Xi}}^{0})=6\ensuremath{\mu}(\ensuremath{\Lambda})+2\ensuremath{\mu}({\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{+})\ensuremath{-}3\ensuremath{\mu}(p)\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\mu}(n)$ (independent of quark moments) and $\ensuremath{\mu}({\ensuremath{\Xi}}^{0})\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\mu}({\ensuremath{\Xi}}^{\ensuremath{-}})=\ensuremath{\mu}(p)+2\ensuremath{\mu}(n) (\mathrm{if} {\ensuremath{\mu}}_{\mathcal{P}}=\ensuremath{-}2{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{\mathfrak{N}})$.
Natural Periods of Vibration of Buildings

The measured periods of vibrations of a large number of buildings are used to compare the merits of existing formulas and of equations derived using a rational approach. It is concluded that no single, simple, empirical equation will give reasonably accurate estimates for the periods of buildings having shear wall characteristics. The calculated periods of steel frame buildings are found to be proportional to the square root of the number of stories rather than directly proportional as is usually assumed. However, observed periods of such buildings indicate that the steel frame alone would contribute only about 25% of the effective stiffness. The dependence of the period on the flexibility of the floor girders is also demonstrated using a digital computer. Calculations show that these buildings behave essentially as if they had rigid floor girders, although the girders of the steel frames themselves are very flexible, so far as the period of vibration is concerned. Additional studies of the natural periods of actual structures are recommended.
A Technique for Dorsal Subcutaneous Implantation of Heart Rate Biotelemetry Transmitters in Black Ducks: Application in an Aircraft Noise Response Study

A technique for heart rate biotelemetry transmitter implantation was developed to monitor heart rate fluctuations of Black Ducks (Anas rubripes) in response to simulated aircraft noise in a large outdoor enclosure. A dorsal subcutaneous approach, with subcutaneous tunneling of lead wires, was employed for placement of the 32 g transmitters. A base-apex lead configuration, with leads anchored at the dorsal cervico-thoracic junction and the caudal keel, yielded the maximal ECG wave-form deflection for triggering the transmitter. Heart rates of six Black Ducks (three in each of two separate trials) were monitored for 3 days pre-noise to establish a baseline, and then for 4 days of simulated aircraft noise. The noise stimulus replicated an FB-111 military jet, and was played 48 times per day at a peak volume of 110 db. Daily mean heart rates, used as indicators of metabolic rates, did not increase in response to noise. Recognizable acute heart rate increases corresponding with a noise event occured with increased frequency during the first day of noise presentation, but on subsequent days the responses did not differ significantly from baseline. Acute heart rate responses to aircraft noise diminished rapidly, indicating the ability of Black Ducks to habituate to the auditory component of low altitude aircraft overflights.
Ethanol, Neurodevelopment, Infant and Child Health (ENRICH) prospective cohort: Study design considerations.

Background: While intervention is the leading factor in reducing long-term disabilities in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), early identification of children affected by prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) remains challenging. Deficits in higher-order cognitive domains (e.g. executive function) might be more specific to FASD than global neurodevelopmental tests, yet these functions are not developed in very young children. Measures of early sensorimotor development may provide early indications of atypical brain development during the first two years of life. Methods: This paper describes the novel methodology of the Ethanol, Neurodevelopment, Infant and Child Health (ENRICH) prospective cohort study of 120 maternal-infant pairs with a goal to identify early indices of functional brain impairment associated with PAE. The cohort is established by recruiting women early in pregnancy and classifying them into one of three study groups: patients on opioid-maintenance therapy who consume alcohol during pregnancy (Group 1), patients on opioid-maintenance therapy who abstain from alcohol during pregnancy (Group 2), and healthy controls (Group 3). After the initial prenatal assessment (Visit 1), patients are followed to Visit 2 occurring at delivery, and two comprehensive assessments of children at six (Visit 3) and 20 months (Visit 4) of age. ENRICH recruitment started in November 2013 and 87 women were recruited during the first year. During Year 1, the biospecimen (maternal whole blood, serum, urine, dry blood spots of a newborn) collection rate was 100% at Visit 1, and 97.6% for those who completed Visit 2. Discussion: The tiered screening approach, evaluation of confounders, neurocognitive and magneto-/electroencephalography (MEG/EEG) outcomes, and ethical considerations are discussed.
First Excited State of He 5

The reaction ${\mathrm{Li}}^{7}(d, \ensuremath{\alpha}){\mathrm{He}}^{5}$ was studied with the use of coincidence circuitry and solid-state charged-particle detectors. Targets of natural and isotopic lithium were bombarded with 150-200 keV deuterons, and $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ particles emitted at laboratory angles of 90 and 82 deg were detected in coincidence. The ($d, \ensuremath{\alpha}$) reaction proceeding to the ground state of ${\mathrm{He}}^{5}$ was observed, its differential cross section at 90 deg was measured relative to that for ${\mathrm{Li}}^{6}(d, \ensuremath{\alpha})\ensuremath{\alpha}$, and a value of ${2.4}_{\ensuremath{-}1.0}^{+1.5}$ was assigned to the parameter $A$ in the function $f(\ensuremath{\theta})=1+A{sin}^{2}\ensuremath{\theta}$ which describes the center-of-mass $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-particle distribution resulting from the disintegration of ${\mathrm{He}}^{5}$. The first excited state of ${\mathrm{He}}^{5}$ was found to have an excitation energy of 2.6\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.4 MeV and a width of 4.0\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.0 MeV. The intensity of the excited state alpha group was greater than that of the ground-state group by a factor of about 1.5. There was no evidence for any other excited state up to at least 7 MeV. The ratio of the differential cross sections at 90 deg for ${\mathrm{Li}}^{6}(d, p){\mathrm{Li}}^{7}$ and ${\mathrm{Li}}^{6}(d, \ensuremath{\alpha})\ensuremath{\alpha}$ was determined for several values of ${E}_{d}$ and found to agree with reported cross-section data.
Bias in misspecified mixtures.

A finite mixture is a distribution where a given observation can come from any of a finite set of components. That is, the density of the random variable X is of the form f(x) = pi 1f1(x) + pi 2f2(x) + ... + pi kfk(x), where the pi i are the mixing proportions and the fi are the component densities. Mixture models are common in many areas of biology; the most commonly applied is a mixture of normal densities. Many of the problems with inference in the mixture setting are well known. Not so well documented, however, are the extreme biases that can occur in the maximum likelihood estimators (MLEs) when there is model misspecification. This paper shows that even the seemingly innocuous assumption of equal variances for the components of the mixture can lead to surprisingly large asymptotic biases in the MLEs of the parameters. Assuming normality when the underlying distributions are skewed can also lead to strong biases. We explicitly calculate the asymptotic biases when maximum likelihood is carried out assuming normality for several types of true underlying distribution. If the true distribution is a mixture of skewed components, then an application of the Box-Cox power transformation can reduce the asymptotic bias substantially. The power lambda in the Box-Cox transformation is in this case treated as an additional parameter to be estimated. In many cases the bias can be reduced to acceptable levels, thus leading to meaningful inference. A modest Monte Carlo study gives an indication of the small-sample performance of inference procedures (including the power and level of likelihood ratio tests) based on a likelihood that incorporates estimation of lambda. A real data example illustrates the method.
Well-to-Wheels Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Canadian Oil Sands Products: Implications for U.S. Petroleum Fuels

Greenhouse gas (GHG) regulations affecting U.S. transportation fuels require holistic examination of the life-cycle emissions of U.S. petroleum feedstocks. With an expanded system boundary that included land disturbance-induced GHG emissions, we estimated well-to-wheels (WTW) GHG emissions of U.S. production of gasoline and diesel sourced from Canadian oil sands. Our analysis was based on detailed characterization of the energy intensities of 27 oil sands projects, representing industrial practices and technological advances since 2008. Four major oil sands production pathways were examined, including bitumen and synthetic crude oil (SCO) from both surface mining and in situ projects. Pathway-average GHG emissions from oil sands extraction, separation, and upgrading ranged from ∼6.1 to ∼27.3 g CO2 equivalents per megajoule (in lower heating value, CO2e/MJ). This range can be compared to ∼4.4 g CO2e/MJ for U.S. conventional crude oil recovery. Depending on the extraction technology and product type output ...
Effect of IL-7 Therapy on Naive and Memory T Cell Homeostasis in Aged Rhesus Macaques

Aging is associated with gradual deterioration of adaptive immune function, a hallmark of which is the profound loss of naive T cells (TN) associated with decline in thymic output and export of new cells into the peripheral T cell pool. Because the lymphotropic cytokine IL-7 plays crucial roles in both development of TN in the thymus and TN homeostasis in the periphery, we sought to determine the extent to which therapeutic administration of IL-7 could reverse TN deficiency in aging rhesus macaques (RM), either by enhancement of the demonstrably reduced thymopoiesis or by peripheral TN expansion. Our results indicate that treatment of both adult (8-15 y) and old (>20 y) RM with recombinant simian IL-7 (rsIL-7) results in only transient increases in peripheral CD4(+) and CD8(+) TN numbers with no long-term benefit, even with repeated therapy. This transient effect was due to peripheral TN expansion and not enhanced thymic function, and appeared to be limited by induction of IL-7 nonresponsiveness. However, rsIL-7 therapy had a more promising effect on the central memory T cell (TCM) population (both CD4(+) and CD8(+)) in adult and old RM, doubling the numbers of these cells in circulation and maintaining this larger population long term. IL-7 therapy did not reduce TCR diversity of the memory T cell compartment, suggesting that rsIL-7-induced expansion was symmetrical. Thus, although rsIL-7 failed to counter age-associated TN loss, the ability of this therapy to expand clonotypically diverse CD4(+) and CD8(+) TCM populations might potentially improve adaptive immune responsiveness in the elderly.
SU‐F‐T‐371: Development of a Linac Monte Carlo Model to Calculate Surface Dose

Purpose: To generate and validate a linac Monte Carlo (MC) model for surface dose prediction. Methods: BEAMnrc V4-2.4.0 was used to model 6 and 18 MV photon beams for a commercially available linac. DOSXYZnrc V4-2.4.0 calculated 3D dose distributions in water. Percent depth dose (PDD) and beam profiles were extracted for comparison to measured data. Surface dose and at depths in the buildup region was measured with radiochromic film at 100 cm SSD for 4 × 4 cm2 and 10 × 10 cm2 collimator settings for open and MLC collimated fields. For the 6 MV beam, films were placed at depths ranging from 0.015 cm to 2 cm and for 18 MV, 0.015 cm to 3.5 cm in Solid Water™. Films were calibrated for both photon energies at their respective dmax. PDDs and profiles were extracted from the film and compared to the MC data. The MC model was adjusted to match measured PDD and profiles. Results: For the 6 MV beam, the mean error(ME) in PDD between film and MC for open fields was 1.9%, whereas it was 2.4% for MLC. For the 18 MV beam, the ME in PDD for open fields was 2% and was 3.5% for MLC. For the 6 MV beam, the average root mean square(RMS) deviation for the central 80% of the beam profile for open fields was 1.5%, whereas it was 1.6% for MLC. For the 18 MV beam, the maximum RMS for open fields was 3%, and was 3.1% for MLC. Conclusion: The MC model of a linac agreed to within 4% of film measurements for depths ranging from the surface to dmax. Therefore, the MC linac model can predict surface dose for clinical applications. Future work will focus on adjusting the linac MC model to reduce RMS error and improve accuracy.
Computing Whether She Belongs: Stereotypes Undermine Girls’ Interest and Sense of Belonging in Computer Science

Computer science has one of the largest gender disparities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. An important reason for this disparity is that girls are less likely than boys to enroll in necessary “pipeline courses,” such as introductory computer science. Two experiments investigated whether high-school girls’ lower interest than boys in enrolling in computer science courses is influenced by stereotypes of the field. We further tested whether these stereotypes can be communicated by the physical classroom environment, and whether changing this environment alters girls’ interest. In 2 experiments (N = 269), a computer science classroom that did not project current computer science stereotypes caused girls, but not boys, to express more interest in taking computer science than a classroom that made these stereotypes salient. The gender difference was mediated by girls’ lower sense of belonging in the course, even beyond the effects of negative stereotype concerns, expectations of success, and utility value. Girls’ lower sense of belonging could be traced to lower feelings of fit with computer science stereotypes. Individual differences in fit with stereotypes predicted girls’ belonging and interest in a stereotypical, but not a nonstereotypical, classroom. Adolescence is a critical time for career aspirations. Girls may avoid computer science courses because current prevailing stereotypes of the field signal to them that they do not belong. However, providing them with an educational environment that does not fit current computer science stereotypes increases their interest in computer science courses and could provide grounds for interventions to help reduce gender disparities in computer science enrollment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)
The Goldberg Exaptation Model: Integrating Adaptation and By-Product Theories of Religion

The literature on the evolution of religion has been divided by a fundamental debate between adaptation theories, which explain religious traits as products of selection for religion, and byproduct theories, which explain religious traits as products of selection for other, non-religious functions. Recently, however, a new position has emerged in this debate, as an influential new theory based on cultural selection claims to integrate adaptation theories with byproduct theories, yielding a single, unified account. I argue that the proponents of this view do not say enough about how integration is actually supposed to work, from a logical point of view. Basic questions arise from the assumptions required for unifying these apparently conflicting approaches, which the authors of the account do not address. In response to these questions, I provide a model of the religious phenotype, the Goldberg Exaptation Model, which shows that adaptation and byproduct theories are consistent, and explains how they are positively related, over and above mere consistency. On this view, the religious phenotype is best understood on analogy with a Rube Goldberg device: it is assembled by selection for religion, but using parts designed by selection for other, non-religious functions.
The discrete trigonometric transforms and their fast algorithms: an algebraic symmetry perspective

It is well-known that the discrete Fourier transform (DFT) can be characterized as decomposition matrix for the polynomial algebra /spl Copf/[x]/(x/sup n/ - 1). This property gives deep insight into the DFT and can be used to explain and derive its fast algorithms. In this paper we present the polynomial algebras associated to the 16 discrete cosine and sine transforms. Then we derive important algorithms by manipulating algebras rather than matrix entries. This makes the derivation more transparent and explains their structure. Our results show that the relationship between signal processing and algebra is stronger than previously understood.
The Impact of a Plastic Surgeon’s Gender on Patient Choice

Background: In the patient-driven market of aesthetic surgery, an understanding of the factors that patients consider in their choice of surgeon can inform the individual plastic surgeon’s marketing strategy. Previous studies have investigated patient gender preferences for physicians in other specialties, but none has investigated whether patients consider gender when choosing a plastic surgeon. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of a plastic surgeon’s gender on patient choice. Methods: A prospective study was conducted in a single private practice of two plastic surgeons, one male and one female, both closely matched in training, experience, and reputation. Two hundred consecutive patients calling for a consultation were asked if they preferred a male or female doctor; their preference, age, and area(s) of interest were recorded. Results: All patients were women. Nearly half (46%) had no gender preference, 26% requested a female surgeon, and 1% requested a male. Preference for a female surgeon was significant (Binomial-test: P < 0.001). The remaining 27% requested a specific doctor, with slightly more requesting (53.7%) the male surgeon by name, than requested the female surgeon by name (46.3%), a difference that was not statistically significant ( P = 0.683). Conclusions: Most female patients interested in aesthetic surgery have no gender preference. Of those who do, nearly all requested a female plastic surgeon. More important than a plastic surgeon’s gender, however, is a plastic surgeon’s reputation.
Volatile-bearing partial melts beneath oceans and continents–Where, how much, and of what compositions?

Besides depth and temperature, CO2 and H2O, are the two most important variables in stabilizing partial melts in the Earth9s mantle. However, despite decades of experimental studies on the roles of these two volatile species in affecting mantle melting, ambiguity remains in terms of the stability, composition, and proportion of volatile-bearing partial melts at depths. Furthermore, the difference in the influence of H2O versus CO2 in production of mantle melts is often inadequately discussed. Here I first discuss how as a function of depth and concentration of volatiles, the peridotite + H2O versus peridotite + CO2 near-solidus melting conditions differ - discussing specifically the concepts of saturation of volatile-bearing phases and how the mode of storage of ‘water’ and carbon affects the near solidus melting relations. This analysis shows that for the Earth9s mantle beneath oceans and continents, deep, volatile-induced melting is influenced mostly by carbon, with water-bearing carbonated silicate melt being the key agent. A quantitative framework that uses the existing experimental data, allows calculation of the loci, extent of melting, and major element compositions of volatile-bearing partial melts beneath oceans and continents. How the domains of volatile-bearing melt stability are affected when possible oxygen fugacity variation at depths in the mantle is taken into account is also discussed. I show that trace amount hydrous carbonated silicate melt is likely stabilized at two or more distinct depths in the continental lithospheric mantle, at depths ranges similar to where mid-lithospheric discontinuity (MLD) and lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary (LAB) have been estimated from seismology. Whereas beneath oceans, hydrous carbonated silicate melt likely remain continuously stable from the base of the thermal boundary layer to at least 200 km or deeper depending on the prevailing oxygen fugacity at depths. Hotter mantles, such as those beneath oceans, prevent sampling strongly silica-undersaturated, carbonated melts such as kimberlites as shallower basaltic melt generation dominates. Thick thermal boundary layers, such as those in cratonic regions, on the other hand allow production of kimberlitic to carbonatitic melt only. Therefore, the increasing frequency of occurrence of kimberlites starting at the Proterozoic may be causally linked to cooling and growth of sub-continental mantles through time.
Measurement of autoproduct fields in a Lloyd's mirror environment

Conventional frequency-domain acoustic-field analysis techniques are typically limited to the bandwidth of the field under study. However, this limitation may be too restrictive, as prior work suggests that field analyses may be shifted to lower or higher frequencies that are outside the field's original bandwidth [Worthmann and Dowling (2017). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 141(6), 4579–4590]. This possibility exists because below- and above-band acoustic fields can be mimicked by the frequency-difference and frequency-sum autoproducts, which are quadratic products of frequency-domain complex field amplitudes at a pair of in-band frequencies. For a point source in a homogeneous acoustic half-space with a flat, pressure-release surface (a Lloyd's mirror environment), the prior work predicted high correlations between the autoproducts and genuine out-of-band fields at locations away from the source and the surface. Here, measurements collected in a laboratory water tank validate predictions from the prior theory using 40- to 110-kHz acoustic pulses measured at ranges between 175 and 475 mm, and depths to 400 mm. Autoproduct fields are computed, and cross-correlations between measured autoproduct fields and genuine out-of-band acoustic fields are above 90% for difference frequencies between 0 and 60 kHz, and for sum frequencies between 110 and 190 kHz.Conventional frequency-domain acoustic-field analysis techniques are typically limited to the bandwidth of the field under study. However, this limitation may be too restrictive, as prior work suggests that field analyses may be shifted to lower or higher frequencies that are outside the field's original bandwidth [Worthmann and Dowling (2017). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 141(6), 4579–4590]. This possibility exists because below- and above-band acoustic fields can be mimicked by the frequency-difference and frequency-sum autoproducts, which are quadratic products of frequency-domain complex field amplitudes at a pair of in-band frequencies. For a point source in a homogeneous acoustic half-space with a flat, pressure-release surface (a Lloyd's mirror environment), the prior work predicted high correlations between the autoproducts and genuine out-of-band fields at locations away from the source and the surface. Here, measurements collected in a laboratory water tank validate predictions from the prior theory usin...
Payout Policy Tradeoffs and the Rise of 10b5-1 Preset Repurchase Plans

We exploit a new and growing form of payout — Rule 10b5-1 preset repurchase plans — to examine the tradeoff between commitment and financial flexibility in payout decisions. Relative to open market repurchases, preset plans provide an expanded repurchase window and increase legal cover, albeit at the cost of reducing repurchase flexibility and the option to time repurchases. These costs and benefits are significantly associated with Rule 10b5-1 adoption. Consistent with preset plans signaling commitment, Rule 10b5-1 repurchase announcements are associated with greater and faster completion rates and with more positive market reactions than matched open market repurchases.
Nonsurgical Management of Migraine

A 26-year-old female biostatistics PhD student with history of motion sickness in childhood and no other significant past medical history presented for recurrent headaches. These headaches started during high school and were predominantly behind her left eye, throbbing, severe, and associated with light and sound sensitivity. Early in the course of a headache, she would experience nausea and would frequently vomit. Her headaches were worsened with routine activity and improved but did not completely remit with lying down in a dark room. They were not associated with visual disturbance.
Design of Cerenkov Radiation–Assisted Photoactivation of TiO2 Nanoparticles and Reactive Oxygen Species Generation for Cancer Treatment

The use of Cerenkov radiation to activate nanoparticles in situ was recently shown to control cancerous tumor growth. Although the methodology has been demonstrated to work, to better understand the mechanistic steps, we developed a mathematic model that integrates Cerenkov physics, light interaction with matter, and photocatalytic reaction engineering. Methods: The model describes a detailed pathway for localized reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation from the Cerenkov radiation–assisted photocatalytic activity of TiO2. The model predictions were verified by comparison to experimental reports in the literature. The model was then used to investigate the effects of various parameters—the size of TiO2 nanoparticles, the concentration of TiO2 nanoparticles, and the activity of the radionuclide 18F-FDG—on the number of photons and ROS generation. Results: The importance of nanoparticle size in ROS generation for cancerous tumor growth control was elucidated, and an optimal size was proposed. Conclusion: The model described here can be used for other radionuclides and nanoparticles and can provide guidance on the concentration and size of TiO2 nanoparticles and the radionuclide activity needed for efficient cancer therapy.
Effect of nutritional management, trace mineral supplementation, and norgestomet implant on attainment of puberty in beef heifers.

We conducted a study to evaluate the influences of nutritional management, trace mineral supplementation, and exogenous progesterone on attainment of puberty in beef heifers. Heifers (n = 180) were assigned at weaning to blocks and treatments. Treatments included two dietary regimens (corn silage vs pasture + oatlage), trace mineral supplementation, and puberty induction strategy (with or without progestin implant). Heifers that received pasture + oatlage were managed on grass-legume pastures from October 14 until December 14 and were then placed in pens and fed an oatlage-based diet through May 1994. Heifers fed the corn silage-based diet were housed in pens throughout the study. Norgestomet was implanted in half of the heifers on April 11 for 10 d. Progestin implant increased (P < .05) the number of heifers that had attained puberty by the end of the study, compared with nonimplanted heifers (89% vs 71%). Trace mineral supplementation did not affect percentage of heifers that reached puberty before the implant period. Plasma copper levels were below recommended levels in heifers fed oatlage-based diets without trace minerals. We conclude that heifers can be placed on regrowth in irrigated pastures during the fall and still make acceptable gains for attainment of puberty the following spring and that progestin treatment can aid in inducing heifers to reach puberty.
Universal Approximation Property and Equivalence of Stochastic Computing-Based Neural Networks and Binary Neural Networks

Large-scale deep neural networks are both memory and computation-intensive, thereby posing stringent requirements on the computing platforms. Hardware accelerations of deep neural networks have been extensively investigated. Specific forms of binary neural networks (BNNs) and stochastic computing-based neural networks (SCNNs) are particularly appealing to hardware implementations since they can be implemented almost entirely with binary operations. Despite the obvious advantages in hardware implementation, these approximate computing techniques are questioned by researchers in terms of accuracy and universal applicability. Also it is important to understand the relative pros and cons of SCNNs and BNNs in theory and in actual hardware implementations. In order to address these concerns, in this paper we prove that the “ideal” SCNNs and BNNs satisfy the universal approximation property with probability 1 (due to the stochastic behavior), which is a new angle from the original approximation property. The proof is conducted by first proving the property for SCNNs from the strong law of large numbers, and then using SCNNs as a “bridge” to prove for BNNs. Besides the universal approximation property, we also derive an appropriate bound for bit length M in order to provide insights for the actual neural network implementations. Based on the universal approximation property, we further prove that SCNNs and BNNs exhibit the same energy complexity. In other words, they have the same asymptotic energy consumption with the growth of network size. We also provide a detailed analysis of the pros and cons of SCNNs and BNNs for hardware implementations and conclude that SCNNs are more suitable.
Exploring the Development of a Mentoring Relationship Among Newly Credentialed Athletic Trainers

Context Mentorship has been identified as a primary organizational socialization tactic and has been directly associated with transition to practice. Objective Understand how the mentoring relation...
Return to work following spinal cord injury.

Return to work following spinal cord injury is achievable for many individuals. Interdisciplinary rehabilitation teams are ideally suited to facilitate an individual's efforts at overcoming the numerous barriers involved in returning to gainful, competitive employment. Many of these barriers are person-specific (i.e., education level), and multifaceted assessment and comprehensive vocational planning are suggested. Other barriers, such as economic disincentives and poor access to needed services, are less easily overcome. Rehabilitation professionals are encouraged to become familiar with recent health and disability policy (i.e., Americans with Disabilities Act) and become proactive in policy formation. There is a significant need for development and testing of model programs to enhance return to work for individuals with spinal cord injury.
Multi-task Dictionary Learning based on Convolutional Neural Networks for Longitudinal Clinical Score Predictions in Alzheimer's Disease.

Computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) systems for medical images are seen as effective tools to improve the efficiency of diagnosis and prognosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The current state-of-the-art models for many images analyzing tasks are based on Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN). However, the lack of training data is a common challenge in applying CNN to the diagnosis of AD and its prodromal stages. Another challenge for CAD applications is the controversy between the requiring of longitudinal cortical structural information for higher diagnosis/prognosis accuracy and the computing ability for processing varied imaging features. To address these two challenges, we propose a novel computer-aided AD diagnosis system CNN-Stochastic Coordinate Coding (MSCC) which integrates CNN with transfer learning strategy, a novel MSCC algorithm and our effective AD-related biomarkers–multivariate morphometry statistics (MMS). We applied the novel CNN-MSCC system on the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) dataset to predict future cognitive clinical measures with baseline Hippocampal/Ventricle MMS features and cortical thickness. The experimental results showed that CNN-MSCC achieved superior results. The proposed system may aid in expediting the diagnosis of AD progress, facilitating earlier clinical intervention, and resulting in improved clinical outcomes.
Who owns your course's intellectual property rights?

Today, many instructors prepare CDs, videos and Web sites to either complement their teaching or as the primary method of instruction in their course. These high-technology course components often have considerable value and could be used in similar courses at many universities. University administrators have been quick to recognize the value of these high-technology components and are re-evaluating whether or not the instructor should be the sole owner of a high-technology course component. This paper highlights some points of contention today, discusses solutions being used by various universities and considers where the current trends appear to be leading.
Regional lymph node irradiation in locally advanced Merkel cell carcinoma reduces regional and distant relapse and improves disease-specific survival.

Abstract Background One-third of patients with Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) present with locally advanced disease involving the regional lymph nodes, but indications for regional lymph node radiation therapy (rLN-RT) are not well established. Materials and methods 72 patients with locally advanced MCC were retrospectively reviewed. Regional lymph nodes were addressed with observation, lymph node dissection (LND) alone, definitive nodal radiotherapy (DnRT), or LND plus adjuvant nodal radiotherapy (AnRT). Cox regression was used to compare treatment modalities in terms of regional recurrence-free survival (RRFS), distant recurrence-free survival (DRFS), disease-free survival (DFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS). Results rLN-RT, including both DnRT and AnRT, improved RRFS (Hazard ratio (HR): 0.07, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.01–0.40, p = 0.003), DRFS (HR: 0.28, CI: 0.11–0.76, p = 0.01), DFS (HR: 0.23, CI: 0.09–0.58, p = 0.002), and DSS (HR: 0.23, CI: 0.06–0.90, p = 0.03). AnRT improved DFS and DSS in high-risk subgroups (e.g., extranodal extension (ENE), ≥ 2 positive lymph nodes, or bulkier lymph nodes). The benefit of AnRT increased with higher disease burden. After controlling for these adverse factors, AnRT significantly improved RRFS (HR: 0.04, CI: 0.01–0.37, p = 0.004), DRFS (HR: 0.14, CI: 0.04–0.50, p = 0.003), DFS (HR: 0.09, CI: 0.02–0.33, p Conclusion rLN-RT, including both DnRT and AnRT, reduces relapse and death from MCC in patients with node-positive disease. AnRT is particularly beneficial for patients with ENE, multiple involved lymph nodes, or larger nodal foci of disease. These results argue for more liberal use of nodal RT for MCC patients who present with node-positive disease.
Radiometric Observations of the 752.033-GHz H 2 O Rotational Absorption Line in Simulated Rocket Plumes

A high-resolution ( 10 ←2 02 rotational absorption line of water vapor both as a thermally broadened ambient and in the flow of a simulated high-altitude rocket plume.
A Time to Build: From Family and Community to Congress and the Campus: How Recommitting to Our Institutions Can Revive the American Dream

Noting the division and antagonism rampant in our public lives, as well as the isolation and anxiety plaguing individual persons, Yuval Levin has diagnosed a lack of “belonging, confidence, and leg...