cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mapping the road to fun: Natural video game controllers, presence, and game enjoyment

This investigation examines how video game interactivity can affect presence and game enjoyment. Interactivity in the form of natural mapping has been advocated as a possible contributor to presence experiences, yet few studies to date have investigated this potential. The present work formulates a preliminary typology of natural mapping and addresses how several types of mapping impact the experience of a video game, with the expectation that more natural mapping leads to increased spatial presence affecting enjoyment. Two studies were conducted. In the first study, 48 participants played a golfing video game using one of two controller types (Nintendo Wiimote or gamepad). In the second, 78 participants played a driving video game using an even more natural controller (steering wheel) or one of three other controller types. Participants then completed measures of perceived naturalness, presence, and enjoyment. Results of both studies were generally consistent with expectations.
The parallel system for integrating impact models and sectors (pSIMS)

We present a framework for massively parallel simulations of climate impact models in agriculture and forestry: the parallel System for Integrating Impact Models and Sectors (pSIMS). This framework comprises a) tools for ingesting large amounts of data from various sources and standardizing them to a versatile and compact data type; b) tools for translating this standard data type into the custom formats required for point-based impact models in agriculture and forestry; c) a scalable parallel framework for performing large ensemble simulations on various computer systems, from small local clusters to supercomputers and even distributed grids and clouds; d) tools and data standards for reformatting outputs for easy analysis and visualization; and d) a methodology and tools for aggregating simulated measures to arbitrary spatial scales such as administrative districts (counties, states, nations) or relevant environmental demarcations such as watersheds and river-basins. We present the technical elements of this framework and the results of an example climate impact assessment and validation exercise that involved large parallel computations on XSEDE.
Implementation and evaluation of a multimedia file system

The paper describes the implementation and evaluation of MMFS, a Multimedia File System that extends the UNIX File System (UFS) specifically for interactive multimedia applications. MMFS supports a two-dimensional file structure for single-medium editing and multiple-media playback environments. The API allows the communication of application-specific information to MMFS for performance optimization. MMFS significantly improves interactive playback performance by supporting intelligent prefetching and state-based caching, prioritized real-time disk scheduling, and synchronized multi-stream retrieval. In addition to improved response time for VCR-like playback modes, the MMFS optimizations lead to minimal synchronization skew during multi-stream retrievals, and orders-of-magnitude reduction in response time for editing operations, when compared to UFS.
Review of treatment results for ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow

A review of 50 published reports between 1898 and 1988, comprising more than 2000 patients treated for ulnar nerve compression at the elbow, demonstrated that little more than personal bias is available for guidance in selecting treatment. To provide uniform data, the degree of nerve compression of the patients from these articles was staged using a sensory plus motor classification based on contemporary concepts of the pathophysiology of chronic nerve compression. The results of these studies are reinterpreted in light of this staging system. This analysis suggests that for a minimal degree of compression, excellent results can be achieved in 50% of the patients by nonoperative techniques and in almost 100% of patients by any of five surgical techniques. For a moderate degree of compression, the anterior submuscular technique yields the most excellent results with the fewest recurrences. For a severe degree of compression, the anterior intramuscular transposition yielded the fewest excellent and the most recurrent results. This review suggests that an internal neurolysis, combined with an anterior submuscular transposition, may be the best approach when the ulnar nerve is severely compressed.
Direct vibrational detection of surface reaction channels leading to CO dissociation and to its inhibition on Mo(110)

Abstract Alternate surface reaction channels involving CO dissociation and the inhibition of dissociation on Mo(110) have been detected directly by vibrational studies using EELS. The CO species that exhibit a ν(CO) of 1345 cm −1 can be converted completely to adsorbed atomic carbon and atomic oxygen via an intermediate with ν(CO)=1130 cm −1 . Alternatively, when oxygen is chemisorbed with the CO species that exhibit a ν(CO) of 1345 cm −1 , CO dissociation is inhibited, and the CO is converted to CO species with ν(CO)≈2000 cm −1 via an intermediate species with ν(CO) of 1465-1535 cm − .
Do Environmental Regulations Impede Economic Growth? A Case Study of the Metal Finishing Industry in the South Coast Basin of Southern California

Air pollution emitted from firms and industries in the United States poses a significant threat to human health and the environment. Economists have traditionally opposed environmental regulations based on the argument that regulations reduce economic growth. Some scholars, however, have argued that polluting firms often adjust to environmental regulations through technological innovations that have the opposite effect. This study examines the effects of environmental regulations on economic growth through a case study of the metal finishing industry in the South Coast Basin of Southern California. The industry in the Basin has been regulated since 1988 by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) as a result of the industry’s use of hexavalent chromium. Based on a comparative analysis of the metal finishing industries in Chicago and Detroit, it appears that the AQMD regulations have not had a detrimental impact on the growth of the industry in the Basin.
Assessment of the optimal shoulder outcome score for reverse shoulder arthroplasty.

Background With growing attention being paid to quality and cost-effectiveness in health care, outcome evaluations are becoming increasingly important. This determination can be especially difficult in reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) given the complex pathology and extensive disabilities in this patient population. This study evaluated the use of 3 validated questionnaires used to assess outcomes for RSA. Methods Using a database of patients treated with RSA, we assessed preoperative and postoperative Constant-Murley Scores, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Scores, and Subjective Shoulder Values in 148 shoulders. The outcomes at each scoring period were described, and the scores were compared with one another as well as with active range of motion. Results There were no significant differences in the mean improvement of any of the scores. Improvements in all of the outcome scales were correlated with each other and with improvement in forward elevation but not with external rotation. Multivariate regression analysis the 3 outcome measures was able to predict 38.9% of the variation in improvement in functional outcomes (forward elevation). This was only slightly greater than that provided by improvements in the outcome variable Constant-Murley score alone (36.7%). Conclusions The 3 shoulder outcome scores evaluated, regardless of whether they were patient reported or physician based, appear to appropriately reflect improvements after RSA with equal validity. The objective physician-assessed Constant-Murley score had the strongest correlation with function of the arm, and use of a combination of all 3 outcome scores did not increase the ability to predict range of motion compared with using the Constant-Murley score alone.
International expansion of U.S. manufacturing family businesses: the effect of ownership and involvement

Abstract Family firms play an important role in today's global economy. However, limited empirical research has identified factors that spur these firms' internationalization. Highlighting the altruism that pervades family firms, this exploratory study examines the individual and interactive effects of family ownership and involvement on subsequent internationalization of a firm's operations. Results from the analyses of 409 U.S. manufacturing firms show that family ownership and involvement in the firm as well as the interaction of this ownership with family involvement are significantly and positively associated with internationalization. The implications of the findings for research and managerial practice are discussed.
A Multi-Scale Evaluation of the Effects of Forest Harvesting for Woody Biofuels on Mammalian Communities in a Northern Hardwood Forest

Research addressing the implications of forest harvesting for mammals has focused on different categories of silvicultural prescriptions. However, the effects of these prescriptions on forest structure can vary considerably, and categories of prescriptions rarely incorporate the market for which timber is being harvested. The latter information is important given the recent shift from conventional round-wood harvesting to wholetree removal for biofuels production, and corresponding reductions in post-harvest woody biomass left on-site. Our goal was to assess the effects of forest harvesting for biofuels on mammal species. Objectives included 1) evaluating how structural components influenced mammals, and 2) assessing the role of scale on species-habitat relationships. We sampled mammals in a 97-ha area of hardwood forest in the Adirondack Mountains in New York that had been partially harvested for biofuels in 2010. We used Sherman traps and track plates to assess the distribution of mammals. We captured 6 species of mammals in Sherman traps and identified 8 species using track plates. Mammalian species varied in their sensitivity to changes in habitat characteristics associated with biofuels harvest (coarse woody debris and slash). Our study reveals a complex suite of factors driving the response of mammals to variation in forest structure as a result of biofuels production. The harvesting practices used in the focal region are unlikely to lead to dramatic changes in the abundance and distribution of individual species of small mammals, but may influence the occurrence of common species including deer-mice and voles.
Reading National Geographic

Reading National Geographic. Catherine A. Lutz and Jane L. Collins. Chicago, IL: University nof Chicago Press, 1993. xvii. 309 pp., figures, photographs, appendix, references, index.
Existence of an optimal feedback control law for time-optimal control of two-input analytic nilpotent systems in dimension three

In this paper we analyze regularity properties of time-optimal trajectories for a class of two-input three-dimensional real-analytic systems whose accessibility Lie algebra is nilpotent of step 2, and establish the existence of an almost analytic optimal feedback control law. We prove that every time-optimal trajectory is replaceable by a bang-bang trajectory with at most three switchings, and show that there exist a large open dense subset of the state space and an optimal feedback control law which is analytic on the open dense subset.
The answer is in the question: a protocol study of intelligent help

Abstract Thirty advisory interactions between computer system ‘help desk’ consultants and their clients were transcribed and analysed as part of a project to determine the behavioural requirements for intelligent on-line help facilities. An interesting property of these interactions is that the advice was frequently modified in response to verification requests: questions (often syntactically implicit) which contain presuppositional statements that are partial answers to the asserted query. Designs for intelligent help facilities might exploit this finding by supporting the verification strategy and attempting to extract and use the presupposed statements in these questions to generate advice.
Preparing Current and Future Practitioners to Integrate Research in Real Practice Settings

Past efforts aimed at promoting a better integration between research and practice are reviewed. These include the empirical clinical practice movement (ECP), originating within social work; the em...
The Wilcoxon filter: A robust filtering scheme

In this paper, a new type of rank ordered filter, the "Wilcoxon filter" is introduced. We show that this filter performs efficiently in estimating noisy signals in nonstationary symmetric noise environments where the noise model deviates from an assumed one. It is shown that this filter is the locally most powerful filter for logistic distributed noise. The statistical and deterministic properties of this filter are obtained and compared to those of the median filters; finally, the filter computational complexity is analyzed.
An extensible object-oriented and agent-based framework for modelling and simulating supply chains

We propose an extensible object-oriented agent-based framework for modelling and simulating supply chains. A problem with existing supply-chain analysis tools is that most of them are designed only for specific configurations of supply chains. The primary goal of this work is to provide an open and extensible framework for analysing supply chains with heterogeneous elements and structures. Our framework incorporates the following features: 1 It adopts an agent-based approach to handle interactions among elements of a supply chain, and an analyst can introduce new types of elements for a specific application; 2 To promote the design reusability, we propose an object-oriented type system that supports behaviour inheritance; 3 The framework formally defines a meta-model for elements of a supply chain; 4 The framework includes a discrete-event simulation algorithm, which defines interactions among elements via messages and deliveries. We also discuss SIMRISK, our Java implementation of the framework.
Preparation and Diagnostic Value of an Antiserum for Placental Protein

ConclusionsA precipitin for placental proteins reacted strongly with autolysates of placental tissue, kidney, liver, and uterus. It reacted with a high percentage of the sera of pregnant women but not with normal sera. Some women with diseased genito-urinary tracts yielded positive sera.
Multiple feedbacks between chloroplast and whole plant in the context of plant adaptation and acclimation to the environment

This review focuses on feedback pathways that serve to match plant energy acquisition with plant energy utilization, and thereby aid in the optimization of chloroplast and whole-plant function in a given environment. First, the role of source–sink signalling in adjusting photosynthetic capacity (light harvesting, photochemistry and carbon fixation) to meet whole-plant carbohydrate demand is briefly reviewed. Contrasting overall outcomes, i.e. increased plant growth versus plant growth arrest, are described and related to respective contrasting environments that either do or do not present opportunities for plant growth. Next, new insights into chloroplast-generated oxidative signals, and their modulation by specific components of the chloroplast's photoprotective network, are reviewed with respect to their ability to block foliar phloem-loading complexes, and, thereby, affect both plant growth and plant biotic defences. Lastly, carbon export capacity is described as a newly identified tuning point that has been subjected to the evolution of differential responses in plant varieties (ecotypes) and species from different geographical origins with contrasting environmental challenges.
Polygenic Mutation in Drosophila melanogaster: Mapping Spontaneous Mutations Affecting Sensory Bristle Number

Our ability to predict long-term responses to artificial and natural selection, and understand the mechanisms by which naturally occurring variation for quantitative traits is maintained, depends on detailed knowledge of the properties of spontaneous polygenic mutations, including the quantitative trait loci (QTL) at which mutations occur, mutation rates, and mutational effects. These parameters can be estimated by mapping QTL that cause divergence between mutation-accumulation lines that have been established from an inbred base population and selected for high and low trait values. Here, we have utilized quantitative complementation to deficiencies to map QTL at which spontaneous mutations affecting Drosophila abdominal and sternopleural bristle number have occurred in 11 replicate lines during 206 generations of divergent selection. Estimates of the numbers of mutations were consistent with diploid per-character mutation rates for bristle traits of 0.03. The ratio of the per-character mutation rate to total mutation rate (0.023) implies that >2% of the genome could affect just one bristle trait and that there must be extensive pleiotropy for quantitative phenotypes. The estimated mutational effects were not, however, additive and exhibited dependency on genetic background consistent with diminishing epistasis. However, these inferences must be tempered by the potential for epistatic interactions between spontaneous mutations and QTL affecting bristle number on the deficiency-bearing chromosomes, which could lead to overestimates in numbers of QTL and inaccurate inference of gene action.
Predictors of weight gain at 6 and 18 months after childbirth: a pilot study.

Objective: To test the contributions of life-style and stress to postpartum weight gain after controlling for sociodemographic and reproductive influences. Design: Longitudinal mail survey with retrospective data on gestational weight gain and prospective data on postpartum weight gain. Setting: Multicounty community in the midwestern United States. Participants: After deleting from the sample women who became pregnant again, had confounding medical conditions, or had missing weight data, the sample consisted of 88 predominantly white mothers at 6 months after childbirth and 75 predominantly white mothers at 18 months after childbirth. Main outcome measures: Weight gain at 6 and 18 months after childbirth. Results: Maternal race and gestational weight gain accounted for significant amounts of variance in 6-month and 18month postpartum weight gain. Neither life-style nor perceived stress contributed significantly to predicting postpartum weight gains. Gestational weight gain was the most important predictor of postpartum weight gain. Conclusions: Given the contribution of gestational weight gain to postpartum weight gain, further study is needed of high gestational weight gain. JOGNN, 25, 39–48; 1996.
BRCA2 is required for neurogenesis and suppression of medulloblastoma

Defective DNA damage responses in the nervous system can result in neurodegeneration or tumorigenesis. Despite the importance of DNA damage signalling, the neural function of many critical DNA repair factors is unclear. BRCA2 is necessary for homologous recombination repair of DNA and the prevention of diseases including Fanconi Anemia and cancer. We determined the role of BRCA2 during brain development by inactivating murine Brca2 throughout neural tissues. In striking contrast to early embryonic lethality after germ-line inactivation, Brca2LoxP/LoxP;Nestin-cre mice were viable. However, Brca2 loss profoundly affected neurogenesis, particularly during embryonic and postnatal neural development. These neurological defects arose from DNA damage as Brca2LoxP/LoxP;Nestin-cre mice showed extensive γH2AX in neural tissue and p53 deficiency restored brain histology but lead to rapid formation of medulloblastoma brain tumors. In contrast, loss of the Atm kinase did not markedly attenuate apoptosis after Brca2 loss, but did partially restore cerebellar morphology, supporting a genomic surveillance function for ATM during neurogenesis. These data illustrate the importance of Brca2 during nervous system development and underscore the tissue-specific requirements for DNA repair factors.
Influence of Feeding Status and Physiological Condition on Supercooling Points of Adult Boll Weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Cold bath studies were conducted to examine the impacts of midgut content and fat body condition on supercooling points of adult boll weevils, Anthonomus grandis Boheman. The presence of solid food in weevil midguts significantly raised the supercooling points of weevils. Supercooling points of recently fed weevils with solid food present in their midguts ranged from −6.2 to −16.0°C, with a mean ± SD of −10.9 ± 1.9°C, whereas supercooling points of unfed weevils with empty midguts ranged from −10.2 to −20.2°C, with a mean ± SD of −16.0 ± 2.1°C. The mean supercooling point of weevils whose midguts contained colored traces of food from previous feeding was between those of recently fed weevils containing solid food and those having empty midguts. These findings indicate that the influence of feeding on supercooling points of weevils is related to the quantity and/or condition of midgut contents in weevils. No relationship was detected between the supercooling capabilities of weevils and amounts of hypertrophied fat bodies present for either fed or unfed weevils. Additionally, there was no significant difference in mean supercooling points between male and female weevils, and no relationship was detected between the supercooling points of weevils and their age. These results show that presence of food residues in the boll weevil midgut can have a significant effect on supercooling points of weevils, and indicate that the recent feeding history and midgut condition of weevils should be documented or at least considered in future supercooling and overwintering survival studies.
An Optimal Layout Design for Storage Yard of Container Terminal

This problem is to optimizeThis research is partly supported by State Key Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China (71032004), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (N090104002, N100704002) and by the 111 Project under Grant B08015. the layout design of blocks in new container yard. The yard cranes have restrictions on the width of blocks, and the layout of blocks and berths also have important impact on the driving route of yard trucks. Making use of bays, the lengths of blocks are discretized. An integer programming model is proposed for this problem, whose objective is to maximize the efficiency of trucks and the number of bays. In this model, there is also a lower bound on the minimum number of bays. Based on the characteristics of this model, a Filter-and-Fan algorithm is developed to solve this problem. The experimental results show the effectiveness of algorithm.
Clinical and Imaging Data in Essential Tremor with Parkinsonian Features (P06.085)

OBJECTIVE: To analyze demographic, clinical and imaging data in patients with essential tremor (ET) with or without parkinsonian features. BACKGROUND: Multiple clinical, genetic and neuroimaging studies suggest overlap between ET and Parkinson9s disease (PD) (Fekete R, Jankovic J. Mov Disord 2011;26:391-8). DaTscan has been recommended as a tool to assist in differentiating between ET and PD in clinically uncertain cases, but it is not clear whether dopamine transporter imaging can reliably delineate the two disorders. DESIGN/METHODS: Twenty ET patients with or without parkinsonian features and 11 healthy volunteers were examined by a movement disorders neurologist, underwent smell test (University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test, UPSIT) and DaTscan studies. Visual and semi-quantitative (Region-of-Interest, ROI) DaTscan image analysis were performed. RESULTS: Seven ET patients had no parkinsonian features (“pure ET group”), 5 patients had one or two mild parkinsonian features (“ET-parkinsonism group”), and 8 patients had 3 or more parkinsonian features (“ET-PD group”). All seven patients in pure ET group had normal DaTscan. Seven of 8 ET-PD patients had unilateral or asymmetric onset of tremor and abnormal DaTscan studies. ET patients with two mild parkinsonian features (N=2) or one parkinsonian feature (N=3) had normal DaTscan studies. Patients with 2 parkinsonian features had lower ROI values than patients with one parkinsonian feature. UPSIT score in pure ET group was lower than in healthy controls but higher than in ET with parkinsonism group. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with ET and parkinsonian symptoms are heterogeneous group of movement disorders consisting of a combination of ET and PD (ET-PD) and ET with parkinsonian features but without evidence of presynaptic dopaminergic deficit. DAT imaging can be helpful in clinically uncertain cases. Further studies of association between ET and PD are needed. Supported by: GE Healthcare, Princeton, NJ. Disclosure: Dr. Waln has nothing to disclose. Dr. Wendt has nothing to disclose. Dr. Van has nothing to disclose. Dr. Jankovic has received personal compensation for activities with Allergan, Inc., Chelsea Therapeutics, EMD Serono, Merz Pharmaceuticals, Lundbeck, and Teva Neuroscience as a consultant. Dr. Jankovic has received personal compensation in an editorial capacity for Medlink: Neurology in Clinical Practice. Dr. Jankovic has received research support from Allergan, Inc, Allon Therapeutics, Ceregene, Inc, Chelsea Therapeutics, Diana Helis Henry Medical Research Foundation, EMD Serono, Huntington9s Disease Society of America, Huntington Study Group, Impax Pharmaceuticals, and Ipsen Limited.
HighPower Distributed Photodetectors for RF Photonic Applications

This chapter contains sections titled: Introduction Transmission Line Model Design Tool Velocity Matched Distributed Photodetectors Parallel Optical Feed Photodetectors Backward Wave Cancellation Conclusion References
Docetaxel and capecitabine for previously treated metastatic colorectal cancer

13579 Background: Docetaxel (D) induces human colon cancer cell lines to upregulate thymidine phosphorylase, an enzyme which activates capecitabine (C) to its cytotoxic form. This provided rational...
Microstructures of Stainless Steels Exhibiting Reduced Friction and Wear After Implantation with Ti and C

Implantation of Ti and C into stainless steel discs of Types 304, 15–5 PH, Nitronic 60 and 440C has previously been reported to reduce wear depths by up to ∼ 85% and friction by ∼ 50% in unlubricated pin-on-disc tests. Our earlier studies relating microstructure to friction and wear results in Type 304 are first summarized; these indicate that the improvements in the surface mechanical properties are due to an amorphous surface layer, similar to the amorphous layer observed in pure Fe implanted with Ti and C. We have now examined the other three implanted steels and found similar amorphous layers. These results strongly suggest that the amorphous surface alloy is responsible for reduced friction and wear in all the steels.
Synthesis and surface activity of cationic Gemini surfactant

A cationic Gemini surfactant(Gemini 12-3-12) was synthesized.The product was characterized by IR,element analysis method and its purity was analyzed with diphasic titration.Surface tension of its aqueous solution at different concentration was measured.From these datas,the critical micelle concentration(CMC),excess adsorption amount(Γ_(max)),the saturation adsorption area per molecule have been obtained.The results show that the yield is 77.2%,the purity is 98.4%,the surface activity is as much as DTAB,but the CMC is about one fifteenths of DTAB.
The PUF binding landscape in metazoan germ cells

PUF (Pumilio/FBF) proteins are RNA-binding proteins and conserved stem cell regulators. The Caenorhabditis elegans PUF proteins FBF-1 and FBF-2 (collectively FBF) regulate mRNAs in germ cells. Without FBF, adult germlines lose all stem cells. A major gap in our understanding of PUF proteins, including FBF, is a global view of their binding sites in their native context (i.e., their "binding landscape"). To understand the interactions underlying FBF function, we used iCLIP (individual-nucleotide resolution UV crosslinking and immunoprecipitation) to determine binding landscapes of C. elegans FBF-1 and FBF-2 in the germline tissue of intact animals. Multiple iCLIP peak-calling methods were compared to maximize identification of both established FBF binding sites and positive control target mRNAs in our iCLIP data. We discovered that FBF-1 and FBF-2 bind to RNAs through canonical as well as alternate motifs. We also analyzed crosslinking-induced mutations to map binding sites precisely and to identify key nucleotides that may be critical for FBF-RNA interactions. FBF-1 and FBF-2 can bind sites in the 5'UTR, coding region, or 3'UTR, but have a strong bias for the 3' end of transcripts. FBF-1 and FBF-2 have strongly overlapping target profiles, including mRNAs and noncoding RNAs. From a statistically robust list of 1404 common FBF targets, 847 were previously unknown, 154 were related to cell cycle regulation, three were lincRNAs, and 335 were shared with the human PUF protein PUM2.
Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate (ZS-9): A Novel Agent for the Treatment of Hyperkalemia

Hyperkalemia is a potentially life-threatening electrolyte abnormality that may be caused by select medications, underlying organ dysfunction, or alterations in potassium homeostasis. Treatment for this condition has remained largely unchanged since the release of sodium polystyrene sulfonate (SPS) in 1958. Despite its widespread use, the safety and efficacy of SPS remains controversial. Two novel potassium-binding resins have emerged in recent years. Patiromer was the first of these to receive U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for the treatment of hyperkalemia in October 2015. A second potassium-binding resin, a zirconium cyclosilicate currently known as ZS-9, may provide yet another alternative to the archetypal treatment with SPS. ZS-9 is an orally administered nonabsorbed inorganic compound that selectively binds potassium ions in vivo. Two phase III multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trials have evaluated ZS-9 for the treatment of acute hyperkalemia. In this review, we discuss the pharmacology, clinical efficacy, safety, and potential place in therapy of ZS-9 for the enhanced elimination of potassium in the setting of hyperkalemia.
Toxic and Harmful Seaweeds

Abstract Considering the large quantity and number of species of seaweeds humans consume, and that seaweed consumption is an ancient practice, it is surprising how few cases there have been of seaweeds causing harmful effects to humans. In total, there have been only 14 deaths and 73 illnesses attributed to the consumption of seaweeds. Furthermore, in most of the reports of deaths caused by seaweed consumption, the source of the toxin is questionable and may not have been the seaweed but epiphytic cyanobacteria contaminants. In addition, all of the reports of seaweeds causing serious illness and death involve just a small number of seaweeds, in particular Gracilaria , Acanthophora , and Caulerpa . There are no reports of poisonings caused by the most widely consumed and commercially valuable seaweeds such as Porphyra (nori), Laminaria (kombu), and Undaria (wakame). The goal of this chapter is to review what is known about the harmful effects of seaweeds and seaweed products on humans, as well as any harmful effects seaweeds can have on their own ecosystems. Studies are included of both constitutive compounds being the causative agent, as well as studies of toxic elements and organic compounds that are taken up and concentrated by seaweeds, such as arsenic and polychlorinated biphenyls.
Chapter 38 – Soft Tissue Sarcoma

The soft tissue sarcoma consists of a very large number of different but related tumors deriving from the structural cells of the body. They are lumped together because each individual group is rather rare, and because the known causes tend to be common to all subgroups. Sarcomas are known to occur after high-dose radiotherapy, and after immunosuppression, such as that produced by the drugs given to facilitate transplantation. Persons with any of several rare genetic syndromes are at higher risk of sarcomas. Long-term or intense exposure to certain herbicides or related chemicals (including the dioxins) has been suspected of causing these malignancies. As a group, soft tissue sarcomas occur somewhat more commonly among postmenopausal women, especially African-American women who are known to be at higher risk of a smooth muscle sarcoma of the uterus. Sarcomas occur slightly more often among females than among males, but with equal frequency in Los Angeles County and other parts of the country. They occur at all ages, but incidence begins to increase in young adulthood, particularly in women. Among such women, African-Americans are at higher risk and Asian-Americans at lower risk. No systematic pattern of geographical occurrence is apparent, and therefore no local source of causation can be proposed.
A National Patient Navigator Training Program

B46 Background: Disparities in cancer survival rates have been associated with differences in socioeconomic status and race since 1989. Patient navigation has been promoted as a effective way to address health disparities, but limited research exists. Methods: Three major patient navigation programs (The National Cancer Institute’s Patient Navigation Research Program (PNRP), The American Cancer Society Patient Navigation Program, and The Center for Medicare and Medicaid’s Patient Navigation Demonstration Program) are underway to address the needs of cancer patients, each with a unique approach and design. An important aspect of the development of patient navigators for patients is the need to provide training and evaluate training outcomes. Many individual programs have created navigation training, but until this training there has been no national unified training curriculum. The curriculum for the training was jointly created by PNRP and the ACS staff. Results : A total of 196 participants were trained over a three day period. The efficacy of training was evaluated using a pre- and post-test. Paired t-test and p-values were used in the analysis. The data shows a statistically significant improvement of post-test scores over pretest. The data demonstrate there was greater improvement with increased education (p =.000) and more than one year of experience (p=.001). Conclusion: These programs pave the way for future healthcare facilities to evaluate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of integrating patient navigation as one way to address health disparities. An anticipated research outcome of the program is that barriers to diagnosis and treatment are removed to facilitate the patient experience throughout the cancer continuum. There are plans to provide continuing education.
3.10 Mariner Mission to Encke 1980

The planetary program has always been conducted with the hope that the results would reveal great insight into the early period of solar system history and perhaps into the actual formation processes themselves. However, little knowledge has been gained of this very early stage for several reasons: The intense surface bombardment of all larger bodies, particularly in the inner solar system during that period; the subsequent differentiation of large bodies; and atmospheric effects and continued bombardment of the surface. The most promising approach to acquisition of knowledge pertaining to the early state of the solar system, its origin and evolution, therefore seems to be in the study of small bodies, e. g., comets and asteroids.
CdZnTe Detectors: What You Need to Know

1284 Objectives CdZnTe (CZT) is a semiconductor detector material that is increasingly being used in nuclear medicine applications. As more medical imaging devices incorporate CZT, it is important to become familiar with its material properties and associated physics, and their effects on image quality. The purpose of this educational exhibit is to present some basics of CZT detectors to nuclear medicine professionals in an approachable manner. Methods This educational exhibit will include 1) a review of the unique properties of CZT detector materials, 2) a schematic of common geometry and electronic setup 3) a step-by-step description of signal generation starting with photon interaction, electron-cloud formation and transportation, signal readout, and finally image reconstruction, 4) a description of the small-pixel effect and its contribution to improved spatial and energy resolution, and 5) a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of CZT compared to other materials (e.g. NaI(Tl)) used in nuclear medicine. Results Diagrams, animations, and analogies will be used to explain complex, yet relevant, physics concepts. Explanations will be based on concepts familiar to nuclear medicine professionals. As an example, Figure 1 describes the configuration of a typical CZT detector geometry. The pixel pitch of the anode determines both the spatial resolution and energy resolution due to the small pixel effect. These parameters, as well as others that affect image quality, will be described through visualizations. Conclusions After reading this educational exhibit, participants should have a better understanding of the basic physics of CZT detectors, how signals are created and processed into images, how CZT compares to other detector materials, as well as challenges that must be overcome in the future. RESEARCH SUPPORT:
Public Access to Information on Private Land Conservation: Tracking Conservation Easements

Conservation easements reveal major tensions between the privacy concerns of landowners and the right of the public to access information about private land conservation. State and federal governments face important choices about how to provide public access to this information given growing concerns that the public’s substantial investment in conservation easements will be lost without comprehensive tracking over the long term. In this Article, we reflect on the public nature of conservation easements and the challenges posed by their perpetuity, and we provide concrete recommendations for legislatures seeking to improve conservation easement tracking. We employ interdisciplinary methods to assess multiple approaches to conservation easement tracking, focusing on California as a case study.Our California analysis examines the legislative history of state and county efforts to track conservation easements. We interviewed conservation experts and used a telephone survey of county recorder offices to assess county compliance with a California law requiring conservation easement indexing. We also employed a Geographic Information System to evaluate access to spatial data on conservation lands. Despite state, county, and non-profit tracking efforts, access to conservation easement data remains fragmented and incomplete. Based on this integrative research, we suggest that five elements are particularly important to an expanded, statewide system for tracking conservation easements: (1) including as many conservation easements as possible; (2)tracking public financial investments; (3)mapping conservation easements; (4)including specific purposes and restrictions in conservation easement databases; and (5) monitoring of monitoring.
Mechanical actions of individual muscles at the human elbow joint and their roles in protecting/unloading the ulnar collateral ligament

Study of individual elbow muscles' mechanical actions is important in understanding the muscles' fundamental roles in performing various motor tasks. It also helps us gain insights into the compensatory mechanisms for elbow injuries like the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injury, which is a common sports-related injury. The mechanical actions of individual elbow muscles and their roles in loading/unloading the UCL were studied through in vivo experiments.
Human Microchipping, Past, Present, and ... Future? [Opinion]

I sat staring at the computer on February 6th, 2006, thinking about the press release I was about to send and the potential impact it could have on the human race. The human implantable microchip, I thought, is about to make a major leap forward in the consciousness of the human mind and will be talked about and debated at a whole new level. It started over a year earlier, with Internet research. I was looking for asset tracking and found a new product involving implantable microchips for security.
Pharmacogenetics: Clinical and Experimental Studies in Man

As the array of behavior-modifying drugs has grown, physicians employing these agents have become aware of the striking differences among individuals in therapeutic effectiveness and side-effects of the drugs (Omenn and Motulsky, 1973). These differences may be caused by variable rates of biotransformation, elimination of the pharmacologically active moeity, by different susceptibility of enzymes, or of specific cell receptors to drug action. Occasionally, different mechanisms may produce an apparently uniform psychiatric syndrome so that a given drug may not be effective in all patients. Drugs, of course, represent only one of several classes of exogenous agents which may have variable effects in different subjects; this larger subject is now termed “eco-genetics” (Brewer, 1971; Omenn and Motulsky, 1975).
Recent Advances in Understanding the Structure and Properties of Amorphous Oxide Semiconductors

Amorphous oxide semiconductors (AOSs)—ternary or quaternary oxides of post-transition metals such as In-Sn-O, Zn-Sn-O, or In-Ga-Zn-O—have been known for a decade and have attracted a great deal of attention as they possess several technological advantages, including low-temperature large-area deposition, mechanical flexibility, smooth surfaces, and high carrier mobility that is an order of magnitude larger than that of amorphous silicon (a-Si:H). Compared to their crystalline counterparts, the structure of AOSs is extremely sensitive to deposition conditions, stoichiometry, and composition, giving rise to a wide range of tunable optical and electrical properties. The large parameter space and the resulting complex deposition–structure–property relationships in AOSs make the currently available theoretical and experimental research data rather scattered and the design of new materials difficult. In this work, the key properties of several In-based AOSs are studied as a function of cooling rates, oxygen stoichiometry, cation composition, or lattice strain. Based on a thorough comparison of the results of ab initio modeling, comprehensive structural analysis, accurate property calculations, and systematic experimental measurements, a four-dimensional parameter space for AOSs is derived, serving as a solid foundation for property optimization in known AOSs and for design of next-generation transparent amorphous semiconductors.
Dose- and type-dependent effects of long-chain fatty acids on adipogenesis and lipogenesis of bovine adipocytes

ABSTRACT Differentiation and lipid metabolism of adipocytes have a great influence on milk performance, health, and feed efficiency of dairy cows. The effects of dietary long-chain fatty acids (FA) on adipogenesis and lipogenesis of dairy cows are often confounded by other nutritional and physiological factors in vivo. Therefore, this study used an in vitro approach to study the effect of dose and type of long-chain FA on adipogenesis and lipogenesis of bovine adipocytes. Stromal vascular cells were isolated from adipose tissue of dairy cows and induced into mature adipocytes in the presence of various long-chain FA including myristic, palmitic, stearic, oleic, or linoleic acid. When concentrations of myristic, palmitic, and oleic acids in adipogenic mediums were 150 and 200 μ M , the induced mature adipocytes had greater lipid content compared with other concentrations of FA. In addition, mature adipocytes induced at 100 μ M stearic acid and 300 μ M linoleic acid had the greatest content of lipid than at other concentrations. High concentrations of saturated FA were more toxic for cells than the same concentration of unsaturated FA during the induction. When commitment stage was solely treated with FA, the number of differentiated mature adipocytes was greater for oleic and linoleic acids than other FA. When the maturation stage was treated with FA, the number of mature adipocytes was not affected, but the lipid content in adipocytes was affected and ranked oleic > linoleic > myristic > stearic > palmitic. In summary, this study showed that adipogenesis and lipogenesis of bovine adipocytes were differentially affected by long-chain FA, with unsaturated FA more effective than saturated FA.
HABITAT USE BY MIGRATORY BIRDS AT A DISTURBED SITE

Migratory and resident birds were censused, and their habitat use quantified, during three fall migration seasons in Georgia, USA. The suburban study site was a large cemetery with patches of lawn and shade trees, deciduous brush, mature hardwood forest, and an open pine grove. The frequency of use of different cover types, perch heights, and perch substrates was measured for five resident and four migrant species. All of the migrants used narrower subsets of the available habitats than most or all of the resident species. Three migrants also used habitats that were relatively unused by other species at the site. The frequency of use of different patches of vegetation was measured for seven residents and five migrants. Four of the migrants used narrow subsets of the available patches that were used relatively infrequently by other species at the site. Although three of the migrants heavily used a cover type (deciduous brush) that might be available at most stop-over sites, the red-eyed vireo heavily used ...
State Firearm Laws and Interstate Transfer of Guns in the USA, 2006–2016

In a cross-sectional, panel study, we examined the relationship between state firearm laws and the extent of interstate transfer of guns, as measured by the percentage of crime guns recovered in a state and traced to an in-state source (as opposed to guns recovered in a state and traced to an out-of-state source). We used 2006–2016 data on state firearm laws obtained from a search of selected state statutes and 2006–2016 crime gun trace data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. We examined the relationship between state firearm laws and interstate transfer of guns using annual data from all 50 states during the period 2006–2016 and employing a two-way fixed effects model. The primary outcome variable was the percentage of crime guns recovered in a state that could be traced to an original point of purchase within that state as opposed to another state. The main exposure variables were eight specific state firearm laws pertaining to dealer licensing, sales restrictions, background checks, registration, prohibitors for firearm purchase, and straw purchase of guns. Four laws were independently associated with a significantly lower percentage of in-state guns: a waiting period for handgun purchase, permits required for firearm purchase, prohibition of firearm possession by people convicted of a violent misdemeanor, and a requirement for relinquishment of firearms when a person becomes disqualified from owning them. States with a higher number of gun laws had a lower percentage of traced guns to in-state dealers, with each increase of one in the total number of laws associated with a decrease of 1.6 percentage points in the proportion of recovered guns that were traced to an in-state as opposed to an out-of-state source. Based on an examination of the movement patterns of guns across states, the overall observed pattern of gun flow was out of states with weak gun laws and into states with strong gun laws. These findings indicate that certain state firearm laws are associated with a lower percentage of recovered crime guns being traced to an in-state source, suggesting reduced access to guns in states with those laws.