cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Probabilistic sensitivity analysis for one-dimensional contaminant transport in the vadose zone

Abstract A reliability algorithm is coupled to a van Genuchten model-based unsaturated flow and transport numerical solution to develop a probabilistic model of one-dimensional non-reactive and reactive contaminant transport in the vadose zone. The reliability approach provides two important quantitative results: an estimate of the probability that a contaminant concentration is exceeded at some time and location, and a probabilistic sensitivity measure which quantifies the relative importance of each uncertain variable to the probabilistic outcome. The method requires that each uncertain variable be assigned at least a mean and standard deviation but marginal distributions and correlation structure may be incorporated. Transport through an idealized soil column with fixed boundary conditions and constant source concentration is analyzed. The uncertain variables include the van Genuchten model shape parameters, the saturated and residual water contents, saturated hydraulic conductivity, dispersivity, dispersion coefficient, first-order decay terms, bulk density and partitioning coefficient. The objective is to examine the relative importance of each uncertain variable and marginal distributions assigned to each variable. The influence of correlation structure is not considered in this study. Results indicate that the probabilistic outcome is generally very sensitive to likely changes in the saturated water content. Uncertainty associated with the diffusion coefficient, residual water content and first-order decay coefficients is often not a significant issue with respect to the probabilistic outcome; thus, these variables may be treated as deterministic constants. Although these results are limited by the assumptions of the numerical code and by the conceptual setup of the idealized soil column, they provide insight into the critical issues to consider in a probabilistic analysis of contaminant transport in the vadose zone. Such information concerning the most important uncertain parameters can be used to guide field and laboratory investigations.
Taking a Moment to Teach Engineering Economy

The acquisition of knowledge can be facilitated when previous knowledge or experience can be applied to the learning process. This article describes an approach for teaching engineering economy that utilizes knowledge from previous courses, statics and mechanics of materials, to improve learning. The concept of moments from these engineering mechanics courses was adapted and used to explain the concept of equivalence in engineering economy. Initial results after one semester indicated less time required for learning the concepts without adverse effects on student exam scores. Results after four semesters show higher course grades with the mechanics-based approach as well as improved student attitudes and higher teaching evaluations.
On optimal reservation prices in auctions

The theory of auction design examines how various factors affect the outcome of an auction. Most of the existing literature focuses on how varying the amount of information available to each bidder affects the bid-taker's expected revenue when all other factors remain constant. This paper studies how the bid-taker's expected revenue varies with changes in the auction format when such changes affect the number of bidders, and, in turn, the bidders' maximum value for the object being sold. Specifically, we examine how varying the reservation price or screening level affects the bid-taker's expected revenue though its effect on the number of bidders. For two simple examples, the losses associated with a reduced number of bidders outweighs any benefits that nontrivial reservation prices might have had in models with an exogonously set number of bidders.
Series elastic actuators

It is traditional to make the interface between an actuator and its load as stiff as possible. Despite this tradition, reducing interface stiffness offers a number of advantages, including greater shock tolerance, lower reflected inertia, more accurate and stable force control, less inadvertent damage to the environment, and the capacity for energy storage. As a trade-off, reducing interface stiffness also lowers zero motion force bandwidth. In this paper, the authors propose that for natural tasks, zero motion force bandwidth isn't everything, and incorporating series elasticity as a purposeful element within the actuator is a good idea. The authors use the term elasticity instead of compliance to indicate the presence of a passive mechanical spring in the actuator. After a discussion of the trade-offs inherent in series elastic actuators, the authors present a control system for their use under general force or impedance control. The authors conclude with test results from a revolute series-elastic actuator meant for the arms of the MIT humanoid robot Cog and for a small planetary rover.
Link quality prediction for wireless devices with multiple radios

Communication between wireless devices ought to be as simple as possible; they should be able to seamlessly switch between different radios and network stacks on the fly in order to better serve the user. To make this a possibility, we consider the challenging problem of predicting link quality in a changing mobile environment. In this paper we present an algorithm that uses Weighted Least Squares Regression to predict whether a given link can meet application requirements in terms of throughput, delay, and jitter. We use a simulation study to demonstrate that our algorithm is able to predict link quality accurately and stably in a frequently changing mobile environment. The prediction algorithm is more accurate than several alternative algorithms, and the overhead caused by the link measurements is negligible in terms of throughput and power consumption.
Co-Occurrence of Witnessed Parental Violence and Child Physical Abuse from a National Sample of Adolescents

This study examined the relations between witnessed parental violence (PV) and child physical abuse (CPA) over a one-year period among a nationally representative sample of 2,514 adolescents, ages 12-18. History of witnessed PV (Wave 1) prospectively predicted new experiences (controlling for abuse history) and first experiences of CPA reported at Wave 2. Conversely, history of CPA predicted new experiences of PV, but not first experiences. For adolescents who reported witnessed PV and CPA, witnessed PV preceded CPA in 70% of cases. Most common configuration was single-perpetrator of violence. Additional perpetrator and sequencing configurations are reported. Study findings addressed several limitations in the literature by including use of adolescent report, longitudinal design, inclusion of perpetrator identity, and a nationally representative sample.
Micro Shocks and Aggregate Risk

The paper presents a "micro" shock explanation of aggregate risk. Shocks are independent over agents, and equilibria are always unique. It is shown that any amount of aggregate risk can be generated by games in which shocks to players are independent. Explicit examples are given, some of which elaborate on examples in the literature. Implications are drawn for factor-analytic methods of extracting aggregate shocks.
Femoral artery occlusion increases expression of ASIC3 in dorsal root ganglion neurons

Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) in sensory nerves are responsive to increases in the levels of protons in the extracellular medium. Prior studies suggest that the muscle metabolite, lactic acid, plays a role in reflex sympathetic and cardiovascular responses via stimulation of thin muscle afferent nerves. Also, femoral artery occlusion augments the reflex sympathetic nerve response in rats. ASIC3 is a main subtype to appear in sensory nerves in mediating the response induced by increases in protons in the interstitial space of contracting muscles. Thus, in this article, we hypothesized that femoral occlusion increases the expression of ASIC3 in primary afferent neurons innervating muscles, and this contributes to the exaggerated reflex sympathetic responses. Femoral occlusion/vascular insufficiency of the hindlimb muscles was induced by the femoral artery ligation in rats. First, Western blot analysis shows that 24-72 h of femoral artery ligation significantly increased the expression of ASIC3 protein in dorsal root ganglion (optical density, 1.0 ± 0.07 in control vs. 1.65 ± 0.1 after 24 h of occlusion, P < 0.05; n = 6 in each group). There were no significant differences for increases in ASIC3 24 and 72 h postocclusion. Second, experiments using fluorescent immunohistochemistry and retrograde-labeling technique show that a greater percentage of ASIC3 staining neurons are localized in muscle-innervating dorsal root ganglion neurons after the arterial occlusion (78 ± 3% in 24 h post occlusion vs. 59 ± 5% in control, P < 0.05; n = 6 in each group). Third, the reflex responses in renal sympathetic nerve and arterial blood pressure induced by the stimulation of ASIC were examined after an injection of lactic acid into the arterial blood supply of hindlimb muscles of control rats and ligated rats. The results demonstrate that the sympathetic and pressor responses to lactic acid were significantly augmented after femoral occlusion compared with those in the control group. The data of this study suggest that enhanced ASIC3 expression in muscle afferent nerves contributes to the exaggerated reflex sympathetic and pressor responses to lactic acid as seen in arterial occlusion.
Reactivity of the Human Fetal Pulmonary Circulation to Maternal Hyperoxygenation Increases During the Second Half of Pregnancy A Randomized Study

Background—The aims of the present study were to determine whether maternal hyperoxygenation affects human fetal pulmonary circulation and whether there is a gestational age-related response in the fetal pulmonary circulation to maternal hyperoxygenation during the second half of gestation. Methods and Results—Twenty women between 20 and 26 weeks of gestation and 20 women between 31 and 36 weeks of gestation with normal singleton pregnancies were randomized to receive either 60% humidified oxygen or medical compressed air (room air) by a face mask. Fetal aortic and pulmonary valve; ductus arteriosus (DA); and right (RPA), left (LPA), and distal (DPA) pulmonary artery blood velocity waveforms were obtained by Doppler ultrasound before, during, and after maternal administration of either 60% oxygen or room air. Left and right ventricular cardiac outputs, DA volume blood flow, and RPA and LPA volume blood flows (QP) were calculated. Foramen ovale volume blood flow (left ventricular cardiac output−QP) was est...
Subcellular fractionation of Cu exposed oysters, Crassostrea virginica, and Cu accumulation from a biologically incorporated Cu rich oyster diet in Fundulus heteroclitus in fresh and sea water.

Abstract In order to examine the effect of salinity on Cu accumulation from a naturally incorporated diet, oysters (Crassostrea virginica) were exposed in sea water for 96 days to four waterborne [Cu]: 2.9 ± 0.7 (control), 4.3 ± 0.6, 5.4 ± 0.5, and 10.7 ± 1.0 µg L− 1. After 96 days, the control whole body [Cu] increased from 2.1 ± 0.5 to 9.1 ± 1.1 µg g− 1 w.w. and the highest [Cu] was 163.4 ± 27.1 µg g− 1 w.w. in the oysters. Despite large differences in tissue [Cu], there was no effect on the fraction of trophically available metal in the oyster suggesting that trophic transfer will correlate well with tissue [Cu]. The control and highest [Cu] oysters became diet for killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) in fresh and seawater for 40 days. The two diets contained 84.7 ± 5.1 and 850.5 ± 8.8 µg Cu g− 1 d.w. Fish were fed a combined diet of oyster and a pellet supplement (20.5 ± 1.0 µg Cu g− 1 d.w.) both at 5% body mass day− 1. In killifish, Cu increased ~ 7% in gills and 100% in intestines after 6 weeks of exposure to the high Cu diet. No other tissues accumulated Cu above control levels. An 11-fold difference free Cu2+ concentrations was predicted in intestinal fluid between fresh and sea water, but there was no corresponding effect of salinity on intestinal Cu accumulation suggesting that Cu is not accumulated as the free ion.
Muscle-joint models incorporating activation dynamics, moment-angle, and moment-velocity properties

Muscle input/output models incorporating activation dynamics, moment-angle, and moment-velocity factors are commonly used to predict the moment produced by muscle during nonisometric contractions: the three factors are generally assumed to be independent. The authors examined the ability of models with independent factors, as well as models with coupled factors, to fit input/output data measured during simultaneous modulation of the fraction of muscle stimulated (recruitment) and joint angle inputs. The models were evaluated in stimulated cat soleus muscles producing ankle extension moment, with regard to their potential applications in neuroprostheses with either fixed parameters or parameter adaptation. Both uncoupled and coupled models predicted the output moment well for random angle perturbation sizes ranging from 10/spl deg/ to 30/spl deg/. For the uncoupled model, the best parameter values depended on the range of perturbations and the mean angle. Introducing coupling between activation and velocity in the model reduced this parameter sensitivity; one set of model parameter values fit the data for all perturbation sizes and also fit the data under isometric or constant stimulation conditions. Thus, the coupled model would be the most appropriate for applications requiring fixed parameter values. In contrast, with continuous parameter adaptation, errors due to changing test conditions decreased more quickly for the uncoupled model, suggesting that it would perform well in adaptive control of neuroprostheses. >
Experimental Auction Procedure: Impact on Valuation of Quality Differentiated Goods

Despite increased use of experimental auctions, a myriad of different procedures are being employed without formal consideration of how the procedures might affect results. This study investigates the effect of several procedural issues on valuation estimates from experimental auctions. Results indicate the second price auction generates higher valuations than English, Becker‐DeGroot‐Marschak (BDM), and random nth price auctions, especially in latter bidding rounds, and that random nth price auction yields lower valuations than English and BDM auctions. We find that endowing subjects with a good prior to eliciting bids can have an impact on valuations, but the effect varies across auction mechanism.
Does Systematic Selection Lead to Unreliable Risk Assessments in Monetary-Unit Sampling Applications?

SUMMARY: Monetary-unit sampling (MUS) applications using systematic selection are evaluated via the use of a statistical function that describes the distributional properties of simple random samples. Because systematic selection produces a significantly smaller set of potential samples, its distributional properties differ from those of simple random selection. Whether these distributional differences lead to unreliable MUS risk assessments is the focus of our study. Our findings indicate that risk assessments of MUS applications using systematic selection exhibit material error at a nontrivial rate. We also find that risk assessment reliability declines as sampling interval width decreases, error tainting magnitudes increase, and errors are increasingly concentrated in population members with larger recorded values. Given the availability of alternative sample selection methods, our findings suggest that auditors should avoid the use of systematic selection in MUS applications.
Dopamine tightens, not loosens

Depue & Collins propose that extraversion should be separated from the impulsivity-constraint dimension of personality, and that the VTA dopamine system is the primary engine of extraversion. Although their focus is on personality traits, it may be useful to consider the evidence on psychological state changes, related both to affective arousal and to drug effects. This evidence shows that there are inherent relations between extraversion and impulsivity-constraint, and that there are influences of dopamine on impulsivity-constraint that are not consistent with the Depue & Collins model. Increased positive affect leads to increased extraversion, and this is associated with more impulsivity and less constraint. The evidence on drug effects shows that greater dopaminergic control is associated with more constraint, and with anxiety and vigilance rather than positive affect.
mRNA degradation by the virion host shutoff (VHS) protein of herpes simplex virus: Genetic and biochemical evidence that VHS is a nuclease

During lytic infections, the virion host shutoff (Vhs) protein (UL41) of herpes simplex virus destabilizes both host and viral mRNAs. By accelerating the decay of all mRNAs, it helps redirect the cell from host to viral gene expression and facilitates the sequential expression of different classes of viral genes. While it is clear that Vhs induces mRNA degradation, it is uncertain whether it is itself an RNase or somehow activates a cellular enzyme. This question was addressed by using a combination of genetic and biochemical approaches. The Vhs homologues of alphaherpesviruses share sequence similarities with a family of mammalian, yeast, bacterial, and phage nucleases. To test the functional significance of these similarities, Vhs was mutated to alter residues corresponding to amino acids known to be critical to the nuclease activity of cellular homologues. In every instance, mutations that inactivated the nuclease activity of cellular homologues also abolished Vhs activity. Recent experiments showed that Vhs interacts with the cellular translation initiation factor eIF4H. In this study, the coexpression of Vhs and a glutathione S-transferase (GST)-eIF4H fusion protein in bacteria resulted in the formation of a complex of the proteins. The wild-type Vhs/GST-eIF4H complex was isolated and shown to have RNase activity. In contrast, Vhs mutations that altered key residues in the nuclease motif abolished the nuclease activity of the recombinant Vhs/GST-eIF4H complex. The results provide genetic and biochemical evidence that Vhs is an RNase, either alone or as a complex with eIF4H.
Purification and Characterization of Crystallins by Aqueous Two-Phase Extraction

Crystallins are a family of water-soluble proteins that constitute up to 90% of the water-soluble proteins in mammalian eye lenses. We present in this paper an alternative purification method for these proteins using polyethylene glycol/dextran aqueous two-phase extraction. Under the appropriate conditions, we were able to recover the γ-crystallin fraction essentially free of the remaining proteins. High concentrations of salt at a neutral pH maximize the recovery of γ-crystallins in the top phase and minimize the contamination by the other proteins present in the lenses. The proposed protocol decreases the separation time by about 50% The complex partition behavior observed for these proteins reflects a delicate balance between protein/phase-forming species (various polymers and salts) and protein/protein interactions. This is evidenced in part, by the role played by the largest proteins in this group as a “pseudo” phase-forming species.
Glucocorticoid exposure alters the pathogenesis of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus during acute infection

Previous research has shown that chronic restraint stress exacerbates Theiler's virus infection, a murine model for CNS inflammation and multiple sclerosis. The current set of experiments was designed to evaluate the potential role of glucocorticoids in the deleterious effects of restraint stress on acute CNS inflammatory disease. Exposure to chronic restraint stress resulted in elevated levels of corticosterone as well as increased clinical scores and weight loss (Experiment 1). In addition, corticosterone administration alone exacerbated behavioral signs of TMEV-induced sickness (i.e. decreased body weight, increased symptoms of encephalitis, and increased mortality) and reduced inflammation in the CNS (Experiment 2). Infected subjects receiving exogenous corticosterone showed exacerbation of acute phase measures of sickness and severe mortality as well as decreased viral clearance from CNS (Experiment 3). These findings indicate that corticosterone exposure alone is sufficient to exacerbate acute CNS inflammatory disease.
Functional expression of a GFP-tagged Kv1.5 α-subunit in mouse ventricle

The experiments here were undertaken to determine the feasibility of increasing the cell surface expression of voltage-gated ion channels in cardiac cells in vivo and to explore the functional cons...
Analysis of Skeletal Muscle Torque Capacity and Circulating Ceramides in Patients with Advanced Heart Failure.

Abstract Background Heart failure (HF)-related exercise intolerance is thought to be perpetuated by peripheral skeletal muscle functional, structural, and metabolic abnormalities. We analyzed specific dynamics of muscle contraction in patients with HF compared with healthy, sedentary controls. Methods Isometric and isokinetic muscle parameters were measured in the dominant upper and lower limbs of 45 HF patients and 15 healthy age-matched controls. Measurements included peak torque normalized to body weight, work normalized to body weight, power, time to peak torque, and acceleration and deceleration to maximum strength times. Body morphometry (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scan) and circulating fatty acids and ceramides (lipodomics) were analyzed in a subset of subjects (18 HF and 9 controls). Results Extension and flexion time-to-peak torque was longer in the lower limbs of HF patients. Furthermore, acceleration and deceleration times in the lower limbs were also prolonged in HF subjects. HF subjects had increased adiposity and decreased lean muscle mass compared with controls. Decreased circulating unsaturated fatty acids and increased ceramides were found in subjects with HF. Conclusions Delayed torque development suggests skeletal muscle impairments that may reflect abnormal neuromuscular functional coupling. These impairments may be further compounded by increased adiposity and inflammation associated with increased ceramides.
The Effect of Agency Reform on Real Estate Service Quality

This study examines the impact of recent state real estate agency reforms on real estate service quality. The analysis expands prior literature by examining licensing law effects on service quality using state adjudicated disciplinary action decisions as a measure of quality, adding recent state law developments as explanatory variables, and including state licensing board staffing and funding variables to hold licensing administrative efforts constant. The results indicate that certain state real estate agency reform efforts, as well as other licensing laws and the administration of licensing laws, do have an effect on variation in state licensee disciplinary actions. These results have policy implications for increasing real estate service quality.
An improved thin-film microelectrode array and signal conditioning board for measuring cardiac surface potentials.

The work outlined in this thesis expanded on previous work to improve a thin-film microfabricated electrode array intended for cardiac electrophysiology studies. A thin layer of silver was added in between titanium and platinum electrical trace layers to reduce electrode resistance. A 200 nm layer of silver decreased electrode resistance by an order of magnitude. In addition, a new high quality signal conditioning board was developed using precision operational amplifiers from Texas Instruments. Both new sensor and board design were verified together through in vivo studies using rabbit, goat, and dog hearts.
Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory Studies of Optical Properties of Au Nanoparticles: Octahedra, Truncated Octahedra, and Icosahedra

The optical absorption properties of gold nanoparticles are investigated theoretically. A time-dependent density functional theory approach is employed to determine excitation energies for a set of three structural shapes: octahedra, truncated octahedra, and icosahedra (Aun, n = 6–85) in several charge states that correspond to electronic shell closings. Octahedral Aun clusters with n = 6–85, truncated octahedral Aun clusters with n = 13–79, and icosahedral Aun clusters with n = 13–55 are examined. The optimization calculations use the BP86/DZ.4f level of theory, and the excitation energy calculations employ the LB94 functional. The Amsterdam Density Functional code was used for all calculations.
A Special, Set-Apart Place No Longer?: Deconstructing the Discourse of Meaning and Mission in Nonprofit Newsletters

Preoccupation with the "blurring of boundaries" is often framed as a concern to preserve the functions of nonprofit organizations as separate from private business and government, but is better und...
Epidemiology of Sports Injuries in Children

Surveillance of data regarding sports injuries is mandatory if continued progress is to be made in the prevention of injuries. The literature on the epidemiology of athletic injuries is reviewed and specific data collection systems are discussed including the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System and the National Athletic Injury/Illness Reporting System.
Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Procrastination Assessment Scale for Students

The relative fit of one- and two-factor models of the Procrastination Assessment Scale for Students (PASS) was investigated using confirmatory factor analysis on an ethnically diverse sample of 345...
Pharmacology of Anti-arrhythmic Agents

Cardiac arrhythmias result from alterations in the orderly sequence of depolarization and repolarization in the heart (Chap. 2). The clinical severity of disordered cardiac activation ranges from asymptomatic palpitations to lethal arrhythmias. Clinicians have a number of therapeutic options from which to choose in an effort to suppress or eliminate the sources or structures that support the arrhythmias, as well as to convert the heart to normal rhythm if other therapies fail. While recent technological advances have led to an increase in the use of non-pharmacological strategies including transcatheter radiofrequency or cryothermal ablation, intraoperative cryoablation as well as implantable pacemakers and defibrillators, pharmacological therapy remains a valuable tool for monotherapy or as adjunctive therapy in combination with device therapy. Anti-arrhythmic medications exert direct effects on cardiac cells by inhibiting the function of specific ion channels or ion pumps or by altering the autonomic input into the heart resulting in alteration of the electrophysiologic properties of the cardiac conduction system. Additionally, several widely used cardiovascular therapies such as angiotensin-converting enzyme, hydroxy-methyl-glutaryl (HMG) Co-A reductase inhibitors, dexmedetomidine, and others also appear to exert important anti-arrhythmic effects. Physicians caring for patients with arrhythmias, therefore, must understand and appreciate the benefits and risks provided by each therapeutic agent, what is the indication for each, and how they interact.
Linguistic structure: A plausible theory

This paper is concerned with discovering the system that lies behind linguistic productions and is responsible for them. To be considered realistic, a theory of this system has to meet certain requirements of plausibility: (1) It must be able to be put into operation, for (i) speaking and otherwise producing linguistic texts and (ii) comprehending (to a greater or lesser extent) the linguistic productions of others; (2) it must be able to develop during childhood and to continue changing in later years; (3) it has to be compatible with what is known about brain structure, since that system resides in the brains of humans. Such a theory, while based on linguistic evidence, turns out to be not only compatible with what is known from neuroscience about the brain, it also contributes new understanding about how the brain operates in processing information.
The great cowboy strike of 1883. Class war in the wild west and the reconstruction of power in the Texas panhandle

Most sources tell us the same thing about the strike of rural livestock laborerers in the Texas panhandle during the spring of 1883. Writers regularly describe it erroneously as “the only cowboy strike in history.” The most easily accessible accounts sketch a tragicomic tale of desperate, ungrateful and ignorant cowboys riding off the job into town where they spent what they had on bad whiskey and loose women before crawling back to their employers only to find their places filled by newcomers. The defeated strikers subsequently had to move from the area or to resort to rustling and outlawry, so the authorities or extralegal regulators hired by the big ranchers had to hunt them down and dispatch them as part of bringing law and order to the Old West. In all its essentials, such accounts are simply incorrect, For this reason, their early job action merits a closer examination. In fact, cowboys held an incredible power, and the strike reflected their realization of this. How and why this event came to be told the way it was must be explored as well. Finally, we can take a clearer look at this seemingly trivial and singular incident in the wider historical perspective of development.
Ablative Coatings for Structural Fire Protection

If ablative coatings are used to protect reentry vehicles under severe aerodynamic heating, why can they not be used to protect structural steel in fires? To answer this question, it is necessary to define ablation, to explore the nature of the thermal effectiveness of ablative materials, and to investigate the problems associated with the use of ablative materials for structural fire protection. A clear understanding of the differences between aerodynamic reentry atmospheres and the fire atmospheres is also important. All these factors are discussed. Several ablative systems presently used in aerospace applications along with specially formulated systems were evaluated in an idealized fire atmosphere. These high-performance aerospace ablative systems are not satisfactory for fire atmospheres from both a thermal and economic standpoint. However, other systems are presently available that yield sufficient char for thermal protection. The limitations of these systems is primarily in the cost of the raw materials and susceptibility of these systems to cracking.
Tables with Prescribed α p and α s

This chapter contains tables of network function coefficients for a number of combinations of α p and α s . Each table is a tabulation for a specific pair of α p and α s as n is increased from 2 through 12. Specifically, it contains all combinations of the the following two groups of values of α p and α s .
"Can we walk?" Environmental supports for physical activity in India.

India is currently facing a non-communicable disease epidemic. Physical activity (PA) is a preventative factor for non-communicable diseases. Understanding the role of the built environment (BE) to facilitate or constrain PA is essential for public health interventions to increase population PA. The objective of this study was to understand BEs associations with PA occurring in two major life domains or life areas-travel and leisure-in urban India. Between December 2014 and April 2015, in-person surveys were conducted with participants (N=370; female=47.2%) in Chennai, India. Perceived BE characteristics regarding residential density, land use mix-diversity, land use mix-access, street connectivity, infrastructure for walking and bicycling, aesthetics, traffic safety, and safety from crime were measured using the adapted Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale-India (NEWS-India). Self-reported PA was measured the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. High residential density was associated with greater odds of travel PA (aOR=1.9, 95% CI=1.2, 3.2). Land use mix-diversity was positively related to travel PA (aOR=2.1, 95%CI=1.2, 3.6), but not associated with leisure or total PA. The aggregate NEWS-India score predicted a two-fold increase in odds of travel PA (aOR=1.9, 95% CI=1.1, 3.1) and a 40% decrease in odds of leisure PA (aOR=0.6, 95% CI=0.4, 1.0). However, the association of the aggregated score with leisure PA was not significant. RESULTS suggest that relationships between BE and PA in low-and-middle income countries may be context-specific, and may differ markedly from higher income countries. FINDINGS have public health implications for India suggesting that caution should be taken when translating evidence across countries.Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc. Language: en
A General Analytic Approach To System Cost Uncertainty Analysis

This paper presents the foundations of a recently developed analytic approach to system cost uncertainty analysis. The approach is referred to as the Analytic Cost Probability (ACOP) model; and its structure is sufficiently general to meet the characteristics of any program definition. The analytic nature of the ACOP model facilitates the identification of cost variance drivers and measures their overall impact on the system cost. The ACOP model offers several techniques for treating correlation between cost elements of a work breakdown structure; a technical issue that has not been widely discussed in the literature or accounted for in existing models. An illustrative analysis using the ACOP model on a hypothetical system is presented, and the mathematical foundations of the model are provided so that the cost analysis community may review, comment on, and expand upon the approach within their organizations.
The Dawn of Transparency: Insights from the Physician Payment Sunshine Act in Plastic Surgery.

BackgroundThe Physician Payments Sunshine Act (PSSA) is a government initiative that requires all biomedical companies to publicly disclose payments to physicians through the Open Payments Program (OPP). The goal of this study was to use the OPP database and evaluate all nonresearch-related financia
A partnership forged: BSW students and service learning at a historically Black college and university (HBCU) serving urban communities

ABSTRACTHistorically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have a long-standing history of engaging the African-American community. In most instances, these institutions are located in predominantly African-American communities. This article intends to offer a discussion of a pedagogical approach used at an HBCU, located in a large mid-Atlantic city. The purpose of this macro-assignment was an effort designed to prepare BSW students for macro-practice with communities through participation in service-learning projects that involved community engagement with urban communities. Outcomes reflect that students have a vested interest in working with underserved communities, which exemplifies the School of Social Work’s mission; said mission is to fully prepare urban social work leaders who are committed to the alleviation of human suffering, social justice, and the improvement of the quality of life for diverse urban populations.
Advocacy for and with LGBT Students: An Examination of High School Counselor Experiences.

A paucity of empirical scholarship exists on school counselor advocacy in general and virtually none as it relates to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students specifically. Addressin...
Automated screening for Fragile X premutation carriers based on linguistic and cognitive computational phenotypes

Millions of people globally are at high risk for neurodegenerative disorders, infertility or having children with a disability as a result of the Fragile X (FX) premutation, a genetic abnormality in FMR1 that is underdiagnosed. Despite the high prevalence of the FX premutation and its effect on public health and family planning, most FX premutation carriers are unaware of their condition. Since genetic testing for the premutation is resource intensive, it is not practical to screen individuals for FX premutation status using genetic testing. In a novel approach to phenotyping, we have utilized audio recordings and cognitive profiling assessed via self-administered questionnaires on 200 females. Machine-learning methods were developed to discriminate FX premutation carriers from mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders, the comparison group. By using a random forest classifier, FX premutation carriers could be identified in an automated fashion with high precision and recall (0.81 F1 score). Linguistic and cognitive phenotypes that were highly associated with FX premutation carriers were high language dysfluency, poor ability to organize material, and low self-monitoring. Our framework sets the foundation for computational phenotyping strategies to pre-screen large populations for this genetic variant with nominal costs.
A Printed Equilibrium Dialysis Device with Integrated Membranes for Improved Binding Affinity Measurements

Equilibrium dialysis is a simple and effective technique used for investigating the binding of small molecules and ions to proteins. A three-dimensional (3D) printer was used to create a device capable of measuring binding constants between a protein and a small ion based on equilibrium dialysis. Specifically, the technology described here enables the user to customize an equilibrium dialysis device to fit their own experiments by choosing membranes of various material and molecular-weight cutoff values. The device has dimensions similar to that of a standard 96-well plate, thus being amenable to automated sample handlers and multichannel pipettes. The device consists of a printed base that hosts multiple windows containing a porous regenerated-cellulose membrane with a molecular-weight cutoff of ∼3500 Da. A key step in the fabrication process is a print-pause-print approach for integrating membranes directly into the windows subsequently inserted into the base. The integrated membranes display no leaking...
Beta decay of 62 Ga

We report a study of the $\ensuremath{\beta}$ decay of ${}^{62}\mathrm{Ga},$ whose dominant branch is a superallowed ${0}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{0}^{+}$ transition to the ground state of ${}^{62}\mathrm{Zn}.$ We find the total half-life to be $115.84\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.25\mathrm{ms}.$ This is the first time that the ${}^{62}\mathrm{Ga}$ half-life has been measured with a purified source. We find that $(0.120\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.021)%$ of the $\ensuremath{\beta}$ decays are followed by $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ cascades that pass through the ${}^{62}\mathrm{Zn}$ ${2}^{+}$ first excited state at 0.954 MeV. The branching ratio to the first-excited ${0}^{+}$ state in ${}^{62}\mathrm{Zn}$ at 2.33 MeV is $l0.043%.$ We conclude that the branching ratio for the superallowed transition is ${99.85}_{\ensuremath{-}0.15}^{+0.05}%.$
Near-infrared Raman-encoded tags for in vitro and in situ cancer biomarker detection

A27 We have developed a new class of optical labels that is suitable for quantitative profiling of proteins in solutions, on cell surfaces, and on tissue sections. These polymer-protected Raman encoded nanoparticle tags (PRENTs) combine the protein-resistance of polyethylene glycol derivatives, the biocompatibility of metal nanoparticles, and the sensitivity and spectral diversity of surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering. A major discovery is that PRENTs can incorporate dyes that lack organosulfur functional groups, greatly expanding the repertoire of potential Raman tags. Eight spectrally distinct PRENTs have been developed for optimal signal output when excited with near-infrared light. PRENT spectral properties and nanoparticle aggregation states are well-preserved under extremes of pH, salinity, organic solvent concentration, storage time, and exposure to Raman active contaminants. The PRENTs are over two orders of magnitude brighter than near-infrared quantum dots and are more resistant to photodegradation when subjected to prolonged laser illumination. When functionalized with antibodies, PRENTs are able to measure expression of cancer biomarkers in serum and on cell surfaces with high precision and specificity. These results create new opportunities for ultrasensitive optical detection and molecular imaging of tumor-associated molecules and cancer cells.
Abstract TP214: Serum Activity of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 is Decreased During Ischemic Stroke in Humans

Introduction: Abundant preclinical studies show efficacy for therapies targeted to the protective axis of the renin-angiotensin system in stroke. The expression and activity of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a cardio and neuro-protective carboxypeptidase in this axis, have recently been shown to be dynamically altered during stroke in animal models. Hypothesis: The aim of this study was to characterize the previously unexplored changes in activity of ACE2, and other RAS enzymes, in the serum of patients experiencing acute ischemic stroke. Methods: Blood samples were obtained from patients with acute ischemic stroke (n=20) at presentation and again at three days post-stroke and enzyme activity levels in isolated serum were analyzed by fluorometric assay. These were compared to enzyme activity levels in samples obtained from a cohort of patients presenting with transient ischemic attack or other clinical presentations mimicking stroke and from healthy control participants (n=20). Results: Ischemic stroke resulted in significantly lower levels of serum ACE2 activity at an average of 3.5 hours after stroke as compared to both transient ischemic attack/stroke mimic and healthy control participant levels, followed three days later by an increase back to control levels. ACE activity was also significantly decreased following stroke, but without increases at three days. Renin enzyme activity during stroke did not significantly differ from controls at either time point. Serum ACE2 activity was negatively correlated with systolic blood pressure at presentation among stroke patients, while activity levels from a separate cohort of healthy young adults were positively correlated. Multiple regression analyses indicated that ACE2 activity levels were significantly correlated with a diagnosis of ischemic stroke, with those in the lowest tertile of all participants were at 7.7 times increased odds of having had a stroke. Conclusions: The characterization of the dynamic and novel changes in serum ACE2 activity in human stroke, which concur with preclinical studies, along with the demonstration of correlations with systolic blood pressure, provides new insight for the development of therapies that target this protective system in ischemic stroke.
A tenaculum improves ovarian accessibility during difficult transvaginal follicular aspiration: a novel but simple technique

Objective To evaluate the use of a cervical tenaculum to improve ovarian access during oocyte retrieval. Design Description of a new technique. Setting Normal human volunteer in an academic research environment. Patient An infertile woman undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval. Access to her right ovary was obstructed by her uterus. Interventions During the retrieval procedure, a tenaculum was applied to the patient's cervix and downward traction was applied. Results The ovary became closer to the vaginal wall. Conclusion Applying downward cervical traction with a tenaculum can bring an ovary closer to the vaginal wall, avoiding possible uterine injury and facilitating oocyte collection.
A Youth Compendium of Physical Activities: Activity Codes and Metabolic Intensities.

ABSTRACTPurposeA Youth Compendium of Physical Activities (Youth Compendium) was developed to estimate the energy costs of physical activities using data on youth only.MethodsOn the basis of a literature search and pooled data of energy expenditure measurements in youth, the energy costs of 196 activ
Instruction set architecture impact on design space subsetting for configurable systems

A major challenge in design space subsetting is the time consumed in evaluating all of the design space configurations and selecting a subset of best/near-best configurations—those that adhere closely to design constraints. If an architect determines a subset for an instruction set architecture (ISA) that is historically coupled the system's domain, the evaluation process must be repeated if the architect is to consider an alternative ISA, wasting precious design time. In this paper, we compare different ISAs’ best configuration subsets and investigate the possibility of selecting an ISA-independent subset that provides good domain constraint adherence regardless of the ISA.
Learning environments that support student creativity: Developing the SCALE

Abstract In this article, we report on the creation of an instrument that offers educators a practical tool to aid in the design of learning environments that support student creativity. Based on our literature review, classroom observations, and administrator feedback, three key areas were found to support student creativity: Learner Engagement, Physical Environment, and Learning Climate. These three areas create the foundation of the SCALE: Support for Creativity in a Learning Environment, a tool that provides educators with specific examples for the support of creativity. The 14 items of the SCALE focus on learning tasks, classroom practices, interactions between students and teachers, and the physical setting and availability of resources. The empirical study of creativity in education has grown in the past 10 years as experts have called for schools to prepare students with the skills that enable them to be innovative and creative. However, much of what has been produced has not been practical or immediately useful for educators because the trend has been to focus on behavior or easily measurable aspects of creativity rather than creative potential. The SCALE offers one way of filling this gap.
Are Diverse Legislatures More Likely to Address Environmental Justice? Evidence from the 50 States

In this paper we argue that greater diversity in state legislatures makes them more likely to address environmental justice because greater diversity improves problem solving on complex tasks and better represents the perspectives of marginalized and excluded groups who are most likely to be affected by these problems. Taking diversity in state legislatures into account helps us to understand why some legislatures are more active on these important problems than others, providing insight into state policymaking as well as the role of diversity in enable groups better to grapple with pressing public problems. It also applies arguments about the impact of descriptive representation to a new area (EJ) and in a new way (focusing on the collective impact of diversity, rather than the distinctive behavior of individual legislators).
Allele exchange at the EPSPS locus confers glyphosate tolerance in cassava.

Effective weed control can protect yields of cassava (Manihot esculenta) storage roots. Farmers could benefit from using herbicide with a tolerant cultivar. We applied traditional transgenesis and gene editing to generate robust glyphosate tolerance in cassava. By comparing promoters regulating expression of transformed 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) genes with various paired amino acid substitutions, we found that strong constitutive expression is required to achieve glyphosate tolerance during in vitro selection and in whole cassava plants. Using strategies that exploit homologous recombination (HR) and nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) DNA repair pathways, we precisely introduced the best-performing allele into the cassava genome, simultaneously creating a promoter swap and dual amino acid substitutions at the endogenous EPSPS locus. Primary EPSPS-edited plants were phenotypically normal, tolerant to high doses of glyphosate, with some free of detectable T-DNA integrations. Our methods demonstrate an editing strategy for creating glyphosate tolerance in crop plants and demonstrate the potential of gene editing for further improvement of cassava.