cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Personal attributes of expert auditors

Abstract Considerable effort has been expended on the development of systems which depend on the identification of experts. Some examples include the development of expert systems, as well as personnel selection, training, and promotion procedures. In each case, a key step is to select and analyze experts. However, little is known about the pattern of personal attributes associated with experts. This study explored the perceptions of expert auditors by three groups: managers/partners, seniors/supervisors, and auditing students. Subjects first listed all the attributes that they felt were important in an auditor. They then evaluated 20 attributes which might be associated with auditors. Unexpectedly, the results for the three groups were quite similar: cognitive/ knowledge attributes were most important, followed by self-presentation/ image attributes, and strategic/decision-making attributes; least important were personal appearance/style characteristics. There were a few differences between the groups, with managers and partners emphasizing how an expert thought over how he/she behaved; seniors and supervisors stressed strategic concerns over style; and auditing students focused on externally observable characteristics. The results have three implications. First, professionals can identify a consistent set of attributes they associate with experts. Second, there are some differences between the perceptions of experts, novices, and naive subjects that could be important. Third, the results have implications for defining and measuring expertise, for developing expert systems, and for establishing training, evaluation, and promotion procedures.
Effects of income distribution on household income

Abstract The paper uses a complete model of price-independent-generalized-linear Engel equations with estimable income distribution effect parameter to compute average household income for twelve mutually exclusive groups of Australian families to highlight the bias of conventional weighted mean income published by national statistical offices for welfare analysis.
A Radiation-Hard CMOS/SOS ALU

A radiation-hard CMOS/SOS technology has been used to fabricate a complex LSI circuit containing over 2200 transistors. The circuit is an eight bit wide arithmetic and logic unit (ALU) slice. This paper describes the results of electrical, temperature, and radiation tests on the ALU circuit. An instruction cycle-time of less than 240 ns was achieved for nominal operation at +11V and 25° C. This time increases to 300 ns at 125° C. After irradiation to 106 rads (Si) under bias, operation was degraded only slightly. The 25° C and 125° C postradiation cycle times were within 320 and 360 ns, respectively. Radiation tolerance from part to part and lot to lot was excellent, thus demonstrating the applicability of radiation hard CMOS/SOS to LSI circuitry.
Quenchofluorometric analysis for fluoranthenic hydrocarbons in the presence of other types of aromatic hydrocarbon

Abstract In this first paper of a series, a new analytical tool is introduced for the analysis of fluorescent molecules—quenchofluorescence analysis. This field of research will have far-reaching ramifications in organic trace analysis. Analytical use is made of the quenching effect in spectrophotofluorometry. Compounds such as anthracene, phenanthrene, pyrene, benz( a )anthracene, benzo( a )pyrene, perylene, etc. , have been found to be non-fluorescent in nitromethane solution, but hydrocarbons containing the fluoranthenic ring are fluorescent. Use has been made of this phenomenon in characterising fluoranthene and benzo( Ar ) fluoranthene in airborne particulates, following column chromatography. The phenomenon has also been used in thin-layer chromatography, directly on the plate.
The worm solution: a chromosome-full of condensin helps gene expression go down.

Dosage compensation in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is achieved by the binding of a condensin-like dosage compensation complex (DCC) to both X chromosomes in hermaphrodites to downregulate gene expression two-fold. Condensin IDC, a sub-part of the DCC, differs from the mitotic condensin I complex by a single subunit, strengthening the connection between dosage compensation and mitotic chromosome condensation. The DCC is targeted to X chromosomes by initial binding to a number of recruiting elements, followed by dispersal or spreading to secondary sites. While the complex is greatly enriched on the X chromosomes, many sites on autosomes also bind the complex. DCC binding does not correlate with DCC-mediated repression, suggesting that the complex acts in a chromosome-wide manner, rather than on a gene-by-gene basis. Worm dosage compensation represents an excellent model system to study how condensin-mediated changes in higher order chromatin organization affect gene expression.
Primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma in a child morphologic, immunocytochemical, and molecular biologic studies

Background. Primary neuroendocrine tumor of the liver is uncommon, and virtually all reported patients with the tumor have been adults. Most of the tumors were carcinoids. The authors report an 8-year-old girl with primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma. Methods. Histologic, ultrastructural, and immuno-cytochemical studies and Southern blot analysis of tumor N-myc DNA were performed in the patient. Results. Histologically, the tumor revealed a characteristic organoid pattern with a spectrum of differentiation varying from well-differentiated carcinoid-like areas to poorly differentiated pleomorphic areas. Ultra-structural features included neurosecretory granules and interdigitating cytoplasmic extensions. The tumor cells showed immunoreactivity to neuron-specific enolase (NSE), S-100 protein, chromogranin, and synaptophysin. No evidence of amplification of tumor N-myc DNA was present. However, the molecular weight of the tumor N-myc DNA (1.8 kb) was significantly lower than the normal control (from normal liver tissue) (2.0 kb). Conclusions. This report documents the occurrence of primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma in a child. Thorough studies and complete clinical evaluation are essential to the establishment of diagnosis. The result of N-myc DNA analysis probably is attributable to deletion of part of the tumor N-myc gene. The clinical implication of this finding is unknown, and additional investigation is warranted.
Effects of preparation and fixation on three quantitative fluorescent cytochemical procedures.

A series of experiments was undertaken in which cells dissociated from the abdominal lymph nodes of mice were lightly centrifuged into slides and fixed either wet or after drying in 70% ethanol, 1% glutaraldehyde, 1% formaldehyde, or neutral formalin. Three fluorescent cytochemical methods were evaluated: staining of DNA with mithramycin; fluorochroming of basic groups of proteins with brilliant sulfaflavine (BSF); and staining of sulfhydryl and disulfide groups with N-(7-dimethylamino-4-methylcoumarinyl)maleimide (DACM). In the case of mithramycin, the best results were obtained after fixation in 70% ethanol without drying. Staining of dried preparations fixed in 1% glutaraldehyde also yielded reasonably consistent results, although the fluorescence was lower, and the variability higher, than in the group fixed without drying in 70% ethanol. The use of fixatives containing formaldehyde resulted in fluorescence values of only about onethird those of the other two groups, and the variability of the data was higher. In material stained with BSF, satisfactory results were obtained in preparations fixed without drying in neutral formalin containing mersalyl acid. Other fixatives could be used, but the resulting coefficients of variation were higher than those of formalin-fixed material. Sulfhydryl to disulfide ratios approaching those expected from biochemical evidence were obtained in DACM-stained material only after fixation without drying in neutral formalin containing mersalyl acid. Inverted sulfhydryl-disulfide ratios were observed in material fixed without drying in 70% ethanol; and in dried metarial fixed in 1% formaldehyde, neutral formalin, or 1% glutaraldehyde.
Respiratory Symptoms and Airway Obstruction in HIV-Infected Subjects in the HAART Era

Background: Prevalence and risk factors for respiratory symptoms and airway obstruction in HIV-infected subjects in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) are unknown. We evaluated respiratory symptoms and measured airway obstruction to identify the impact of HAART and other risk factors on respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function. Methodology/Principal Findings: Two hundred thirty-four HIV-infected adults without acute respiratory symptoms were recruited from an HIV clinic. All subjects were interviewed and performed spirometry. Multivariate linear and logistic regressions were performed to determine predictors of respiratory symptoms, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) percent predicted, and FEV1/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC). Thirty-one percent of subjects reported at least one respiratory symptom. Smoking status (current or former versus never) (odds ratio [OR]=2.7, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.41–5.22, p=0.003), higher log plasma HIV viral levels (OR=1.12, 95%CI=1.02–1.24, p=0.02), and lower FEV1/FVC (OR=1.06 for every 0.01 decrease in FEV1/FVC, 95%CI=1.02–1.14, p=0.001) were independent predictors of respiratory symptoms. Age (p=0.04), pack-year smoking history (p,0.001), previous bacterial pneumonia (p=0.007), and HAART use (p=0.04) were independent predictors of decreased FEV1/FVC. Conclusions/Significance: Respiratory symptoms remain common in HIV-infected subjects, especially in those with a smoking history. Subjects who were older, had a greater pack-year history of smoking, or previous bacterial pneumonia had lower FEV1/FVC ratios. Interestingly, use of HAART was independently associated with a decreased FEV1/FVC, possibly secondary to an immune response to subclinical infections, increased autoimmunity, or other factors associated with HAART use.
Measuring Benchmark Damages in Antitrust Litigation

We compare the two dominant approaches to estimation of benchmark damages in antitrust litigation, the forecasting approach and the dummy variable approach. We give conditions under which the two approaches are equiva- lent and present the results of a small simulation study. during the period in which the antitrust violation is believed to have had an effect (the "impact period") to prices in other markets that are deemed to be reasonably comparable to the market at issue. In contrast, the benchmark approach evalu- ates prices only in the market at issue, comparing prices in the impact period to available prices before and/or after the alleged period of impact (the "control period"). In this paper, we offer a detailed evaluation of the benchmark approach to damages. We have found the benchmark approach to be the most commonly used damages methodology. To focus the analysis, we assume that the antitrust violation at issue involves price fixing. We also assume that the appropriate legal remedy involves overcharges rather than lost profits. 2 Our particular focus is a comparison of the forecasting and dummy variable approaches, which we define in Section 3. Our analysis underscores that these competing approaches to com- puting benchmark damage estimates often yield similar estimates, despite seemingly different implementation schemes. We are not the first to consider the advantages and disadvantages of each of these methodologies. 3 However, we believe many of the results comparing the forecast- ing and dummy variable approaches, while straight- forward, are underappreciated. In order to focus on the central methodological issues, we begin in Section 2 by describing the basic regression framework and defining the object of interest. In Section 3, we discuss alternative versions of the dummy variable approach, offering in the process a suggestion as to how to compare the various methodologies. We also describe the forecasting approach and compare it to the dummy variable approach. Section 4 presents three propositions that directly compare the dummy variable and forecasting approaches. The propo- sitions tend to support the use of the dummy variable approach over the forecasting approach. However, there are particular advantages associated with the forecasting approach, and these are discussed in Section 5. In Section 6, we return to the dummy variable approach, discussing some important model specification issues. In Section 7, we offer an example that illustrates the differences between the various approaches. Section 8 concludes.
A Parallel Hardware Implementation for Motion Estimation for H.264/AVC Standard

Video compression requires high level of computation complexity at every stage especially motion estimation. Recent studies showed the motion estimation module consumes 97% of over all resources. Therefore, it is essential to embed these complex computationally intensive processes on a low power and low-cost single chip giving headway to multimedia systems. This paper demonstrates a hardware architecture, called ParallelMurf for efficient implementation of the Most Used Reference Frame Algorithm (MURFA). The result shows 89.3% improvement in execution time compared with the existing 2-D array structures for hardware implementation for motion estimation in H.264/AVC standard.
Sexing Mature Columbiformes by Cloacal Characters

WHILE there is a pronounced sexual dimorphism or dichromatism in some species of the order Columbiformes, in most others there is not. Until recently we have known of no simple and reliable method for sexing living individuals of these latter species. Various techniques which have been used are: observation of slight quantitative differences in the coloration on the head, neck, and breast of the Mourning Dove, Zenaidura macroura (Petrides, 1951); slight differences in the contour of the head and neck of the domestic pigeon, Columba livia, (Levi, 1941); differences in behavior; and others. For a number of years, sexing by internal examination of gonads (by laparotomy) has been frequently used in the department of Genetics, University of Wisconsin. This is a delicate and time-consuming operation. Iwata (1926) described a method in which differences of the shape of the lips of the vent of Columba livia are used to distinguish the sexes. This technique has not to our knowledge been verifiable in this country (Levi, 1941). The objectives of this paper are three-fold: (1) to describe a simple method for sexing living adult doves and pigeons by cloacal characters and to present data on the reliability of the method; (2) to list the diverse species in which we have tried this method; and (3) to present data from brief experiments which indicate that the development of these characters is under endocrine influence. We believe the method to be quite reliable and as simple to use as the cloacal examination method for sexing ducks (Hochbaum, 1948) or the widely used method of determining the age of birds by the bursa of Fabricius (Gower, 1939).
EFFECT OF MALNUTRITION ON THE ADHERENCE OF SALMONELLA TYPHIMURIUM (ST) TO RAT ENTEROCYTE

The adherence of bacteria to intestinal mucosa is an important initial event in the pathogenesis of enteric infections. Such infections occur frequently in association with undernutrition. We investigated the adherence of two strains of ST to enterocytes from ad-libitum fed and nutrient restricted rats in order to study the effects of nutrient restriction on the adherence of ST to enterocytes. An animal model of malnutrition was produced by feeding young male adult rats 50% of the daily intake in control ad-libitum fed rats. Enterocytes were isolated from proximal and distal small intestinal segments by agitation in isolation medium. Adherence was studied using fimbriated (S7471F) and non-fimbriated (S7471N) strains of ST labelled with 3H-adenine. Labelled bacteria were incubated with freshly isolated enterocytes for 30 min. at 37 C. and the free bacteria were separated from those bound to enterocytes by membrane filtration and washing. The bound bacteria was quantitated by liquid scintillation. Adherence was significantly higher with S7471F both with proximal and distal intestinal enterocytes. There was no significant difference between the malnourished and control rats with respect to degree of adherence despite significant differences in body and organ weights and serum albumin. Prolongation of the period of nutrient restriction (to 12 wks) did not produce any change in pattern of adherence. We conclude that the adherence patterns of these strains of ST to enterocytes are not significantly altered by malnutrition.
Benzodiazepines and drug abuse: Clinical observations in chemically dependent persons before and during abstinence

Abstract Sixty-nine (9.2%) of 750 consecutive persons entering a chemical-dependence treatment hospital had urinary evidence of benzodiazepines, a somewhat higher proportion than in the general adult American population. The 54 subjects in whose urine benzodiazepines, but not the other commonly abused psychoactive drugs, were detected, had varied clinical findings. One had used benzodiazepines only, 38 others were alcoholic benzodiazepine users, and 15 were multiple-drug (including benzodiazepines) users. Of these 54 only 6 (11%) developed major withdrawal symptoms. All 6 had used high doses of benzodiazepines (⩾30 mg of diazepam or equivalent) daily. The risk of major withdrawal symptoms was about 50% for the high benzodiazepines-heavy alcohol group and zero for all other benzodiazepine-consuming patients. While clinical vigilance regarding withdrawal is urged for all benzodiazepine consumers, it is especially important amongst alcoholics, consuming high doses of benzodiazepines.
How does ascorbic acid prevent endothelial dysfunction

Human coronary and peripheral arteries show endothelial dysfunction in a variety of conditions, including atherosclerosis, hypercholesterolemia, smoking, and hypertension. This dysfunction manifests as a loss of endothelium-dependent vasodilation to acetylcholine infusion or sheer stress, and is typically associated with decreased generation of nitric oxide (NO) by the endothelium. Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, when acutely infused or chronically ingested, improves the defective endothelium-dependent vasodilation present in these clinical conditions. The mechanism of the ascorbic acid effect is unknown, although it has been attributed to an antioxidant function of the vitamin to enhance the synthesis or prevent the breakdown of NO. In this review, multiple mechanisms are considered that might account for the ability of ascorbate to preserve NO. These include ascorbate-induced decreases in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation, scavenging of intracellular superoxide, release of NO from circulating or tissue S-nitrosothiols, direct reduction of nitrite to NO, and activation of either endothelial NO synthase or smooth muscle guanylate cyclase. The ability of ascorbic acid supplements to enhance defective endothelial function in human diseases provides a rationale for use of such supplements in these conditions. However, it is first necessary to determine which of the many plausible mechanisms account for the effect, and to ensure that undesirable toxic effects are not present.
Nucleon helicity in pion photoproduction.

Pion-photoproduction data is examined to check for the nucleon-helicity conservation predicted by asymptotic QCD. The differential cross section shows agreement with constituent-counting rules, and polarization data are not in disagreement with conservation of nucleon helicity. However large uncertainties in the polarization measurements do not allow a conclusive statement. The helicity amplitudes from a partial-wave analysis are also examined for helicity conservation. While the amplitudes become small as {ital s} increases, the {ital s} dependence of the helicity-conserving amplitudes is similar to the dependence of the nonconserving amplitudes.
The benefits of data warehousing: why some organizations realize exceptional payoffs

Data warehousing is one of the key developments in the information systems (IS) field. While its benefits are plentiful, some organizations are receiving more significant returns than others. The types of returns can vary in the impact they have on the organization and the ease in which they can be quantified and measured. This article presents a framework that shows how data warehouses can transform an organization; it also offers a compelling explanation for why differences in impact exist. Case studies of data warehousing initiatives at a large manufacturing company (LMC), the Internal Revenue Service, and a financial services company (FSC) are presented and discussed within the context of the framework. The analysis shows that the benefits that each company received can be tied to the way in which it conforms to the framework.
The devastating combination of Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy

A patient with both Charcot–Marie–Tooth (type 1a) disease and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy inherited these from her father and mother, respectively. Either disease alone does not significantly alter life expectancy, but the unusual combination of these two disease processes was devastating and resulted in severe generalized weakness and early death. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 21:788–791, 1998.
Lyn tyrosine kinase regulates thrombopoietin-induced proliferation of hematopoietic cell lines and primary megakaryocytic progenitors

In this study we demonstrate that thrombopoietin (TPO)-stimulated Src family kinases (SFKs) inhibit cellular proliferation and megakaryocyte differentiation. Using the Src kinase inhibitors pyrolopyrimidine 1 and 2 (PP1, PP2), we show that TPO-dependent proliferation of BaF3/Mpl cells was enhanced at concentrations that are specific for SFKs. Similarly, proliferation is increased after introducing a dominant-negative form of Lyn into BaF3/Mpl cells. Murine marrow cells from Lyn-deficient mice or wild-type mice cultured in the presence of the Src inhibitor, PP1, yielded a greater number of mature megakaryocytes and increased nuclear ploidy. Truncation and targeted mutation of the Mpl cytoplasmic domain indicate that Y112 is critical for Lyn activation. Examining the molecular mechanism for this antiproliferative effect, we determined that SFK inhibitors did not affect tyrosine phosphorylation of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), Shc, signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)5, or STAT3. In contrast, pretreatment of cells with PP2 increased Erk1/2 (mitogen-activated protein kinase [MAPK]) phosphorylation and in vitro kinase activity, particularly after prolonged TPO stimulation. Taken together, our results show that Mpl stimulation results in the activation of Lyn kinase, which appears to limit the proliferative response through a signaling cascade that regulates MAPK activity. These data suggest that SFKs modify the rate of TPO-induced proliferation and are likely to affect cell cycle regulation during megakaryocytopoiesis.
Portability of a screener for pediatric bipolar disorder to a diverse setting

Robust screening measures that perform well in different populations could help improve the accuracy of diagnosis of pediatric bipolar disorder. Changes in sampling could influence the performance of items and potentially influence total scores enough to alter the predictive utility of scores. Additionally, creating a brief version of a measure by extracting items from a longer scale might cause differential functioning due to context effects. The authors of current study examined both sampling and context effects of a brief measure of pediatric mania. Caregivers of 813 youths completed the parent-reported version of the General Behavior Inventory (PGBI) at an academic medical center sample enriched for mood disorders. Caregivers of 481 youths completed the PGBI at a community mental health center. Caregivers of 799 youths completed 10 items extracted from the PGBI at a community setting. Caregivers of 159 youths completed both versions of the PGBI and a semistructured diagnostic interview. Differential item functioning indicated that across samples some items functioned differently; however, total observed scores were similar across all levels of mania. Receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated that the 10 extracted items discriminated bipolar disorder from nonbipolar behavior as well as when the items were embedded within the full measure. Findings suggest that the extracted items perform similarly to the embedded items in the community setting. Measurement properties appear sufficiently robust across settings to support clinical applications.
Cooperative template-directed assembly of mesoporous metal-organic frameworks.

Despite great efforts, the development of a reliable way to assemble mesoporous metal–organic frameworks (mesoMOFs) remains a challenge. In this work, we have designed a cooperative template system, comprising a surfactant (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) and a chelating agent (citric acid), for the generation of a mesoMOF containing a hierarchical system of mesopores interconnected with microspores. The surfactant molecules form micelles and the chelating agent bridges the MOF and the micelles, making self-assembly and crystal growth proceed under the direction of the cooperative template. However, when the surfactant or the chelating agent was applied individually, no mesoMOF was obtained.
Histopathology of cerebral toxoplasmosis in human immunodeficiency virus infection: A comparison between patients with early-onset and late-onset acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

We reviewed the histological features of untreated toxoplasmosis in 18 cases with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), eight of which were surgical biopsies and 10 of which were autopsy specimens. The results were compared according to the clinical status of the patient at the time the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis was made (early-onset v late-onset AIDS) and according to the source of the specimen (surgical biopsy specimen v autopsy specimen). Cerebral toxoplasmosis was the AIDS-defining illness in half of the cases (six surgical biopsy specimens and three autopsy specimens). Inflammation in these cases was moderate in 44% and severe in 56%. Fibrous capsules were found in five cases. Lymphocytes and plasma cells were more prominent than neutrophils. Cerebral toxoplasmosis developed in or was part of the terminal AIDS illness in the remaining nine cases (two surgical biopsy specimens and seven autopsy specimens). In this group inflammation was sparse in 44%, moderate in 55%, and severe in only 11%. Fibrous capsules were usually absent and neutrophils were the predominant cell type. Comparisons between surgical biopsy specimens and autopsy specimens showed moderate to severe inflammation and frequent fibrous encapsulation in all of the former specimens but only in those autopsy specimens in which toxoplasmosis was the initial manifestation of AIDS. Thus, this study demonstrates varied neuropathological patterns of untreated cerebral toxoplasmosis in patients with AIDS and correlates the inflammatory response in the brain with the clinical stage of the patient's human immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV) infection. Inflammation and fibrous encapsulation were common only in patients with early-onset AIDS in whom cerebral toxoplasmosis was the first manifestation of the illness. This study highlights important differences between the histology of this infection at surgical biopsy and at autopsy, and stresses the need to consider toxoplasma as a potential cause of encapsulated brain abscesses.
Federal lending and aggregate economic activity

Attention to federal activity in credit markets is typically focused on the government's role as a borrower. In contrast, scant attention is paid to its equally large and dominant role as a lender. This paper evaluates the aggregate impact of federal lending activity within the framework of a vector autoregressive representation of the US macroeconomy. The empirical regularities uncovered suggest that aggregate federal lending activity does not have a net positive impact on output.
Incomplete Palmitate Oxidation: Possible Source of Human Myopathy

• A study of palmitate oxidation in 200 consecutive human muscle biopsy specimens showed 14 patients in whom there was abnormal, incomplete palmitate oxidation when the rate of oxidation of palmitate14C (ul) was compared with that of palmitate14C (at carbon 1). Five patients had denervation as a primary diagnosis, and the remaining nine had a primary muscle disease. Of this latter group, six had clinical similarities, including proximal weakness, necrotic fibers on muscle biopsy, and extreme elevations of serum creatine kinase. With one exception, lipid storage was not part of the syndrome. The possibility of incomplete palmitate oxidation due to a defect in β-oxidation producing a human myopathy is discussed.
Enhanced grain growth of phosphorus‐doped polycrystalline silicon by titanium silicide formation

The influence of silicide reaction on the grain growth behavior of phosphorus‐doped polycrystalline silicon has been studied. Intrinsic and phosphorus‐doped polycrystalline silicon, with and without evaporated titanium overlayer, were prepared by low pressure chemical vapor deposition on thermally grown SiO2 on silicon wafer. These samples were then annealed in He ambient at 700 °C for various time. The Rutherford backscattering spectrum showed that TiSi2 formed completely after 30 min anneal. Cross‐sectional transmission electron microscopy showed that Kirkendall voids exist at the interface between TiSi2 and polycrystalline silicon, indicating that silicon is the predominant diffusing species. Enhanced grain growth as a result of silicide reaction was observed in phosphorus‐doped polycrystalline silicon. The enhanced grain growth of polycrystalline silicon is suggested to be due to the redistribution of dopant, analogous to the alloying and dealloying processes in diffusion induced grain boundary migration.
Validated Prediction of the Strength Size Effect in Polycrystalline Silicon Using the Three‐Parameter Weibull Function

It has recently been shown that a three-parameter Weibull function with a large threshold strength of ≈2 GPa is needed to accurately describe the failure strength statistics of micromachined polycrystalline silicon samples. Here, we explore how to apply this function to predict strength size effects over a size range of 100. A two-parameter function is unsatisfactory in predicting the size effect. If a three-parameter Weibull fit to only the largest specimen is used, the prediction also does not satisfactorily agree with strength data in smaller specimens. The prediction is greatly improved if the two largest specimens, a factor of 10 different in size, are used for fitting. It is further demonstrated that the threshold strength depends on geometry in notched samples due to their large stress gradients.
Quantifying CFSE label decay in flow cytometry data

We developed a series of models for the label decay in cell proliferation assays when the intracellular dye carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE) is used as a staining agent. Data collected from two healthy patients were used to validate the models and to compare the models with the Akiake Information Criteria. The distinguishing features of multiple decay rates in the data are readily characterized and explained via time dependent decay models such as the logistic and Gompertz models.
Drug Use in Sports: A Veritable Arena for Pharmacists

ABSTRACT Objective To describe opportunities and obligations for pharmacists regarding doping control in sports, and to present information and resources on drugs and dietary supplements that are popular among athletes for performance enhancement. Data Sources Sports medicine journals and articles in English obtained from Medline (1966 through June 2003) using the search terms doping in sports, drugs in sports, dietary supplements, sports, amphetamine, stimulants, ephedrine, ephedra, caffeine, anabolic steroids, human growth hormone, erythropoietin, darbepoetin, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone, and creatine. Information was also obtained from sports-governing agencies, such as the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the International Olympic Committee. Study Selection Studies and reports that were credible and scientifically sound that evaluated the ergogenic effects of drugs and dietary supplements. Data Extraction By the author. Data Synthesis Pharmacists can participate in doping control programs in a number of ways. Pharmacists also have an obligation when counseling, advising, and treating athletes to help them avoid banned substances. Athletes use a host of drugs for their performance-enhancing effects, many of which are banned by major sports-governing bodies. Myriad dietary supplements are marketed to athletes, claiming to have ergogenic effects. Some of these popular supplements have proven performance-enhancing effects, while others do not. Adverse effects of these drugs and dietary supplements are discussed. Conclusion A variety of drugs and dietary supplements have proven performance-enhancing effects in athletes. However, many of these substances have adverse effects and are banned by various sports-governing organizations. Pharmacists can play a key role in participating in doping control programs, and can prevent athletes from inadvertently consuming a banned substance.
The relationship between soil heterotrophic activity, soil dissolved organic carbon (DOC) leachate, and catchment‐scale DOC export in headwater catchments

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from terrestrial sources forms the major component of the annual carbon budget in many headwater streams. In high-elevation catchments in the Rocky Mountains, DOC originates in the upper soil horizons and is flushed to the stream primarily during spring snowmelt. To identify controls on the size of the mobile soil DOC pool available to be transported during the annual melt event, we measured soil DOC production across a range of vegetation communities and soil types together with catchment DOC export in paired watersheds in Summit County, Colorado. Both surface water DOC concentrations and watershed DOC export were lower in areas where pyrite weathering resulted in lower soil pH. Similarly, the amount of DOC leached from organic soils was significantly smaller (p < 0.01) at sites having low soil pH. Scaling point source measurements of DOC production and leaching to the two basins and assuming only vegetated areas contribute to DOC production, we calculated that the amount of mobile DOC available to be leached to surface water during melt was 20.3 g C m−2 in the circumneutral basin and 17.8 g C m−2 in the catchment characterized by pyrite weathering. The significant (r2=0.91 and p < 0.05), linear relationship between over-winter CO2 flux and the amount of DOC leached from upper soil horizons during snowmelt suggests that the mechanism for the difference in production of mobile DOC was heterotrophic processing of soil carbon in snow-covered soil. Furthermore, this strong relationship between over-winter heterotrophic activity and the size of the mobile DOC pool present in a range of soil and vegetation types provides a likely mechanism for explaining the interannual variability of DOC export observed in high-elevation catchments.
MDC: a software tool for developing MPEG applications

The paper presents a modularization method for the design of MPEG decoding software. Compared to the traditional MPEG decoder architecture, the architecture obtained from the modularization method can effectively improve the flexibility and reusability of MPEG decoding software without affecting the speed performance. Using this design approach, the paper presents MPEG Developing Classes (MDC), a software tool for developing MPEG video applications. The feedback from users of MDC shows that MDC is flexible in use and easy to understand. It allows users to develop their specific decoders without going into details of MPEG.
Plastics Engineering Education at the University of Lowell

Uniqueness Of Plastics As Materials Starting with the Hyatt brothers’ development of the plastic billiard ball in 1868, the plastics industry has grown exponentially during the present century, until it now occupies more than 5% of the industrial work force. The rapidly growing importance of plastic materials is a result of the many unique qualities they offer, which distinguish them from conventional structural materials such as metals, ceramics, wood, leather, textiles, and paper. Among these unique qualities are generally easy processability, light weight, wide range from rigidity to flexibility, toughness, wide range from adhesion to lubricity, abrasion resistance, wide useful temperature range, grades with high resistance to burning, electrical and thermal insulation, electrical conductivity when desired, wide range of color and appearance from highly transparent to completely opaque, weather resistance, chemical resistance to most inorganics and many organics, and often low to moderate cost.
Observability for identification of cancer cell cycle and proliferative kinetic state

The observability condition, which describes the cancer cell cycle kinetic state, is developed for determination of the initial cell age vectors. This condition, in conjunction with experimental cell size distribution, will assist in rapid determination of the cancer cell cycle kinetic state.
Mice lacking dopamine D1 receptors express normal lithium chloride-induced conditioned taste aversion for salt but not sucrose.

Conditioned taste aversion (CTA), is a form of Pavlovian learning wherein a novel flavour is powerfully associated with subsequent feelings of illness, and is afterwards avoided. In rats, pharmacological blockade of dopamine D1 receptors has been reported to prevent the expression of a CTA to the sweet taste of sucrose or saccharine. We used genetically modified mice to determine whether dopamine D1 receptors are necessary for the expression of a CTA. Food-deprived mice lacking the dopamine D1 receptor (D1r - / - ) did not express a LiCl-induced (125 or 254 mg/kg) CTA to the sweet taste of 0.5 M sucrose, in agreement with previous pharmacological studies. However, water-deprived D1r - / - mice did express normal LiCl-induced (40,150 and 254 mg/kg) CTA to a salty taste (0.2 M NaCI). Our results suggest that activation of D1 receptors might contribute to the strength of an aversive gustatory association, but might not be required for the formation of a CTA in general.
Hunger and light level alter response to bait by Pacific halibut: laboratory analysis of detection, location and attack

Laboratory experiments with Pacific halibut Hippoglossus stenolepis revealed that hunger level had a significant effect on the first detection of bait, the number of baits located and attacked, the time required to locate and attack baits and handling times. In all cases, feeding motivation and efficiency increased with hunger. Light level influenced general locomotory activity and location and attacks on baits, but not detection or handling times. The effect of light was interactive with fish hunger level. Hungry fish could locate and consume baits in all light levels, ranging from daylight conditions to near darkness (10−8 µmoles photons m−2 s−1), but location, attack and handling times were all significantly elevated in low light conditions, and attack rates were significantly reduced. In the dark, only 50% of the baits were located and only 17% were attacked. Performance metrics were relatively similar among three higher light treatments (10−5, 10−3 and 10−1 µmoles photons m−2 s−1) where bait location and attack were more efficient. Active space and effective area associated with baited fishing gear will vary because hunger and light levels affect variation in bait detection, locomotion and feeding behaviour. Consequently, fishing activity and stock assessments that depend upon bait may be compromised by spatial and temporal variation in prey abundance, time of day, season, depth and other environmental variables that influence feeding motivation and efficiency.
Cumulative trauma exposure and high risk behavior in adolescence: Findings from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network Core Data Set.

Although links between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and problems in adulthood are wellestablished, less is known regarding links between exposure to trauma during childhood and adolescence and high-risk behavior in adolescence. We tested the hypothesis that cumulative exposure to up to 20 different types of trauma and bereavement/loss incrementally predicts high-risk adolescent behavior beyond demographic variables. Adolescents reporting exposure to at least 1 type of trauma (n 3,785; mean age 15.3 years; 62.7% girls) were selected from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network Core Data Set (CDS). Logistic regression analyses tested associations among both demographic variables and number of types of trauma and loss exposure as predictors, and 9 types of high-risk adolescent behavior and functional impairment (attachment difficulties, skipping school, running away from home, substance abuse, suicidality, criminality, self-injury, alcohol use, and victim of sexual exploitation) as criterion variables. As hypothesized, hierarchical logistic regression analyses revealed that each additional type of trauma exposure significantly increased the odds ratios for each problem behavior (range 1.06–1.22) after accounting for demographic variables. Some demographic variables (female gender, public insurance eligibility, and older age) were also associated with increased likelihood for some outcomes. Study findings extend previously identified links between childhood trauma and problems later in life to include high-risk behavior and functional impairment during adolescence. The findings underscore the need for a trauma-informed public health approach to systematic screening, prevention, and early intervention for traumatized and bereaved youth in child service systems.
An Integrated Literature Review on the Adaptive Behavior of Individuals With Asperger Syndrome

The diagnostic definition of Asperger syndrome (AS) is surrounded by debate and controversy, because it does not address many of the broader characteristics of individuals with AS. For example, neither the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, nor the International Classification of Diseases , 10th revision, includes adaptive behavior deficits as part of the diagnosis of AS, yet many studies have reported adaptive behavior problems in people with AS. This study reviews eight empirical investigations of the adaptive behavior of individuals with AS in an effort to assess current research findings.
The pattern of US antidumping: the path from initial filing to WTO dispute settlement

This paper examines recent trends in the US antidumping process. We trace the experience of different groups of countries at each stage of the investigation process and through follow-up activity in disputes initiated at the GATT/WTO. The data reveal that lower income developing countries are more likely to be targeted, less likely to settle cases, more likely to confront high dumping duties, and less likely to bring cases to the WTO. We argue that differences in administrative and institutional “capacity” may be a contributing factor that explains the observed bias facing developing countries, in addition to the other hypotheses that have been offered in the literature, such as higher protection and limited retaliatory ability.
Overcompensation in Response to Herbivory in Arabidopsis thaliana: The Role of Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase and the Oxidative Pentose-Phosphate Pathway

That some plants benefit from being eaten is counterintuitive, yet there is now considerable evidence demonstrating enhanced fitness following herbivory (i.e., plants can overcompensate). Although there is evidence that genetic variation for compensation exists, little is known about the genetic mechanisms leading to enhanced growth and reproduction following herbivory. We took advantage of the compensatory variation in recombinant inbred lines of Arabidopsis thaliana, combined with microarray and QTL analyses to assess the molecular basis of overcompensation. We found three QTL explaining 11.4, 10.1, and 26.7% of the variation in fitness compensation, respectively, and 109 differentially expressed genes between clipped and unclipped plants of the overcompensating ecotype Columbia. From the QTL/microarray screen we uncovered one gene that plays a significant role in overcompensation: glucose-6-phosphate-1-dehydrogenase (G6PDH1). Knockout studies of Transfer-DNA (T-DNA) insertion lines and complementation studies of G6PDH1 verify its role in compensation. G6PDH1 is a key enzyme in the oxidative pentose-phosphate pathway that plays a central role in plant metabolism. We propose that plants capable of overcompensating reprogram their transcriptional activity by up-regulating defensive genes and genes involved in energy metabolism and by increasing DNA content (via endoreduplication) with the increase in DNA content feeding back on pathways involved in defense and metabolism through increased gene expression.
Lithium promotes neural precursor cell proliferation: evidence for the involvement of the non-canonical GSK-3β-NF-AT signaling

Lithium, a drug that has long been used to treat bipolar disorder and some other human pathogenesis, has recently been shown to stimulate neural precursor growth. However, the involved mechanism is not clear. Here, we show that lithium induces proliferation but not survival of neural precursor cells. Mechanistic studies suggest that the effect of lithium mainly involved activation of the transcription factor NF-AT and specific induction of a subset of proliferation-related genes. While NF-AT inactivation by specific inhibition of its upstream activator calcineurin antagonized the effect of lithium on the proliferation of neural precursor cells, specific inhibition of the NF-AT inhibitor GSK-3β, similar to lithium treatment, promoted neural precursor cell proliferation. One important function of lithium appeared to increase inhibitory phosphorylation of GSK-3β, leading to GSK-3β suppression and subsequent NF-AT activation. Moreover, lithium-induced proliferation of neural precursor cells was independent of its role in inositol depletion. These findings not only provide mechanistic insights into the clinical effects of lithium, but also suggest an alternative therapeutic strategy for bipolar disorder and other neural diseases by targeting the non-canonical GSK-3β-NF-AT signaling.
Naltrexone Decreases Heavy Drinking Rates in Smoking Cessation Treatment: An Exploratory Study

Background: There is mixed support for the efficacy of the opioid antagonist naltrexone in the treatment of nicotine dependence. One potential unexplored mechanism underlying naltrexone’s effects in smoking cessation may be in its ability to reduce alcohol consumption. Methods: Alcohol consumption and liver enzyme levels (aspartate aminotransferase and alanine transaminase) were examined in a sample of 78 nonalcoholic social drinking smokers (34 naltrexone, 44 placebo) enrolled in a double-blind randomized clinical trial of naltrexone in smoking cessation. Naltrexone or placebo began 3 days prior to the quit date (25 mg daily) and continued for 8 weeks (50 mg daily). All participants received nicotine patches and behavioral counseling up through 4 weeks after the quit date. Results: Naltrexone significantly reduced weekly heavy drinking rates. This effect was associated with greater nausea and pill taking adherence within the naltrexone group. Within heavy drinkers, naltrexone also directionally improved smoking quit rates compared with placebo. Liver enzyme levels did not differ during treatment with naltrexone compared with placebo. Conclusions: Naltrexone may reduce the frequency of heavy drinking in nonalcoholics attempting to quit smoking. Further, naltrexone may preferentially improve smoking quit rates within heavy drinkers who smoke, and further investigation in larger sample sizes is warranted.