cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
exceRpt: A Comprehensive Analytic Platform for Extracellular RNA Profiling

Small RNA sequencing has been widely adopted to study the diversity of extracellular RNAs (exRNAs) in biofluids; however, the analysis of exRNA samples can be challenging: they are vulnerable to contamination and artifacts from different isolation techniques, present in lower concentrations than cellular RNA, and occasionally of exogenous origin. To address these challenges, we present exceRpt, the exRNA-processing toolkit of the NIH Extracellular RNA Communication Consortium (ERCC). exceRpt is structured as a cascade of filters and quantifications prioritized based on one's confidence in a given set of annotated RNAs. It generates quality control reports and abundance estimates for RNA biotypes. It is also capable of characterizing mappings to exogenous genomes, which, in turn, can be used to generate phylogenetic trees. exceRpt has been used to uniformly process all ∼3,500 exRNA-seq datasets in the public exRNA Atlas and is available from genboree.org and github.gersteinlab.org/exceRpt.
Campaign of fear and consumption: problematizing gender-based marketing of weapons

This paper problematizes the fear-based marketing of guns and tasers to both men and women as a function of neoliberalism’s emphasis on consumption as the solution to social problems. Men are marke...
Prevalence of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ Haplotypes in Potato Tubers and Psyllid Vectors in Idaho From 2012 to 2018

‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ (Lso) is an uncultured, phloem-associated bacterium causing a severe tuber disease in potato called zebra chip (ZC). Seven haplotypes of Lso have been described in different hosts, with haplotypes A and B found associated with infections in potato and tomato. In the field, Lso is transmitted by the potato psyllid (Bactericera cockerelli), and between 2011 and 2015, a significant change in Lso haplotype prevalence was previously reported in Idaho: from exclusively A haplotype found in tested psyllids in 2012 to mainly B haplotype found in collected psyllids in 2015. However, prevalence of Lso haplotypes in Idaho was not analyzed in potato tubers exhibiting symptoms of ZC. To fill in this knowledge gap, prevalence of Lso haplotypes was investigated in potato tubers harvested in southern Idaho between 2012 and 2018, and it was found to change from exclusively A haplotype in the 2012 season to an almost equal A and B haplotype distribution during the 2016 season. During the same period, haplotype distribution of Lso in psyllid vectors collected using yellow sticky traps also changed, but in psyllids, the shift from A haplotype of Lso to B haplotype was complete, with no A haplotype detected in 2016 to 2018. The changes in the haplotype prevalence of the Lso circulating in potato fields in southern Idaho may be, among other factors, responsible for a decrease in the ZC incidence in Idaho potato fields between an outbreak of the disease in 2012 and a very low level of ZC afterward.
Community Engagement Through Partnerships: Lessons Learned from a Decade of Full-service Community School Implementation

AbstractImproving performance in an environment often tested by intermingled social problems, including poverty, racial isolation, cultural clashes between teachers and students, and school funding...
A Methodology Based on Reduced Complexity Algorithm for System Applications using Microprocessors

The paper considers a methodology on the analysis and design of a minimum mean-square error criterion linear system incorporating a tapped delay line (TDL) where all the full-precision multiplications in the TDL are constrained to be powers of two. A linear equalizer based on the dispersive and additive noise channel is presented. This microprocessor implementation with optimized power of two TDL coefficients achieves a system performance comparable to the optimum linear equalization with full-precision multiplications for an input data rate of 300 baud.
EGFR Targeted Therapy

The identification of sensitizing mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the development of EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR TKIs) to target these mutations have dramatically improved outcomes for this subset of patients. For patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC, the use of EGFR TKIs is associated with improved efficacy and quality of life compared to chemotherapy. The latest generation EGFR TKI, osimertinib, is highly effective in treating acquired resistance due to the T790M mutation as well as treating central nervous system metastases. As first-line treatment, its use has led to the longest median progression-free survival to date for patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC. Acquired resistance to osimertinib is caused by multiple mechanisms, and numerous trials are currently underway to address this. Future studies should also aim to address the historically refractory EGFR exon 20 insertions, and current agents under study are promising.
Análisis de errores y de la interacción oral como bases para una propuesta didáctica en la clase de conversación. Primeros resultados

El objetivo de este articulo es doble. En primer lugar, describe los resultados preliminares de los errores linguisticos y la especificidad sociolinguistica hallada en un corpus oral formado por 20 conversaciones diadicas cara a cara en espanol. Cuarenta estudiantes universitarios de espanol como lengua extranjera (ELE) de cuarto curso, procedentes de cuatro universidades taiwanesas, entablaron 5 minutos de conversacion que fueron grabadas en audio y transcritas. Los resultados preliminares muestran que la competencia comunicativa de los estudiantes presenta errores linguisticos significativos y relevantes dificultades durante la interaccion oral. Estos ultimos, debidos a la falta de conocimiento de los turnos de habla, interrupciones y turnos de apoyo. El segundo objetivo de esta investigacion es sugerir las bases de una aproximacion metodologica para la clase de conversacion en ELE. De manera resumida, la adquisicion de la competencia comunicativa en la lengua meta deberia proceder de un doble acercamiento didactico que combine la ensenanza explicita de la competencia linguistica, y enfatice la interaccion oral por medio de un enfoque directo de la conversacion.
The Association Between Family Social Network Size and Healthy Lifestyle Factors: Results from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL)

We examined associations of central family (i.e., children, parents, in-laws) social network size with healthy lifestyle factors (i.e., favorable body mass index, physical activity, diet, alcohol use, smoking). Using data on 15,511 Hispanics/Latinos 18–74 years old from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos, multivariable adjusted survey logistic regression was used to compute associations of social network size with healthy lifestyle factors. A one-unit higher total of central family size was associated with lower odds of healthy body mass index (OR 0.90; 95% CI 0.86–0.93) and having all five healthy lifestyle factors (OR 0.90; 95% CI 0.85–0.96). Findings suggest familial structural social support may contribute to healthy lifestyle factors and differ based on the type of relationship among Hispanics/Latinos.
Time series analysis of programmer's EEG for debug state classification

Appropriate support for debugging contributes to efficient software development. Several previous studies used bio information such as brain activity to classify the inner-state of programmers without any interruption. In this paper, we measure programmer's brain waves while they comprehend the source code. In an experiment, we analyze difference of time-series brain wave features between success/failure for tasks involving source code comprehension and bug judgement. The result of the experiment showed the participants who successfully understand source code significantly increased power spectrum of α and β wave with the time passage.
Ten strategies for a successful transition to remote learning: Lessons learned with a flipped course

Transitioning from in-person to remote learning can present challenges for both the instructional team and the students. Here, we use our course "Biodiversity in the Age of Humans" to describe how we adapted tools and strategies designed for a flipped classroom to a remote learning format. Using anonymous survey data collected from students who attended the course either in-person (2019) or remotely (2020), we quantify student expectations and experiences and compare these between years. We summarize our experience and provide ten "tips" or recommendations for a transition to remote learning, which we divide into three categories: (a) precourse instructor preparation; (b) outside of class use of online materials; and (c) during class student engagement. The survey results indicated no negative impact on student learning during the remote course compared to in-person instruction. We found that communicating with students and assessing specific needs, such as access to technology, and being flexible with the structure of the course, simplified the transition to remote instruction. We also found that short, pre-recorded videos that introduce subject materials were among the most valuable elements for student learning. We hope that instructors of undergraduate ecology and evolution courses can use these recommendations to help establish inclusive online learning communities that empower students to acquire conceptual knowledge and develop scientific inquiry and literacy skills.
Nonessential Businesses and Liability Waivers in the Time of COVID-19

States are gradually reopening after months of lockdown. However, the risk of exposure to the deadly COVID-19 virus still remains. While states would like to have the economy up and running, the price that small businesses may be forced to pay following possible coronavirus personal injury lawsuits may drive them out of business. Nonessential businesses, such as dine-in restaurants, will turn to waivers of liability to insulate themselves from COVID-19 related liability: an area known as assumption of risk. This essay argues that in this climate of crisis, and due to the invisible nature of the virus, waivers are an inadequate tool to immunize small nonessential businesses from unwarranted tort liability. Instead of private contracts, limited legislation should address the competing legitimate concerns of both businesses and their customers by laying out mandatory minimum safety guidelines to ensure safety compliance, while insulating businesses who comply with the measures from COVID-19-related ordinary negligence lawsuits. Such legislative intervention, however, should not address the employer-employee relationship.
Milestone Learning Trajectories of Residents at Five Anesthesiology Residency Programs

Construct: Every six months, residency programs report their trainees’ Milestones Level achievement to the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Milestones should enable the...
Impact of an EHR-generated NICU rounding report on residents’ workflow and quality of care.

Background: Physicians’ computer time in the U.S. is increasing. Over the years we have observed in our NICU a decrease in the amount of bedside time before rounds and an increase in the time performing computer tasks that have high administrative but low academic value for our residents. An EHR-generated rounding report is an informatics tool that can save time by gathering data from the patients’ electronic record and organizing it into one report. NICUs are a data dense service with lots of calculations and numbers to collect every day. We conducting …
Question: ‘how about dinner?’ Answer: ‘’ what have you just agreed to?

The modern day use of emojis and emoticons has become so prevalent that it is now a new language and form of communication which must be legally acknowledged and integrated into our legal system. O...
Cytomorphic Electronic Systems: A review and perspective

The boltzmann-exponential thermodynamic laws govern the noisy molecular flux in chemical reactions as well as the noisy subthreshold electron current flux in transistors. These common mathematical laws enable one to map and simulate arbitrary stochastic biochemical reaction networks in highly efficient cytomorphic systems built on subthreshold analog circuits. Such simulations can accurately and automatically model noisy, nonlinear, asynchronous, stiff, and nonmodular feedback dynamics in interconnected networks in physical circuits. The scaling in simulation time for stochastic networks with the number of reactions or molecules is constant in cytomorphic systems. By contrast, it grows rapidly in digital systems, which are not parallelizable. Therefore, cytomorphic systems enable large-scale supercomputing systems-biology simulations of arbitrary and highly computationally intensive biochemical reaction networks that can nevertheless be compiled via digitally programmable parameters and connectivity.
Attitudes toward and beliefs about the use of a dental diagnostic terminology: A survey of dental care providers in a dental practice

Abstract Background Attitudes and views are critical to the adoption of innovation. Although there have been broadening calls for a standardized dental diagnostic terminology, little is known about the views of private practice dental team members regarding the adoption of such a terminology. Methods The authors developed a survey by using validated questions identified through literature review. Domain experts’ input allowed for further modifications. The authors administered the final survey electronically to 814 team members at a multioffice practice based in the US Pacific Northwest. Results Response proportion was 92%. The survey had excellent reliability (Cronbach α coefficient = 0.87). Results suggested that participants showed, in general, positive attitudes and beliefs about using a standardized diagnostic terminology in their practices. Additional written comments by participants highlighted the potential for improved communication with use of the terminology. Conclusions Dental care providers and staff in 1 multioffice practice showed positive attitudes about the use of a diagnostic terminology; specifically, they believed it would improve communication between the dentist and patient, as well as among providers, while expressing some concerns about whether using standardized dental diagnostic terms helps clinicians to deliver better dental care. Practical Implications As the dental profession is advancing toward the use of standardized diagnostic terminology, successful implementation will require that dental team leaders prepare their teams by gauging their attitude about the use of such a terminology.
Introducing Japanese Religion

1. Encountering the Japanese religious world 2. The past in the present: vignettes of Japanese spiritual life 3. The way of the kami: Shinto then and now. Interlude: introduction to Buddhism 5. Magic mountains and the old court: Heian Buddhism and its culture 6. Warrior culture, simple faith: the Kamakura Buddhist reformation 7. Swords and satori: Zen and its culture 8. Christ and Confucius: the West arrives, and then Japan turns inward 9. The rising sun and the dark valley: from the Meiji Restoration until 1945 10. Chanting and dancing: Shugendo and the "new religions" of Japan 11. Pilgrimages: religion in Japan 1945 to the present
Electro-thermal Simulations of Strained-Si MOSFETs under ESD conditions

Electro-thermal characteristics of strained-Si MOSFETs operating in high-current, high temperature regimes were investigated using device/circuit mixed mode simulations. The material parameters of strained-Si were calibrated for device simulations. Especially the phonon mean-free-path of strained-Si with high electric fields was estimated based on a full-band Monte Carlo device simulation. Despite the low thermal conductivity of buried SiGe layers, strained-Si devices show superior Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) protection capability compared to unstrained-Si (bulkSi) devices due to the high bipolar current gain and increased impact ionization rate.
Longevity in Second Life

User retention is important to the success of online social media, particularly in virtual world settings where users shape one another’s online experience. We study a rich set of variables, including social network and group membership, chatting, and transactions, in order to predict which users will stay and which ones will leave. We find that simple variables directly measuring the intensity and diversity of a user’s interaction with others are most predictive.
Trauma of the Heart: Augmenting the Family Paradigm to Stem the Spread of HIV/AIDS and to Facilitate Healing and Recovery in the Wake of HIV/AIDS

This article briefly reflects on the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the African American community. The article suggests an alternative paradigm that views the high-risk behaviors that contribute to the spread of the virus as a reaction to ‘trauma of the heart’ as opposed to viewing the epidemic solely in terms of a lack of HIV and sexually transmitted disease awareness. It further suggests a pastoral intervention of expanding the paradigm of family beyond the classical nuclear construct to family as a system of individuals committed to embracing and ‘adopting’ individuals who have experienced trauma of the heart. This augmented understanding of family might provide an alternative to the high-risk behaviors that individuals may engage in during the search for affirmation, which all too often may contribute to the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
Flow Structure Identification for Nonlinear Dynamical Systems via Finite-Time Lyapunov Analysis

Identifying and characterizing geometric structure in the flow of a nonlinear dynamical system can facilitate understanding, model simplification, and solution approximation. The approach addressed in this paper uses information from finite-time Lyapunov exponents and vectors associated with the tangent linear dynamics. We refer to this approach as finite-time Lyapunov analysis (FTLA). FTLA identifies the potential for flow structure based on the stability and timescales implied by the spectrum of finite-time Lyapunov exponents. The corresponding Lyapunov vectors provide a basis for representing a splitting of the tangent space at phase points consistent with the splitting of the spectrum. A key property that makes FTLA viable is the exponential convergence of the splitting as the finite time increases. Tangency conditions for the vector field are used to determine points on manifolds of interest. The benefits of the FTLA approach are the dynamical model need not be in a special normal form, the manifolds of interest need not be attracting nor of known dimension, and the manifolds need not be associated with a fixed point or periodic orbit. After a brief review of FTLA, it is applied to spacecraft stationkeeping around a libration point in the circular restricted three-body problem. This application requires locating the stable and unstable subspaces at points on periodic and aperiodic orbits. For the periodic case, the FTLA subspaces are shown to agree with the Floquet subspaces; for the quasi-periodic case, the accuracy of the FTLA subspaces is demonstrated by simulation.
Chapter 5. Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors: Molecular Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacology

Publisher Summary The pharmacology of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) has been intensively researched. The current interest in the medicinal chemistry aspects of nAChRs is because, in part, of perceived beneficial effects of nicotine in the central nervous system (CNS) disorders, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, and to notable advances in the molecular biology of these receptor complexes. This chapter discusses the nAChR medicinal chemistry efforts till date focusing primarily on the design of ligands interacting at the acetylcholine binding site and the future of this field in which the potential to design safe, effective new therapies is closely linked to a growing knowledge of the existence of discrete receptor subtypes and their relationship to the physiological disorders. The therapeutic potential of selective nAChR agonists today is reflective of the situation of 5-HT medicinal chemistry a decade ago. There are multiple receptor subtypes, it is clearly possible to design selective agonists (and antagonists), an old drug is in Phase II clinical trials, and the first of the newer drugs has recently entered the clinic. Furthermore, there is a growing understanding of the physiological and pharmacological effects of the drugs acting at nAChRs. The challenge today lies on several fronts. First, are the localization and characterization of endogenous receptor subtypes and the need to demonstrate the link between the receptor subtypes and particular diseases or physiological functions. Second, is the development of cell-based functional assays in which physiologically relevant, recombinant receptor complexes are used for drug screening and characterization. These multimeric receptor complexes present a significantly greater challenge to the molecular and cellular biologists than the G -protein linked serotonin receptors. Finally, the structure–activity relationship studies need to be developed for each receptor subtype and therapeutically useful compounds must be designed and synthesized.
A note on optimal control of a queuing system with two heterogeneous servers

Probabilistic arguments are given to establish the results of that paper. The approach is simpler than the policy iteration method originally used and could be useful for similar problems.
Partial adaptation of taste

Electrophysiological recordings from the chorda tympani nerve of the rat were obtained during prolonged taste stimulation by sodium chloride (NaCl) solutions. The response consists of two phases: an initial transient response followed by a brief decline to a maintained steady state activity that shows little further decrement during 5 min. or longer of recording. The level of sustained discharge is determined by the concentration of the taste solution. This contrasts with complete adaptation observed in human psychophysical experiments, where all taste sensations disappear within a minute or less of steady application of a saline solution.
Relationship of neuropsychological and MRI measures to age of onset of schizophrenia.

Age of onset of schizophrenia (AOS) may be largely determined by neurobiological factors. We examined in a diverse sample of schizophrenia out-patients the relationships of AOS with neuropsychological abilities and structural brain abnormalities as measured on cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A total of 82 out-patients meeting DSM-III-R criteria for schizophrenia were evaluated with a comprehensive neuropsychological battery and semi-automated quantitatively analysed cerebral MRI. Earlier AOS correlated with poorer performance in learning and abstraction/ cognitive flexibility, and with larger volumes of caudate and lenticular nuclei, and smaller volume of thalamus on MRI. A model for predicting AOS consisting of abstraction and thalamic and caudate volumes remained significant after controlling for duration of illness, current age and daily neuroleptic dose. In conclusion, AOS may be related to specific rather than general measures of cognitive performance and structural brain abnormalities.
Thermal degradation of injectable epinephrine

The degradation of epinephrine in USP injectable cartridges was investigated under different heating conditions. Epinephrine (EPI) and EPI sulfonic acid (EPI-SA) levels in 1:10,000 (0.1 mg/mL) EPI injectable solutions subjected to either cyclical (65 degrees C for 8 hr/d for 4 to 12 weeks) or constant (65 degrees C for 7 days) heating were determined using high-pressure liquid chromatography with diode array and electrochemical detection. Constant (169 total hours of heat exposure) heating resulted in complete degradation of both compounds and dark brown discoloration of the solution. Cyclical heating (672 total hours of heat exposure) resulted in a 31% reduction in EPI concentration and a 225% increase in EPI-SA concentration with no discoloration of the solution. In laboratory-prepared solutions, the degradation of EPI and the formation of EPI-SA was found to be dependent on sodium metabisulfite concentration and the duration of cyclical heating. These results indicate that the thermal stability of EPI and the formation of EPI-SA depends on the method of heat exposure and the amount of bisulfite present in the solution.
Antigen-specific, major histocompatibility complex-restricted T cell receptors.

In this paper we have summarized our work on the structure of the receptor for Ag/MHC on 3 T cell hybridomas. In each case, these receptors have been identified by their reaction with antibodies, thought to be directed against Ag/MHC receptors because of their clone-specificity, and their ability to interfere with Ag/MHC recognition by the relevant hybridoma. The antibodies precipitate approximately 85 kd molecular weight heterodimeric glycoproteins from these cells. These reduce to 2 chains of 40-43 kd, one of acidic and the other of basic pI. These bulk characteristics apply to receptors from Class II-restricted, as well as Class I-specific T cells. There is evidence of molecular weight heterogeneity for both alpha and beta-chains in the mouse, both having 40 and 43 kd forms. Isoelectric focussing patterns suggest that both chains vary in amino acid sequence between clones. Peptide maps show that the receptor varies in amino acid sequence between clones, but that some peptides appear common, i.e., the receptor seems to have both variable and constant amino acid sequences. It is even possible that allotypic differences between the peptide maps of BALB/c and C57BL/6-derived receptors have been identified, though more data will be needed to confirm this. Finally we have recently shown that reaction with an anti-idiotype predicts both the Ag and MHC specificity of the T cell hybridoma bearing it, suggesting that a single receptor, responsible for binding both Ag and MHC, is identified by the anti-idiotypic antibody. The similarities between these T cell-bourne molecules, and immunoglobulin are inescapable. Both are disulphide-linked glycoproteins made up of 2 chains, both of which may vary in amino acid sequence. Secreted immunoglobulin is, of course, polyvalent, being composed of two or more of each type of chain, this contributes to the efficiency with which the molecule can bind polyvalent antigen or build precipitable lattices. Similar constraints do not apply to T cell-bound receptors, which do not seem to have a secreted form.
Edge microstability of NSTX plasmas without and with lithium-coated plasma-facing components

The pedestal structure in NSTX is strongly affected by lithium coatings applied to the PFCs. In discharges with lithium, the density pedestal widens, and the electron temperature (Te) gradient increases inside a radius of ?N???0.95, but is unchanged for ?N?>?0.95. The inferred effective electron thermal and particle profiles reflect the profile changes: is slightly increased in the near-separatrix region, and is reduced in the region ?N? ?0.95, both the pre- and with-lithium cases are calculated to be unstable to ETG modes, with higher growth rates with lithium. Both cases are also found to lie near the onset for kinetic ballooning modes, but in the second-stable region where growth rates decrease with increasing pressure gradient.
Beyond Seat Time and Student Satisfaction: A Curricular Approach to Residential Education:

The success of a traditional residential education program is typically measured by numbers of students who attend and how much they liked it. Kathleen Kerr and James Tweedy offer a peer-reviewed c...
Integrated mode-evolution-based polarization rotators

For the first time to our knowledge, designs for mode-evolution-based integrated polarization rotators requiring only a pair of waveguide core layers are presented. Finite-difference time-domain and eigenmode expansion simulations demonstrate the near-ideal performance of the approach. In contrast with approaches based on mode coupling, no significant wavelength sensitivity is observed.
The Role of Dynamic Models in Teacher Education.

(1993). The Role of Dynamic Models in Teacher Education. Action in Teacher Education: Vol. 15, No. 1, pp. 22-28.
Serum Mucin-Associated Antigen Levels of Cystic Fibrosis Patients Are Related to Their Ages and Clinical Statuses

ABSTRACT: Mucin levels are generally elevated in sera from many cystic fibrosis (CF) patients as measured by radioimmunoassay using monoclonal antibody 19-9, which is directed against the mucin-associated sialyl Lea antigen. Antibody 19-9 can only be used to measure mucin-associated antigen levels in those patients who are genetically able to make detectable levels of mucin-associated sialyl Lea epitope. Serial studies of 20 patients followed over 3 - 5 y showed that their serum mucin-associated antigen levels varied directly with respect to the severity of their disease and inversely with their Shwachman-Kulczycki clinical scores (p <0.025). Serum mucinassociated antigen levels of CF patients who were colonized with Pseudomonas aeruginosa did not significantly differ from those of uninfected CF patients. The mean serum mucin-associated antigen level of CF patients colonized with Pseudomonas was higher than the mean mucin level of six non-CF bronchiectatic patients whose lungs were colonized with Pseudomonas (p=0.053). Serum mucinassociated antigen levels are thus related to CF patients' ages and clinical statuses.
A photogrammetry-based method to measure total and local volume changes of unsaturated soils during triaxial testing

Triaxial tests have been widely used to evaluate soil behaviors. In the past few decades, several methods have been developed to measure the volume changes of unsaturated soil specimens during triaxial tests. Literature review indicates that until now it remains a major challenge for researchers to measure the volume changes of unsaturated soil specimens during triaxial testing. This paper presents a non-contact method to measure the total and local volume changes of unsaturated soil specimens using a conventional triaxial test apparatus for saturated soils. The method is simple and cost-effective, requiring only a commercially available digital camera to take images of an unsaturated soil specimen during triaxial testing from which accurate 3D model of the soil specimen is reconstructed. In this proposed method, the photogrammetric technique is utilized to determine the orientations of the camera where the images are taken and the shape and location of the acrylic cell, multiple optical ray tracings are employed to correct the refraction at the air-acrylic cell and acrylic cell–water interfaces, and a least-square optimization technique is applied to estimate the coordinates of any point on the specimen surface. The paper first discusses the theoretical aspects of the proposed method. An image analysis on a caliper was then used to evaluate the accuracy of photogrammetric analysis in the air. A series of isotropic compression tests on a stainless steel cylinder were used to demonstrate the procedure and evaluate the accuracy of the proposed method, while triaxial shearing tests on a saturated sand specimen were used to exam the capacity of the proposed method for measuring the total and localized volume changes during triaxial testing. Results obtained from the validation tests indicate that the accuracy for the photogrammetry in the air is about 10 µm. The average accuracy for single point measurements in the triaxial tests ranges from 0.056 to 0.076 mm with standard deviations varying from 0.033 to 0.061 mm. The accuracy for total volume measurements is better than 0.25 %.
Genetic variability in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and its relationship to environmental parameters and herd origin (Cervidae)

Allozyme variation was examined in 1571 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from 29 localities in Tennessee by starch gel electrophoresis. For 11 polymorphic loci, sex-related, age-related and temporal differences were minimal. However, significant spatial hererogeneity was evident in genotypes (contingency table results), allele frequencies (F ST=0.057) and heterozygosity. Heterozygosity ranged from 16.9% to 26.8% with a mean of 22.9%. The spatial pattern of allele frequencies determined from Rogers' coefficients of genetic similarity indicated associations based on geographic proximity and stocking history. In hierarchial analyses, physiographic regions accounted for more of the total gene diversity than herd origin groups (populations of similar origin) but less than individual populations. For five loci, physiographic regions accounted for more of the gene diversity than populations, suggesting a selection role in the observed genetic variability. Bivariate and canonical correlation analyses revealed significant associations between environmental and genetic variables. Temperature variables and allele frequencies for three loci (alcohol dehydrogenase, alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase, sorbitol dehydrogenase) had the prominent roles in the multivariate association between environmental and genetic variables. Herd origin, gene flow and selection appear to be involved in the gene diversity in deer from Tennesee.
The Human Prostate Expresses Sonic Hedgehog During Fetal Development

ABSTRACTPurpose: The keynote event of prostate ductal development is the formation of epithelial buds that invade the urogenital sinus mesenchyma. Studies in mice have shown that budding requires the signaling peptide Sonic hedgehog, which is expressed in the epithelium of the prostatic anlagen. We report our characterization of sonic hedgehog (SHH) expression in the human fetal prostate.Materials and Methods: Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was performed in fetal prostate RNA isolated at 15.5 and 18 weeks of gestation, respectively. Immunostaining was performed on sections from 7 male fetuses at 9.5 to 34 and in 4 female fetuses at 9 to 18 weeks of gestation.Results: Weak staining for SHH was seen in the prostatic urethra at 9.5 weeks. Intense staining was seen at 11.5 and 13 weeks in the prostatic urothelium and nascent prostatic buds. Staining was slightly diminished at 16.5, further diminished at 18 to 20 and absent at 34 weeks. SHH expression at 15.5 and 18 weeks was confirmed by reve...
Provision of Nutrition Counseling, Referrals to Registered Dietitians, and Sources of Nutrition Information Among Practicing Chiropractors in the United States

Abstract Objective To investigate US chiropractors' provision of nutrition counseling and referrals to registered dietitians and sources of nutrition information. Chiropractors' perceptions of the minimum educational requirement for registered dietitians and nutrition training received in chiropractic school were also examined. Design A descriptive study was conducted by use of a nationwide, mailed survey. Subjects/setting Surveys were sent to 1,590 practicing chiropractors in the United States, selected randomly from The National Directory of Chiropractic. Of the 410 responses received, 375 were usable (response rate=23.6%). Statistical analysis Descriptive statistics were used to summarize data along with the Pearson χ 2 test and Kendall t c rank correlation to determine associations for categorical questions. Result Nearly 90% of respondents provided nutrition counseling to their patients, even though the majority believed that they were inadequately trained in nutrition. One-on-one dietary instruction was the most common method of providing nutrition counseling, and supplement use was the most common health-related situation/condition for which nutrition counseling was used. Most respondents did not correctly select the minimum educational requirement for registered dietitians, did not refer patients to registered dietitians, and did not use registered dietitians as a source of nutrition information. Nevertheless, 65% of respondents anticipated increased collaborations between registered dietitians and chiropractors. Applications/conclusions Chiropractors provide nutrition counseling to a large number of patients each year; thus, they have the potential to substantially affect patients' nutritional status. There is a clear need and opportunity for registered dietitians to collaborate with chiropractors. J Am Diet Assoc. 2000;100:928-933 .
Evaluating stock returns with time-varying risk aversion driven by trend deviations from the consumption-to-wealth ratio: An analysis conditional on income levels

Abstract Based on the cointegrating relationship between consumption and wealth, we estimate the long run consumption-to-wealth ratio for each of five consumer income quintiles as well as national data for benchmarking purposes. Short run deviations from the consumption-to-wealth ratio for each quintile are examined for their ability to forecast changes in future consumption, income, housing values, and especially stock returns. We demonstrate that these trend deviations when combined with consumption growth in a multifactor model, significantly improve the ability of the dividend-to-price ratio to forecast future market returns over short and intermediate horizons for consumers in the highest-income quintile. This paper contributes to the financial economic literature by showing that the highest-income consumers are forecasting future stock returns with the help of the persistence in the dividend-to-price ratio and are modifying their consumption accordingly.
Non-profit and for profit convergence: are non-profits increasingly adopting private sector practices?

The role of the non-profit has traditionally been thought to create social value, while for-profit organisations have been held responsible for economic value creation. However, we now see this dichotomy blurring and organisations marrying social interest and market mechanisms to create both social and economic value (Alter, 2006). In this paper, we examine whether some of the strategic decisions and actions made by non-profits are converging with those being made by for-profits, particularly with regard to four important strategy issues: money, management, mission maximisation and metrics, which we frame as the four Ms. We hypothesise that if the convergence is occurring, non-profits would, over time, be making decisions and implementing subsequent actions increasingly similar to those being made in the for-profit sector. Through the use of a literature review and empirical evidence we show that non-profit decisions and actions are, in fact, becoming increasingly similar to those of for-profit organisations.
Racial differences in propranolol pharmacokinetics.

Racial differences in the antihypertensive response to propranolol are well documented. This study was conducted to determine whether differences between black subjects and white subjects in propranolol enantiomer pharmacokinetics and protein binding exist that may contribute to the response differences. Twenty-six healthy men (13 black and 13 white subjects) took 80 mg propranolol orally three times daily for 16 doses. Serum samples were collected for 12 hours after the last dose for analysis by chiral HPLC. Protein binding was determined by equilibrium dialysis. Area under the serum concentration-time curve (AUC) for both propranolol enantiomers was lower in black subjects than in white subjects (e.g., l-propranolol AUC: 292 +/- 100 versus 394 +/- 121 ng.hr/ml, p less than 0.05) and apparent oral clearance was higher in black subjects than in white subjects (e.g., l-propranolol apparent oral clearance: 27.6 +/- 8.2 versus 20.6 +/- 7.0 ml/min/kg, p less than 0.05). Fraction unbound and unbound AUC were not statistically different between black subjects and white subjects for either enantiomer, although the lack of statistical significance may have been attributable to the small sample size. In summary, racial differences in unbound l-propranolol concentration probably do not explain the clinically observed differences in response to propranolol. However, the racial differences in apparent oral clearance suggest there may be racial differences in hepatic metabolism of propranolol.
Building effective online game websites with knowledge-based trust

Knowledge-based trust is trust that is grounded in knowledge about another party developed through repeated interaction. Knowledge-based trust is especially important for online business environments where there are repeated transactions between fixed pairs of consumers and merchants. Building on previous studies of trust, this paper examines the proposition that players' knowledge about website characteristics (i.e., security and interface design) and about website outputs (i.e., online game quality and service quality) has an effect on the development of trust in the context of online game websites. The impact of trust on building an effective online game website is also investigated. A conceptual model of knowledge-based trust is tested with questionnaire responses of 253 online game players. Overall, the results indicate that all of these four classes of knowledge engender trust and that trust helps develop effective online game websites.
MO-E-AUD B-06: A 4D Monte Carlo Dose Calculation Method for Clinical Applications

Purpose: The accumulated dose accuracy depends by both the image registration accuracy and the dose addition strategy. In this study, we introduce a Monte Carlo‐based approach for cumulative dose computation based on energy mapping between various datasets. Method and Materials: EGSnrc/DOSXYZnrc Monte Carlo code is modified such that the energy (rather than the dose) is mapped from a “source” dataset onto a “target” dataset. The dose is subsequently calculated as the ratio of the warped energy deposited and the warped mass. The latter is the sum of all source voxels mass weighted by the ratio of the number of particles from “source” to “target” and the total number of particles scored in the “source” voxel. A lookup table for the source‐to‐target distribution is created for each voxel. The cumulative dose calculation requires displacement vector fields (DVFs) between “source” and “target” images. We use, for exemplification, two different DVFs, one generated by using the ITK “demons”, and the other by using the visco‐fluid model registration method. Results: The algorithm is integrated with Pinnacle planning system and is demonstrated through a 4D treatment plan. The average difference between doses reconstructed using the two DVFs is 15.6% for mean lung dose, 13.6% for heart, and 2.1% for ITV. It appears that lung doses are affected the most by the DVFs used. Conclusion: The forward 4D MC method introduced here uses both mass and energy deposition sampling, is potentially more efficient, as it does not require tracking of the deformed boundary, and is expected to provide more accurate results than interpolation‐based dose accumulation approaches, especially for the lung dose calculation. However, it does not eliminate the bias introduced by image registration errors.
Conflict adaptation and sequential trial effects: support for the conflict monitoring theory.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the cognitive control process of conflict adaptation and the recruitment of cognitive control across sequential trials-termed higher-order trial effects-using the N2 and P3 components of the scalp-recorded event-related potential (ERP). High-density ERPs were obtained from 181 healthy individuals (93 female, 88 male) during a modified Eriksen flanker task. Behavioral measures (i.e., error rates, reaction times [RTs]) and N2 and P3 amplitudes showed reliable conflict adaptation (i.e., previous-trial congruencies influenced current-trial measures). Higher-order trial effects were quantified across multiple sequential presentations of congruent or incongruent trials (e.g., four consecutive incongruent trials). For higher-order trial effects, P3 amplitudes and RTs reliably decreased across both congruent and incongruent trials. Consistent with the conflict monitoring theory, N2 amplitudes decreased across incongruent trials and increased across congruent trials. N2 amplitudes were positively correlated with incongruent-trial RTs; no significant correlations were found for P3 amplitudes and RTs. Effects remained when stimulus–response repetitions were removed. Results indicate that RTs and ERP measures are sensitive to modulations of cognitive control associated with conflict across multiple congruent and incongruent trials. Implications for the conflict monitoring theory of cognitive control are discussed.
The Choir Screen of Cluny III

Eighty-three sculptured fragments from the abbey of Cluny are attributed to the choir screen of Cluny III, constituting the only large-scale low chancel closure to survive from Romanesque France. In type, the arcaded screen is conceived as sculpture in scale, decoration, and construction, yet it parallels the motifs, workmanship, and even the dimensions of architectural carving from 1120-30 at Vezelay, Cluny, and Paray, and suggests that the “sculptors” in fact were ashlar masons. It thus reflects the period in which it was created at Cluny, when the media of architecture and sculpture were combined in a new synthetic whole.
RNA transcription in axotomized dorsal root ganglion neurons

Levels of RNA transcription were examined in L5 sensory ganglion neurons after unilateral crush injuries of the sciatic nerve using an in situ autoradiographic technique. Neuronal transcription increased in a biphasic pattern on the lesioned side within the first two weeks after injury. The timing and pattern of increases in transcription corresponded to previously reported increases RNA synthesis. The data demonstrate a dynamic regulation of RNA transcription in regenerating neuronal populations. This technique may prove to be useful in the study of factors controlling transcriptional activity in injured neurons.
Discounting and uncertainty: a non-economist’s view

When asked to choose between immediate and delayed rewards or costs, both human and (other) animal respondents will equate a small reward sooner with a larger one later. This is the well-known phenomenon of individual “discounting.” The capital interest rates that prevail in m arket economies are a related phenomenon. Most economists agree that “social” discounting should be applied to compare costs and benefits that accrue to society at different ti mes due to, for example, actions to reduce environmental degradation. They cannot agree, however, on appropriate rates to use. This is important since the policy implications tend to hinge on the assumed rate, as benefits ofte n lag investment costs by times that can exceed 1/� for plausible discount rates �. A high discounting rate makes investments (for example, intervention to reduce future climate change) appear unattractive if rewards do not accrue very quickly, even if they eventually far exceed costs. This may seem unjust or unethical. Omitting discounting, on the other hand, can indicate that we should be engaged in radically large investments. Much discourse has ensued over discounting, often pitting economists against others. However, as long as comprehensive cost-benefit analysis is to be attempt ed, discounting or something equivalent cannot be avoided. A recent review of the economics literature (Spackman, 2004) discusses discounting justifi cations and the many controversies surrounding them. Previous editorials in th is publication (Heal, 1997; Nordhaus, 1997) have also touched upon important aspects. Two key points will be discussed here. First, individual and social discounting differ in fundamental ways, so it is important to understand the former deeply before any inferences can be drawn regarding the latter. The distinction is appreciated by many but not acknowledged in foundational models of macroeconomics 1 . Second, uncertainty in future events qualitatively affects how discounting should be done. While each of these points has been made elsewhere, poor cross-disciplinary appreciation of some key