cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abyssal deposit feeders are secondary consumers of detritus and rely on nutrition derived from microbial communities in their guts.

Trophic ecology of detrital-based food webs is still poorly understood. Abyssal plains depend entirely on detritus and are among the most understudied ecosystems, with deposit feeders dominating megafaunal communities. We used compound-specific stable isotope ratios of amino acids (CSIA-AA) to estimate the trophic position of three abundant species of deposit feeders collected from the abyssal plain of the Northeast Pacific (Station M; ~ 4000 m depth), and compared it to the trophic position of their gut contents and the surrounding sediments. Our results suggest that detritus forms the base of the food web and gut contents of deposit feeders have a trophic position consistent with primary consumers and are largely composed of a living biomass of heterotrophic prokaryotes. Subsequently, deposit feeders are a trophic level above their gut contents making them secondary consumers of detritus on the abyssal plain. Based on δ13C values of essential amino acids, we found that gut contents of deposit feeders are distinct from the surrounding surface detritus and form a unique food source, which was assimilated by the deposit feeders primarily in periods of low food supply. Overall, our results show that the guts of deposit feeders constitute hotspots of organic matter on the abyssal plain that occupy one trophic level above detritus, increasing the food-chain length in this detritus-based ecosystem.
Efficacy of water-based skin decontamination of occupational chemicals using in vitro human skin models: a systematic review.

Percutaneous absorption of chemicals is a potential route of topical and systemic toxicity. Skin decontamination interrupts this process by removing contaminants from the skin surface. Decontamination using water-only or soap and water solutions is the current gold standard despite limited efficacy data. A summary of studies evaluating their efficacy in decontaminating occupational contaminants from in vitro human skin models is presented. Embase, MEDLINE, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched for relevant articles and data extracted from 15 investigations that reported on 21 occupational contaminants, which were further classified as industrial chemicals, drugs, or pesticides. Water-only decontamination yielded no response in 4.3% (n = 6/140) and partial decontamination in 95.7% (n = 134/140) of skin samples. Soap and water decontamination yielded complete decontamination in 4.9% (n = 13/264) and partial decontamination in 95.1% (n = 251/264) of skin samples. Four studies (26.7%, n = 4/15) reported increased penetration rates or skin concentration of contaminants following decontamination, demonstrating a "wash-in" effect. Varying study methodologies hinder our ability to compare data and determine when water alone or soap and water are best used. International harmonized efficacy protocol might enhance our decontamination understanding and enable a more customized approach to decontamination clinical practice and research.
Physical Activity Alignment with National and Global Guidelines of Staff at a Private University in Southern California

Active lifestyles meeting or exceeding 150 minutes/week of PA are associated with risk reductions in multiple chronic health conditions. However, sedentary work-related environmental conditions are linked with a decline of physical activity (PA) in the United States and abroad. University staff may uniquely experience work-related challenges that could inhibit achievement of recommended daily levels of PA, yet few studies on this exist. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate self-report PA among employees at a private university and assess alignment with global and national goals for PA to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases. METHODS: Eligible survey respondents (N = 253) were women (n = 173, 39.3 ± 13.4 years of age, 164.4 ± 8.1 cm in height, 69.7 ± 16.4 kg in weight, and 25.9 ± 6.6 kg/m2 body mass index [BMI] ) and men (n = 82, 41.5 ± 12.9 years of age, 178.33 ± 8.1 cm in height, 85.8 ± 14.4 kg in weight, and 27.03 ± 4.6 kg/m2 BMI of) employed as staff at Biola University. Participants completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), using the Survey Monkey® platform. Occupations were categorized by type (administration, staff, and facilities). Activity specific (leisure, household, occupational, and transport) weekly minutes and metabolic equivalent (MET) minutes per week were calculated and then summed to get grand total minutes of weekly PA and grand total MET minutes of PA per week. Total walking PA, moderate PA, and vigorous PA minutes per week and MET minutes per week were tabulated and analyzed. RESULTS: Men were significantly (P < .05) more physically active per week in total PA MET minutes per week, workplace PA in MET minutes per week, and minutes per week than women. A stepwise decrease between PA and increases in educational attainment was observed, yet was statistically insignificant. Facilities personnel were significantly (P < .05) more active than both administration and staff. Staff and administration had similar activity levels. The percentage of employees completing a total of at least 150 minutes of PA per week was 82.4% of the sample. CONCLUSION: A large majority of university employees exceeded the ACSM minimum weekly recommendations for PA. However, activity levels varied significantly between sex and job type.
Piperacillin-Tazobactam-Induced Immune Thrombocytopenia: A Case Report

Drug-induced immune thrombocytopenia is an isolated thrombocytopenia caused by accelerated platelet destruction from drug-dependent, platelet-reactive antibodies. Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia is the most common drug-induced immune thrombocytopenia. Common implicated antibiotics for drug-induced immune thrombocytopenia include ceftriaxone, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, vancomycin, and penicillin. The platelet nadir can be less than 20 × 10 (9)/L and typically occurs within 1 to 2 weeks of exposure to the inciting drug. Although rare, drug-induced immune thrombocytopenia can be fatal. Diagnosis is made by excluding other causes of thrombocytopenia. Laboratory testing for drug-dependent antiplatelet antibodies is often helpful but not required. Thrombocytopenia typically improves within 1 to 2 days of drug discontinuation and platelet count returns to normal within a week. Identifying and discontinuing the implicated medication is key to prevention of serious complications. A patient case of drug-induced immune thrombocytopenia is described after initiation of empiric piperacillin-tazobactam for refractory right foot cellulitis in the setting of right fourth toe diabetic ulcer.
Institutions, Institutional Change and Economic Performance: Incorporating institutional analysis into economic history: prospects and puzzles

What difference does the explicit incorporation of institutional analysis make to the writing (and for that matter the reading) of economic history and of history in general? Writing history is constructing a coherent story of some facet of the human condition through time. Such a construction exists only in the human mind. We do not recreate the past; we construct stories about the past. But to be good history, the story must give a consistent, logical account and be constrained by the available evidence and the available theory. A brief answer to the question is that incorporating institutions into history allows us to tell a much better story than we otherwise could. The precliometric economic history actually was built around institutions, and in the hands of its most accomplished practitioners it managed to provide us with a picture of continuity and institutional change, that is, with an evolutionary story. But because it was built on bits and pieces of theory and statistics that had no overall structure, it did not lend itself to generalizations or analysis extending beyond the essentially ad hoc character of individual stories. The cliometric contribution was the application of a systematic body of theory – neoclassical theory – to history and the application of sophisticated, quantitative techniques to the specification and testing of historical models.
Supply and demand for catalogers: Present and future

This paper presents results from a fall 2003 survey of heads of cataloging at Association of Research Libraries United States academic libraries. The survey focused on the current number of professional catalogers and their responsibilities as well as future projections for demand for catalogers and thoughts about their roles. The study found that the numbers of professional catalogers are remaining constant or decreasing, and approximately one-third are projected to retire in the next decade. In addition, the role of the professional cataloger is perceived as continuing to evolve toward more cataloging-related activities and management and less direct cataloging. Most respondents predicted the professional cataloger has a role in the future and felt prepared for that future. Some respondents suggested that metadata cataloging would be a growing role in that future. This paper concludes with additional questions about the future of professional catalogers and cataloging.
Episomal Expression of Sense and Antisense Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF)-binding Protein-4 Complementary DNA Alters the Mitogenic Response of a Human Colon Cancer Cell Line (HT-29) by Mechanisms That Are Independent of and Dependent upon IGF-I

HT-29 cells express and secrete insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-II and only one of the six IGF-binding proteins, IGFBP-4. In the present study, the physiological role of endogenous IGFBP-4 in regulating the growth response of HT-29 cells to exogenous and endogenous IGFs was examined. Both the basal and the IGF-stimulated growth of HT-29 cells was significantly increased over control values in the presence of IGFBP-4 antibody, suggesting that endogenous IGFBP-4 is a potent inhibitor of the mitogenic effects of endogenous and exogenous IGFs. In order to further confirm the inhibitory role of endogenous IGFBP-4, sense and antisense complementary DNA fragments of human IGFBP-4 were ligated into an episomal mammalian expression vector (pCEP4). Restriction mapping and Southern blot analysis were used to confirm directional cloning of the IGFBP-4 complementary DNA fragments in the sense and antisense directions in the pCEP4 vectors. HT-29 cells were transfected with either the control (no insert, C-P), sense (S-P), or antisense (AS-P) vectors and subjected to hygromycin selection. The functional nature of the transfectants was confirmed by measuring IGFBP-4 concentrations in the conditioned media (CM) of 10(7) cells by ligand and immunoblot analysis. IGFBP-4 concentrations were 7.4 +/- 1.7-fold higher in the CM of S-P cells compared to that in the CM of C-P cells, while IGFBP-4 concentrations in the CM of AS-P cells were significantly lower than those present in the CM of C-P cells. Both the basal and the IGF-I-stimulated growth of the AS-P cells was significantly higher than that of the C-P and S-P cells. The basal (non-stimulated) and the IGF-I-stimulated growth of the S-P cells was not significantly different from that of the C-P cells, suggesting that overexpression of IGFBP-4 was not inhibitory to the growth of the HT-29 cells. The basal growth of the S-P and C-P cells was significantly increased in the presence of IGFBP-4 antibody, once again suggesting that endogenous IGFBP-4 was a potent inhibitor of autocrine effects of endogenous factors (IGF-II). Addition of IGFBP-4 antibody had no significant effect on the basal growth of the AS-P cells, confirming that the difference between the growth response of the AS-P, C-P, and S-P cells was largely contributed by the difference in the endogenous secretion of IGFBP-4 by the cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
THE PUBLIC UTILITY REGULATORY POLICIES ACT—A CONSUMERS GUIDE TO TITLE I

The research for thiS article was funded by the Department of Energy and the Environmental Action Foundation. Additional articles on PURPA may be obtamed through the Environmental Action Foundation. ** Mr. Silverstone was Connecticut' first Consumer Counsel, 1974-1977 He IS currently consultant on utility matters and partner III the Hartford, Connecticut law firm of COUSInS, Ritter and Silverstone, P.C. B.A., Lehigh Umversity, 1968; J.D., Columbia Law School, 1972.
Addressing the tradeoff between standard and custom ICs in system level design

The tradeoff between using a custom IC and using standard ICs to implement part of a system is formalized. A design tool which demonstrates the ability to make such tradeoffs in the design of a microprocessor-based computer system is introduced. It is shown that effective use of ASIC gate capacity and I/Os results in designs that require as little as 62% of the PC board area needed by designs with no ASIC. >
Spectral partitioning of random graphs

Problems such as bisection, graph coloring, and clique are generally believed hard in the worst case. However, they can be solved if the input data is drawn randomly from a distribution over graphs containing acceptable solutions. In this paper we show that a simple spectral algorithm can solve all three problems above in the average case, as well as a more general problem of partitioning graphs based on edge density. In nearly all cases our approach meets or exceeds previous parameters, while introducing substantial generality. We apply spectral techniques, using foremost the observation that in all of these problems, the expected adjacency matrix is a low rank matrix wherein the structure of the solution is evident.
Mariner 10 interplanetary magnetic field results

Interplanetary magnetic field data obtained by Mariner 10 between November 1973 and March 1974 are examined. Though large variations in the field due to the effects of high speed streams and stream-stream interactions were observed, on average the large scale interplanetary magnetic field radial component was found to have a distance dependence of r to the minus 2.0 plus or minus 0.3, while the azimuthal field component was found to vary as r to the minus 1.3 plus or minus 0.4, and a dependence of r to the minus 1.4 plus or minus 0.6 was found for the component normal to the solar equatorial plane. A close correspondence was found between the magnetic field stream signatures and persistent but evolving coronal hole regions on the sun, and a clear pattern of large southward fields in stream interaction regions and high levels of field fluctuations within the high-speed streams was detected.
Difference Matters: Embodiment of and Discourse on Difference at an Urban Public High School

This article examines how students and teachers at an urban public high school embodied and understood various social categories of difference. Although ascriptions and experiences of racial and gender identities varied, these identities were often viewed as biological in origin and static in nature. The complexities and contradictions evident in the everyday conversations about difference at the school might serve as effective starting points for discussions about the social construction of difference. [race and gender, everyday discourse about difference, high school, race as a biological category]
The Choice of Index Number: Part I, Valuation and Evaluation

This paper defines and discusses the choices that are implicit in alternative approaches to constructing index numbers. The central theoretical result is the exogeneity theorem, which states that an index number system possesses certain generally desirable properties, associated with meaningfulness, relevance and consistency if and only if it admits of a welfare interpretation that is invariant to the data to which it is applied. An index number system that does not permit a fixed welfare interpretation of this kind will fail to possess these properties. Moreover, it will not be possible to undertake meaningful multilateral comparisons between all possible units of comparison to which the index number system may be applied without adopting a meta-evaluative criterion that expresses welfare judgments concerning the relation between distinct evaluative standards. Therefore, explicit or implicit normative judgments are inescapable in the construction and use of index numbers intended to permit meaningful comparisons over an unrestricted domain. We identify a set of bounds on the index numbers that an index number system produces (the generalized within bounds requirement) which define necessary and sufficient conditions for them to be rationalizable (i.e. to possess a welfare interpretation). However, multilateral index number systems that are widely in use violate this and other requirements of the exogeneity theorem. As a result, the index numbers they produce do not admit of a welfare interpretation which is invariant to the data to which they are applied, and indeed may not admit of any welfare interpretation at all. The exogeneity theorem establishes that the rationale for exact index number systems is much less compelling than widely believed. A fixed welfare interpretation is also a necessary and sufficient condition for the path-independence of the Divisia index. The theorem therefore establishes a three-way equivalence between desirable properties of continuous index number systems, desirable properties of discrete index number systems and the existence of a fixed welfare interpretation.
5-(Tri­fluoro­methyl)­uracil

The title compound, 5-tri­fluoro­methyl-1H-pyrimidine-2,4-dione, 5-CF3-C4H3N2O2 or C5H3F3N2O2, (I), displays marked differences in packing compared to the non-fluorinated parent mol­ecule, 5-CH3-C4H3N2O2, i.e. thymine. Compound (I) forms a complicated three-dimensional array using hydrogen bonds [range 2.808 (3)–2.814 (3) A], resulting in channels or voids parallel to [001], which are lined with F atoms from the CF3 groups.
New strings for old Veneziano amplitudes: II. Group-theoretic treatment

In this part of our four parts work we use theory of polynomial invariants of finite pseudo-reflection groups in order to reconstruct both the Veneziano and Veneziano-like (tachyon-free) amplitudes and the generating function reproducing these amplitudes. We demonstrate that such generating function and amplitudes associated with it can be recovered with help of finite dimensional exactly solvable N=2 supersymmetric quantum mechanical model known earlier from works of Witten, Stone and others. Using the Lefschetz isomorphism theorem we replace traditional supersymmetric calculations by the group-theoretic thus solving the Veneziano model exactly using standard methods of representation theory. Mathematical correctness of our arguments relies on important theorems by Shepard and Todd, Serre and Solomon proven respectively in the early 50s and 60s and documented in the monograph by Bourbaki. Based on these theorems, we explain why the developed formalism leaves all known results of conformal field theories unchanged. We also explain why these theorems impose stringent requirements connecting analytical properties of scattering amplitudes with symmetries of space-time in which such amplitudes act.
On the Channel Capacity of High-Throughput Proteomic Microarrays

This paper examines the information transmission capacity of a high-density protein microarray based on an equivalent model of a multi-analyte molecular communication system. The capacity of the microarray is computed by taking into account the performance limiting factors such as channel diffusion characteristics, the channel noise and the saturation properties of the receptor probes. Our modeling study shows that using receptor probes with specific combinatorial properties can significantly improve the system capacity by facilitating joint detection of multiple analytes. This is in contrast to the conventional wisdom prevalent in the design of proteomic assays where the receptors are synthesized to be target specific with minimal levels of cross-reactivity with non-specific targets. It is envisioned that the availability of capacity bounds will provide a more systematic approach for designing the receptors (antibodies, aptamers, or enzymes) since their binding properties can be optimized to maximize the assay throughput.
Another Plea for the University Tradition: The Institutional Roots of Intellectual Compromise

Tunstall was right: The problem with American co mmunication research goes deep. It is true that the field is flush with resources that other disciplines covet, including an enormous supply of undergraduate would-be celebrities. But the same conditions that fill our lecture halls also guarantee the discipline’s low-status obscurity. The students—in all their sea-of-white-baseball-caps, Miss Americacontestant splendor—enroll because they want to write press release leads or prebroadcast rundowns. Most communication programs are in the business of vocational instruction first; academic analysis of the media is an often-resented, parasitic add-on. We all suffer because of the vocational taint, if only because the whole field got erected atop that rickety foundation.
Business synergy does not always pay off

Abstract Building synergy among the Strategic Business Units (SBUs) is a strategy goal of many diversified firms. The implicit assumption is that potential synergies among the SBUs can generate a product-market portfolio with a higher profitability by allowing a firm to operate more effeciently and/or effectively in managing its scarce resources. Using PIMS data on 1638 manufacturing SBUs, this paper explores the relationship between synergy and profitability for six types of businesses.
Human Bile Salt Export Pump Promoter Is Transactivated by the Farnesoid X Receptor/Bile Acid Receptor

The bile salt excretory pump (BSEP, ABCb11) is critical for ATP-dependent transport of bile acids across the hepatocyte canalicular membrane and for generation of bile acid-dependent bile secretion. Recent studies have demonstrated that the expression of this transporter is sensitive to the flux of bile acids through the hepatocyte, possibly at the level of transcription of the BSEP gene. To determine the mechanisms underlying the regulation of BSEP by bile acids, the promoter of the BSEP gene was cloned. The sequence of the promoter contained an inverted repeat (IR)-1 element (5'-GGGACA T TGATCCT-3') at base pairs -63/-50 consisting of two nuclear receptor half-sites organized as an inverted repeat and separated by a single nucleotide. This IR-1 element has been shown in several recent studies to serve as a binding site for the farnesoid X receptor (FXR), a nuclear receptor for bile acids. FXR activity requires heterodimerization with RXR alpha, and when bound by bile acids, the complex effectively regulates the transcription of several genes involved in bile acid homeostasis. Gel mobility shift assays demonstrated specific binding of FXR/RXR alpha heterodimers to the IR-1 element in the BSEP promoter. In HepG2 cells, co-transfection of FXR and RXR alpha is required to attain full transactivation of the BSEP promoter by bile acids. Two FXR transactivation-deficient mutants (an AF-2 deletion and a W469A point mutant) failed to transactivate, indicating that the effect of bile acids is FXR-dependent. Further, mutational analysis confirms that the FXR/RXR alpha heterodimer activates transcription through the IR-1 site in the human BSEP promoter. These results demonstrate a mechanism by which bile acids transcriptionally regulate the activity of the bile salt excretory pump, a critical component involved in the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids.
Use of Speech-Generating Devices: In Support of Natural Speech

One of the most frequently cited concerns from parents, teachers, and other caregivers, upon hearing a recommendation for the use of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is, 'Will its use interfere with natural speech?' Reports of positive effects of AAC use, particularly that of speech output, are increasingly available, whereas evidence to support negative consequences of AAC use has not been widely reported. In this paper, possible explanations for increases in natural speech production associated with AAC use are explored, along with a discussion of clinical implications and future research.
HIOMT-like immunoreactivity in the vertebrate retina: a species comparison.

Localization of the melatonin-synthesizing enzyme, hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase (HIOMT)-like immunoreactivity was examined by light and electron microscopic immunocytochemistry, in the retinas of several species that have been used as animal models to study the retinal melatonin system. HIOMT-like immunoreactivity was observed in the retinal photoreceptors of rabbit, pigmented rat, guinea-pig, chick, goldfish, African clawed toad, and leopard frog. Additionally, most species displayed HIOMT immunoreactivity in a population of bipolar cells in the inner nuclear layer. At the ultrastructural level, HIOMT-like immunoreactivity was localized to the cytoplasm of rod and cone photoreceptors, and a population of cone bipolar cells. These observations are identical to earlier observations in the human retina. The similar pattern of HIOMT-like immunoreactivity among species suggests a phylogenetic conservation of the melatonin-synthesizing capability of retinal photoreceptors and some bipolar cells.
An overview of spatial microscopic and accelerated kinetic Monte Carlo methods

The microscopic spatial kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) method has been employed extensively in materials modeling. In this review paper, we focus on different traditional and multiscale KMC algorithms, challenges associated with their implementation, and methods developed to overcome these challenges. In the first part of the paper, we compare the implementation and computational cost of the null-event and rejection-free microscopic KMC algorithms. A firmer and more general foundation of the null-event KMC algorithm is presented. Statistical equivalence between the null-event and rejection-free KMC algorithms is also demonstrated. Implementation and efficiency of various search and update algorithms, which are at the heart of all spatial KMC simulations, are outlined and compared via numerical examples. In the second half of the paper, we review various spatial and temporal multiscale KMC methods, namely, the coarse-grained Monte Carlo (CGMC), the stochastic singular perturbation approximation, and the τ-leap methods, introduced recently to overcome the disparity of length and time scales and the one-at-a time execution of events. The concepts of the CGMC and the τ-leap methods, stochastic closures, multigrid methods, error associated with coarse-graining, a posteriori error estimates for generating spatially adaptive coarse-grained lattices, and computational speed-up upon coarse-graining are illustrated through simple examples from crystal growth, defect dynamics, adsorption–desorption, surface diffusion, and phase transitions.
Efficient synthesis of the cholinephosphate phospholipid headgroup

In search of an efficient method to prepare cholinephosphate headgroups in phospholipids under mild conditions (where the diacylglycerol moiety is not subject to oxidation), a method was developed for phosphorylation using a trialkyl phosphite and I2. The active intermediate is a phosphoryl iodide formed by oxidation of the phosphite with I2. 2-Bromoethanol, dimethyl chlorophosphite, and an alcohol (diglyceride) are converted to a phosphate triester in a one-pot reaction with high yield. In the second reaction, the phosphate triester is demethylated, and the ethyl bromide group is converted to choline by treatment with aqueous trimethylamine. This procedure is applied to the synthesis of hexadecylphosphocholine, and 1,2-didecanoyl-1-deoxy-1-thio-sn-glyceryo-3-phosphocholine.
Seeing is believing

Why visualization will play a critical role in bringing big data decision making to a hospital bed near you.
Structural Transitions in Superionic Conductors

The $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{\rightleftarrows}\ensuremath{\beta}$ phase transition in AgI is studied with use of the new molecular-dynamics technique which allows for a dynamical variation of the shape and size of the cell. In the present model, upon heating of $\ensuremath{\beta}$-AgI, the iodine ions undergo a hep \ensuremath{\rightarrow} bee transformation and silver ions become mobile, whereas the reverse transformation is observed on cooling of $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-AgI. The calculated $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{\rightleftarrows}\ensuremath{\beta}$ transition temperature and structural and dynamical properties are in good agreement with experiments.
Primary Cardiac Tumours in Infancy and Childhood: A Review and Six Case Reports

Primary cardiac tumours are rarities in infants and children. We have had 6 patients, aged 17 days to 10 years, with primary cardiac tumours: 1 had a fibroma, 1 had a myxoma, 2 had an haemangioma and 2 had a rhabdomyoma. Correct diagnosis was missed pre-operatively in 3 cases and finally established at autopsy. Three of the patients underwent cardiac operation—one of them unsuccessfully. At surgery the main difficulties were with tumour infiltration and the multifocal nature of some tumours. We conclude that echo- and angiocardiography are essential tools in the diagnosis of primary cardiac tumours. Large tumours or conduction tissue infiltration means an extremely poor prognosis. Multifocal cardiac tumours can be successfully removed, even in newborn babies, and the outcome for the patients is also affected by other important factors, e.g. tuberous sclerosis in rhabdomyomas.
Fine-Tuning Some Resistant Rules for Outlier Labeling

Abstract A previous study examined the performance of a standard rule from Exploratory Data Analysis, which uses the sample fourths, FL and FU , and labels as “outside” any observations below FL – k(FU – FL ) or above FU + k(FU – FL ), customarily with k = 1.5. In terms of the order statistics X (1) ≤ X (2) ≤ X (n) the standard definition of the fourths is FL = X(f) and FU = X (n + 1 − f), where f = ½[(n + 3)/2] and [·] denotes the greatest-integer function. The results of that study suggest that finer interpolation for the fourths might yield smoother behavior in the face of varying sample size. In this article we show that using f i = n/4 + (5/12) to define the fourths produces the desired smoothness. Corresponding to a common definition of quartiles, fQ = n/4 + (1/4) leads to similar results. Instead of allowing the some-outside rate per sample (the probability that a sample contains one or more outside observations, analogous to the experimentwise error rate in simultaneous inference) to vary, some us...
WE-G-BRA-01: Development of a Web-Based Dosimetry Training Tool for Therapy and Dosimetry Education

Purpose: Training in clinical dosimetry is an important component of radiation therapy,dosimetry, and medical physics training programs. Based on our in‐house treatment planning system, PLanUNC, we are developing and assessing a web‐based dosimetry teaching tool to augment existing training programs. Methods: We surveyed radiation therapy program directors to assess the need for clinical dosimetry training tools. Based on survey results, we are developing a web‐based dosimetry‐training tool consisting of 10 modules containing didactic content based on the ASRT curriculum, student assessment, and hands‐on treatment planning exercises. External content specialists reviewed the self‐paced modules for accuracy and content validity. Two external dosimetry students were observed as they completed three sections, and were interviewed in‐depth to evaluate the modules. This qualitative analysis combined features of usability testing with formative evaluation of instructional products. We revised the modules based on these data. Our next phase, quantitative evaluation, will assess the effectiveness of the modules, the quality of the interactivity and the degree of student engagement when completing the modules. Results: Sixty‐four percent of program directors indicated they had insufficient local resources for dosimetry training, and over 90% indicated interest in web‐based training tools as teaching supplements. External evaluators indicated module content was appropriate and accurate. Students indicated the modules were easy to use with clear and understandable content. They were engaged when using the modules and motivated by the interactive components. They placed value on the exercises and the feedback they received. Conclusions: Inter‐institutional evaluation improves the quality and generalizability of instructional modules. Carefully designed online learning modules are viewed as effective teaching tools by dosimetry students. The clinical dosimetry teaching tool will be made accessible to therapy and dosimetry training programs worldwide. This work is supported by NCI grant 5R25‐CA134307
Autologous Fat Transfer: The Progenitor Cell Response to Different Recipient Environments.

Background: Autologous fat transfer is a common procedure; however, results are variable and unpredictable. Objectives: Stem cell responses to hypoxic environments need to be elucidated to determine which cell types contribute to graft survival. Methods: Acellular dermal matrix (ADM) envelopes were implanted in the subcutaneous tissues of 4 swine. In each swine, 2 envelopes were inserted as controls (ADM group), and 2 were placed and injected with 5 mL of autologous fat (ADM/fat group). Two additional envelopes were inserted and filled with 5 mL of fat and an omental pedicle (A/F/O group). Animals were sacrificed and the envelopes excised at 1, 2, 4, and 16 weeks. Specimens were analyzed histologically and/or with flow cytometry. Results: Fat was retained in ADM envelopes with and without a pedicle blood supply, although the percentage of volume retention was greater in the pedicled group. The peak number of mesenchymal progenitor cells within the ADM/fat group was significantly greater than the peak in the A/F/O group ( P =.044), whereas endothelial progenitor cells in the ADM/fat group showed a prolonged increase through 4 weeks ( P =.015 vs the A/F/O group at week 4). At 16 weeks, the interior surface of the matrix in the ADM/fat group had significantly more blood vessels than that of the ADM or A/F/O group ( P = .0021 and .0036, respectively). Conclusions: Injecting fat into hypoxic environments significantly increases the mesenchymal and endothelial progenitor cell responses and enhances the formation of blood vessels.
New approach to improve degradation of recalcitrant azo dyes by Streptomyces spp. and Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Three azo dyes, the commercially available acid yellow 9(4-amino-1,1′-azobenzene-3,4′-disulfonic acid), and two synthesized dyes, azo dye 1 [4-(3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylazo)-azobenzene-3,4′-disulfonic acid] and azo dye 2 (3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-azobenzene-4′-sulfonic acid), plus sulfanilic acid and vanillic acid, were tested as substrates for degradation by 12 Streptomyces spp. and the white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium. None of the Streptomyces spp. degraded acid yellow 9 or sulfanilic acid. The linkage of a guaiacol molecule onto acid yellow 9 or sulfanilic acid via azo-linkages resulted in dyes that were decolorized by 5 of the 12 Streptomyces strains. These Streptomyces were those that could also attack vanillic acid, which has the same ring substitution pattern (4-hydroxy-3-methoxy) as guaiacol. While P. chrysosporium transformed both acid yellow 9 and sulfanilic acid, the two guaiacol-substituted azo dyes were decolorized more readily by P. chrysosporium than the corresponding unsubstituted molecules. Ligninase and manganese peroxidase preparations from the P. chrysosporium culture were involved in the degradation. The discovery that one may enhance the degradability of azo dyes by linking selected, readily degradable substituents into the dyes' chemical structure, is a novel observation. This approach should be considered for use in commercial production of azo dyes or other recalcitrant compounds as a way of producing compounds that are more easily degraded in the environment.
Pseudo Standing, Forward Falling, and Pulling Simulation for Pregnant Women

This paper presents an optimization-based dynamic simulation for pregnant women pseudo standing, forward falling, and pulling tasks. Based on anatomy of pregnant women a digital pregnant woman model is developed. The model has 55 degrees of freedom (DOFs) including 6 global DOFs and 49 body DOFs. Recursive dynamic algorithm is used to formulate the equations of motion. Human motion can be formulated as a non-linear optimization problem. Control points of B-spline curves that represent joint angle profiles are design variables. The joint angles, angular velocities and angular accelerations, will be obtained from the control points. The summation of all joint actuator torque square acts as the objective function. Besides some common constraints, different constraints are adopted for standing, falling, and pulling, respectively. Three cases, non-pregnancy, 6-month, and 9-month pregnancy, are investigated. For the pulling task, 2N, 100N or 200N external load is applied as the pulling force. Determinant joints (hip, knee and ankle) are plotted to analyze the simulation results. The simulation results show the effects of pregnancy on human movement kinematics and dynamics. The average computational time for each case is close to 3.5 minutes in a Dell computer with 3.25 GB of RAM and 3.16 GHz.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
MILESTONES FOR AUTOMATED REASONING WITH OTTER

In the beginning (the early 1960s), the long-term goal of automated reasoning (although the field at the time was not known by that name) was the design and implementation of a program whose use wo...
Analogs of unusual sponge phospholipids. Synthesis and thermotropic properties of 1,2-di-(6Z,9Z)-6,9-hexacosadienoyl phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine.

Abstract The major marine sponge phospholipids 1,2-di-(5 Z ,9 Z )-5,9-hexacosadienoyl phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) hardly incorporate cholesterol into their liposomal bilayers, as reported earlier. Our previous studies indicated that their synthetic short chain (C 18 –C 24 ) analogs with the same double bond pattern readily incorporated cholesterol, thus demonstrating the importance of the chain length. In order to investigate the possible role of the unusual Δ 5,9 diunsaturation 1,2-di-(6 Z ,9 Z )-6,9-hexacosadienoyl phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine were synthesized and their thermotropic behavior studied. Both analogs shows a transition endoterm at 45°C, while the natural 1,2-di-(5 Z ,9 Z )-5,9-hexacosadienoyl PC and its PE counterpart exhibited it at 42°C. A partial incorporation of cholesterol into liposomal bilayers of 1,2-di-(6 Z ,9 Z )-6,9-hexacosadienoyl PC was observed. Our results suggest that while the chain length is the predominant factor in the interactions of these phospholipids with sterols, the double bond location may also play a contributing role.
Convergence analysis of Padé interpolation for extracting large quality factors in photonic crystal double heterostructure resonant cavities

The number of time steps required for accurate estimation of quality factors using Pade interpolation for photonic crystal double heterostructures is investigated. Use of different orders of Pade polynomials is also discussed, and an improvement in convergence is observed as the order of the denominator polynomial is increased.
Measurements of the viscosity of compressed liquid air at temperatures between 70 and 130 K

Abstract The shear viscosity coefficient of compressed liquid air has been measured at temperatures between 70 and 130 K and at pressures up to 30 MPa with a torsional crystal viscometer. The fluidity (viscosity −1 ) increases linearly with molar volume at fixed temperature and increases weakly with temperature at fixed volume. The data have been correlated with an empirical fluidity — volume equation. The data are in good agreement with an extended corresponding states model, except at the highest densities.
Coarse Grained Approach to First Principles Modeling of Radiation Cascade in Large Fe Supercells

Classical Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations characterizing dislocations and radiation damage typically treat 105-107 atoms. First principles techniques employed to understand systems at an atomistic level are not practical for such large systems consisting of millions of atoms. We present an efficient coarse grained (CG) approach to calculate local electronic and magnetic properties of large MD-generated structures from the first principles. Local atomic magnetic moments in crystalline Fe are perturbed by the presence of radiation generated vacancies and interstitials. The effects are most pronounced near the defect cores and decay slowly as the strain field of the defects decrease with distance. We develop the CG technique based on the Locally Self-consistent Multiple Scattering (LSMS) method that exploits the near-sightedness of the electron Green function. The atomic positions were determined by MD with an embedded atom force field. The local moments in the neighborhood of the defect cores are calculated with first-principles based on full local structure information. Atoms in the rest of the system are modeled by representative atoms with approximated properties. The calculations result in local moments near the defect centers with first-principles accuracy, while capturing coarse-grained details of local moments at greater length scales. This CG approach makes these large scale structures amenable to first principles study.
Human Capital and Behavioral Biases: Why Investors Don’t Diversify Enough

An often-ignored component of an individual’s wealth, but one that can dominate one’s portfolio, is human capital. More often than not, individuals don’t take their biggest asset—human capital—into account when making portfolio decisions. In fact, quite often, individuals fail to recognize that human capital is even a part of their overall portfolio, instead focusing simply on financial assets and real estate. Many wealth managers neglect to consider the enormous impact of human capital on wealth management decisions for their clients, and the consequences become most evident during economic downturns. We posit that behavioral biases play a major role in the poor choices individuals make with respect to portfolio decisions related to human capital, particularly in the decision on how to invest their retirement assets—oftentimes choosing to concentrate their holdings in their own company stock. We believe that the failure to take human capital into account when making individual investment decisions can be explained to a large extent by emotional and cognitive biases that have been identified by behavioral economists. In essence, certain types of decisions and problems may simply be too complex for individuals to master on their own. This is where the wealth manager can provide value to clients. By recognizing the importance of human capital and having a dispassionate understanding of their clients’ biases toward it, wealth managers can suggest effective measures to address the issue.
The Effect of Injury on Microsomal Ascorbate Levels, β -Glucan Synthesis and Urea Herbicide N-Demethylation in Etiolated Cotton Hypocotyl Tissue

A low molecular weight, microsome-bound fraction increases with time as excised (injured) etiolated cotton hypocotyls are exposed to ambient air. This fraction can be separated from washed microsomal preparations by dialysis or gel filtration. Data indicate that ascorbate is present in this fraction whose formation can he prevented by immediately immersing the excised tissues in a buffered solution of cyanide and metabisulphite ions. The activities of two microsomal enzyme systems are altered as the result of the formation of this fraction. The ratio of non-cellulosic/cellulosic glucosyl linkages synthesized from UDP-glucose is increased two to five times. Reciprocal plots of the N-domethylation of a urea herbicide indicate inhibition in a non-competitive, curvilinear manner when NADPH is the variable substrate. Evidence is presented to suggest that ascorbate may function (directly or indirectly) as a regulatory agent in the control of microsomal detoxication and biosynthesis after injury to the plant.
EVIDENCE FOR SUBSTRATE STABILIZATION IN REGULATION OF THE DEGRADATION OF BACILLUS SUBTILIS ASPARTATE TRANSCARBAMYLASE IN VIVO

Aspartate transcarbamylase (ATCase) is rapidly degraded in Bacillus subtilis cells that are starved for a carbon or nitrogen source or a required amino acid. The hypothesis that ATCase degradation may be regulated in vivo by protection of the enzyme by substrate binding was tested by studies of a mutant ATCase (Arg99 to Ala, R99A), which binds substrate so poorly that it fails to support pyrimidine-independent growth in a pyrB strain, but still has 10% of normal activity when saturated with substrates. Unlike normal ATCase, R99A ATCase was degraded rapidly in exponentially growing cells. Degradation of the mutant enzyme was two-fold slower in a relA strain, as was degradation of the normal ATCase. The stability of purified R99A ATCase to denaturation by heat or guanidine hydrochloride was identical to that of wild-type ATCase, as was its circular dichroic spectrum. The wild-type and R99A ATCase were degraded identically in vitro by subtilisin, except that the mutant enzyme was much less effectively protected against cleavage by carbamyl phosphate, as expected. The carbamyl phosphate pool in glucose-limited B. subtilis cells was only one-third of the pool in exponentially growing cells. These results indicate that protection of ATCase by carbamyl phosphate binding could be one of the elements that regulate ATCase stability in vivo. However, carbamyl phosphate pools were the same in cells grown with ammonium ions and with a mixture of 20 common amino acids, conditions under which ATCase stability in vivo differs. Thus, other means of regulating ATCase degradation must also exist.
A possible sensitive period for juvenile socialization in mice.

Juvenile male CFW mice were provided with 3 days of social experience with male partners of the same age and treatment group as themselves. They were isolated at all other times between weaning (21 days of age) and adulthood (42 days of age). When the mice were tested at 42–47 days of age, it was found that those mice which had received social experience at 27–30 and 30–33 days of age showed less wounding and a greater tendency to sleep together than mice which had received an equal amount of social experience at an earlier or later age.
Sugar cataracts in mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus)

Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) given a 50% galactose diet developed cataracts similar to those produced in rats maintained on the same diet. This report describes the various stages through which the cataracts progressed. The first sign of a cataract appeared 24 hr after feeding gerbils on the high galactose diet. The pace of cataract maturation was observed to be about twice of that in rats, although the blood galactose levels were similar in the two species. Aldose reductase activity in the gerbil lens was also about twice of that in the rat lens. In conformity with this, dulcitol accumulated to a higher level in gerbil lens during the early phase of cataractogenesis. The data are, therefore, in accordance with the concept that excessive accumulation of polyol in the lens initiates cataract development. The gerbil thus appears to be another suitable model for the study of sugar cataracts.