cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Large-S expansion for quantum antiferromagnets on a triangular lattice

We report spin-wave results for the sublattice magnetization (to order O(1/S2)) and two spin stiffnesses and susceptibilities (to order O(1/S)) for the two-dimensional triangular Heisenberg antiferromagnet. These stiffnesses and susceptibilities are used as input parameters in scaling functions for various observables. The scaling results for uniform susceptibility are compared with recent numerical data.
A Comprehensive View on Proteasomal Sequences: Implications for the Evolution of the Proteasome

Abstract Proteasomes are large multimeric self-compartmentizing proteases, which play a crucial role in the clearance of misfolded proteins, breakdown of regulatory proteins, processing of proteins by specific partial proteolysis, cell cycle control as well as preparation of peptides for immune presentation. Two main types can be distinguished by their different tertiary structure: the 20 S proteasome and the proteasome-like heat shock protein encoded by heat shock locus V, hslV. Usually, each biological kingdom is characterized by its specific type of proteasome. The 20 S proteasomes occur in eukarya and archaea whereas hslV protease is prevalent in bacteria. To verify this rule we applied a genome-wide sequence search to identify proteasomal sequences in data of finished and yet unfinished genome projects. We found several exceptions to this paradigm: (1) Protista: in addition to the 20 S proteasome, Leishmania, Trypanosoma and Plasmodium contained hslV, which may have been acquired from an α-proteobacterial progenitor of mitochondria. (2) Bacteria: for Magnetospirillum magnetotacticum and Enterococcus faecium we found that each contained two distinct hslVs due to gene duplication or horizontal transfer. Including unassembled data into the analyses we confirmed that a number of bacterial genomes do not contain any proteasomal sequence due to gene loss. (3) High G+C Gram-positives: we confirmed that high G+C Gram-positives possess 20 S proteasomes rather than hslV proteases. The core of the 20 S proteasome consists of two distinct main types of homologous monomers, α and β, which differentiated into seven subtypes by further gene duplications. By looking at the genome of the intracellular pathogen Encephalitozoon cuniculi we were able to show that differentiation of β-type subunits into different subtypes occurred earlier than that of α-subunits. Additionally, our search strategy had an important methodological consequence: a comprehensive sequence search for a particular protein should also include the raw sequence data when possible because proteins might be missed in the completed assembled genome. The structure-based multiple proteasomal alignment of 433 sequences from 143 organisms can be downloaded from the URL † and will be updated regularly.
Si 3 N 4 nanobeam optomechanical crystals

We demonstrate sideband-resolved Si 3 N 4 optomechanical crystals supporting 105 quality factor optical modes at 980 nm, coupled to GHz frequency mechanical modes. We also develop slot-mode-based geometries for enhanced optomechanical coupling and multimode applications.
Focused aortic ultrasound to evaluate the prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysm in ED patients with high-risk symptoms.

Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are the 10th mostcommon cause of death for those men older than 55 years[1]. The mortality rate is excessive for those aneurysmsthat rupture, approaching 50% in those patients whopresent emergently without evidence of shock, whereasthose operated on an elective basis have a mortality ratethat is approximately 5% [2,3]. Prior studies have lookedat the accuracy of ED performed ultrasound in patientswith a high suspicion of having a symptomatic AAA, butthis may be a different population than all patients withsymptoms that may possibly be referable to an aneurysm.However, patients 50 years and older with symptoms thatmay be referable to the aorta may represent a significantpopulation in the ED setting. Even if those patients havean unruptured aneurysm, its detection affords the patient areferral for elective repair. We undertook a limitedfocused abdominal aorta ultrasound screening programto determine the prevalence rate of aortic aneurysm (asdefined by N3 cm) in a high-risk patient population,although not one in which the primary consideration wasan aortic aneurysm.This study was approved by the institutional reviewboard for all patients able to give consent.Patients were enrolled on a convenience basis when 1 of2 physicians ultrasound credentialed according to AmericanCollege of Emergency Physicians criteria were available.Informed consent was obtained from the patients. Anypatient age 50 years or older that had 1 of the following6 symptoms, (1) abdominal pain, (2) back pain, (3) flankpain, (4) groin pain, (5) syncope, or (6) hypotension, wereconsidered for the study. Patients with a known AAA with
Organizational influences on patient perceptions of symptom management

We tested a theoretical model of the relationships of hospital context, nursing unit structure, and patient characteristics to patients’ perceptions of the extent to which nurses met their expectations for management of troubling symptoms. In our sample of 2,720 patients randomly selected from 278 nursing units in 143 hospitals, we found that patient age was positively associated with patients’ perceptions of symptom management. The proportion of registered nurses as caregivers on the unit was not a significant predictor of symptom management, but better work conditions on the unit (nurses’ autonomy, participation in decision-making, and collaboration with other disciplines [relational coordination]) significantly contributed to patients’ perceptions of better symptom management.
Concepts and clinical utilityof the measurement of cerebral blood flow

Within the past several decades, techniquesthat accurately measure regional cerebral blood flow have been developed. At the present time, the inert gas washout technique using an intraarterial injection of 133 Xe with the Anger scintillation camera or multiple probes as the external detector is the most established of these methods. While quantitative measures of cerebral blood flow have been important in elucidating the physiology of cerebral hemodynamics, the techniques are too invasive for routinely screening patients with cerebrovascular disease. As a result, less invasive methods have been sought for diagnostic screening. Because it requires only an intravenous injection of 99m Tc-pertechnetate, the radionuclide cerebral bral angiogram has achieved some popularity as a semiquantitative measure of cerebral hemodynamics, particularly when coupled with static brain scintigraphy. This review examines our current understanding of cerebral hemodynamics and the advantages and limitations of techniques used to measure cerebral blood flow.
Isoenzymes of human liver α-L-fucosidase: Chemical relationship, kinetic studies, and immunochemical characterization

The chemical relationship of the seven forms of human liver α-L fucosidase has been studied by isoelectric focusing of neuraminidase- and sialyltransferase-treated preparations of α-L-fucosidase. Neuraminidase treatment leads to a decrease in the activity of the more acidic forms (IV–VII) and a concomitant increase in the activity of the more neutral forms (I–II). Incubation of the neuraminidase-treated fucosidase (forms I–III) with radiolabelled cytidine monophosphate-N-3H-acetylneuraminic acid and an enriched preparation of sialyltransferase devoid of fucosidase activity led to regeneration of the more acidic fucosidase isoenzymes (IV–VII) with the same isoelectric points and in nearly the same proportion as before neuraminidase treatment. These experiments suggest that the isoenzymes of human liver α-L-fucosidase are related, at least in part, by sialic acid residues.
Gastric evacuation in the young lemon shark, Negaprion brevirostris, under field conditions

Gastric evacuation in young lemon sharks, Negaprion brevirostris, was studied in a field enclosure. Regression analysis was used to evaluate the adequacy of linear, exponential, and square root models in describing the decrease in stomach contents with time after feeding. The linear model produced the best fit and was thus used to compare gastric evacuation at the three temperatures. Gastric evacuation in young lemon sharks is considerably longer than for carnivorous teleosts but shorter than for other elasmobranchs. These differences are the result of differing energy requirements determined by the physiology and behavior of the species.
Optimal Linear Control of Single-Input Nonlinear Systems

A new approach to the design of linear controllers for a class of single-input, nonlinear systems is studied. For any convex set of initial conditions, an optimization problem is formulated whose solution is a stabilizing controller. First order necessary conditions are derived. When the nonlinearity is polynomial and the set of initial conditions is sufficiently small, approximate solutions are obtained by Carleman linearization.
Thresholds to preoptic stimulation at varying times in the rat estrous cycle.

The pituitary content of LH (and FSH) is reportedly high in late diestrus and the morning of proestrus and the median eminence content of the LH-releasing factor is also said to be elevated in late diestrus. This study was designed to estimate how far in advance of the normal “critical period” an ovulatory surge of gonadotropin can be induced by stimulation of the preoptic brain. Electrochemical stimulation was accomplished with a direct current of 100 μA for 30 sec through a concentric bipolar stainless steel electrode. Hypophysectomy was routinely performed 2 hr later. The tubal ampullae were searched for ova at autopsy on the morning of the normally expected estrus. Fewer than 7 ova or only histologic evidence of luteinization was considered evidence of partial activation. Full ovulation was obtained in most 4- and 5-day cyclic rats stimulated on proestrus at 0300 or later. In 4-day animals, stimulation 2–5 hr earlier gave negative results in most cases (9/15) and 4 of the others showed only slight par...
An Ore-type theorem on equitable coloring

A proper vertex coloring of a graph is equitable if the sizes of its color classes differ by at most one. In this paper, we prove that if G is a graph such that for each edge [email protected]?E(G), the sum d(x)+d(y) of the degrees of its ends is at most 2r+1, then G has an equitable coloring with r+1 colors. This extends the Hajnal-Szemeredi Theorem on graphs with maximum degree r and a recent conjecture by Kostochka and Yu. We also pose an Ore-type version of the Chen-Lih-Wu Conjecture and prove a very partial case of it.
Distance to slaughter, markets and feed sources used by small-scale food animal operations in the United States

Distances to common production and marketing supply chain destinations may vary, and this has economic and animal health implications for small-scale food animal operations. Proximity to these destinations can affect the economic viability and marketing decisions of small-scale operations and may represent significant barriers to sustainability. Data were collected using a cross-sectional survey conducted by the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Animal Health Monitoring System in 2011 using a stratified systematic sample of 16,000 small-scale (gross annual farm sales between US$10,000 and 499,999) operations from all 50 states. A total of 7925 food-animal operations were asked about the farthest one-way distance (in miles) to slaughter facilities, destinations where they sold animals or products, and feed sources. Across all small-scale operations, 95% of operations reported the farthest distance animals or products were transported for sale was 241 km (150 miles) or less. For distance to slaughter facilities, 95% of operations reported the farthest distance was 145 km (90 miles) or less. For feed shipped by a supplier, 95% of operations reported the farthest distance was 322 km (200 miles) or less. The 95th percentile for distance increased as farm sales increased, indicating larger operations were more likely to travel long distances. The results of this study are an important benchmark for understanding the economic and animal health implications of long transportation distances for operations that are small and/or focused on direct marketing.
Gathering and implementing market-driven requirements

Future success for any business or operation means understanding what the market wants and needs. Not only this, in our world, one must bring the product or service to the market faster than the the competition. The paper presents a method for discovering, systematically gathering, and implementing marketplace wants and needs. How to determine what must be offered to meet and to beat the competition to the future is also practiced.
Social and ritual determinants of whale bone transport at a classic Thule winter site in the Canadian Arctic

Recent research has demonstrated that patterning related to harvesting selectivity and architectural bone utilization persists in the surface distribution of bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) bones at classic Thule sites in the Canadian central Arctic, despite scavenging by later non-whaling Inuit groups. Since skeletal riders with minimal architectural or artifactual utility are associated with carcass portions that were socially and ritually prized ethnographically in North Alaska, this surface record may also preserve spatial structure relating to loci of high status settlement and/or ceremonial activity within sites. Close to 3400 bowhead bones were mapped at the major Thule winter village of Qariaraqyuk, southeast Somerset Island. The results of a principal components analysis of the element distributions are consistent with expectations for special treatment of bowhead flippers, tails, and tongues. These results are supported by excavation data which reveal that flipper and tongue bones were preferentially discarded in the vicinity of wealthy whaling households and a major ceremonial structure. Contrary to the longstanding belief that Thule whale bone assemblages are hopelessly compromised by prehistoric and historic bone transport, these assemblages hold great promise for investigating Thule social and ritual practices. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
What next, ubicomp?: celebrating an intellectual disappearing act

Weiser's landmark Scientific American article inspired many researchers to explore an exciting socio-technical vision of a third generation of computing. At the 21st anniversary of that published vision, I want to assess ubicomp's maturity and explore the identity challenge it faces. Today, ubicomp as a niche research topic no longer makes sense; we must celebrate its "disappearance" as a well-scoped research agenda because it has become a profound agenda across most of computing, and beyond. This should not be surprising; the 2nd generation of computing, the personal computer revolution, experienced the same profound disappearance. In celebration of this imminent disappearance, I will highlight the unique contributions of the ubicomp community, express some remaining intellectual challenges, and speculate on how to formulate new visions of computing that might succeed this third generation.
Maternal Mortality in the Delta Region of the United States

Poster Presentation Objective To compare the maternal mortality rate (MMR) in the Mississippi Delta region of the United States with that of the non‐Delta region states. Design Retrospective data analysis. Setting Mississippi Delta region of the United States. Sample Data from national birth certificates and death certificates from 1999 to 2007. Methods Data were aggregated for analysis by region, counties of the Delta Regional Authority, non‐Delta regions of the eight Delta states, and the 42 non‐Delta states. The MMR was calculated using birth data as the denominator and maternal mortality data as the numerator. Results Between 1999 and 2007 the national maternal mortality rate was 13.5/100,000 live births. The MMR for that same time period in the non‐Delta counties of Delta states was 13.1/100,000 live births, and for non‐Delta states, the MMR was 13.6/100,000 live births. The MMR for that same time period for the Delta counties was 18.5/100,000 live births. Even after adjusting for maternal race/ethnicity, age, marital status, and education, the MMR in the Delta compared with non‐Delta counties and non‐Delta states increased by 16%. Conclusion/Implications for Nursing Practice Overall maternal mortality is significantly greater in the Delta region of the United States than in the non‐Delta region. After controlling for maternal race/ethnicity, age, marital status, and education, the risk of maternal death remains 16% higher in the Delta region. This study provides a statistical representation of a long‐held belief that the risk of maternal mortality in a medically underserved area of low socioeconomic status within the United States is significantly higher than in other areas of the country. Health disparities and socioeconomic differences likely play important roles in this difference. Implications for nursing practice include efforts to provide more current and effective health care to these women and patient education regarding high risk health conditions and preventing unintended pregnancies.
Experimental Investigation of Bio-Inspired High Lift Effectors on a 2-D Airfoil

Flaps mounted on the upper surface of an airfoil, called Lift Enhancing Effectors, have been shown to increase maximum lift and stall angle in wind tunnel tests. These effectors are fabricated from 0.35mm thick Mylar and are allowed to rotate freely about their leading edge. The tests were done in the NCSU Subsonic Wind Tunnel at a chord Reynolds number of 4 10 5 . The maximum lift coefficient was increased by up to 30% and stall was increased from 12o to at least 16o. Fabricating the effector out of stiff wood and fixing the deployment angle with respect to the airfoil surface caused the zero lift angle of attack to increase in proportion to the deployment angle. Drag tests on both the free-moving and fixed deployment effectors showed marked improvement in drag at high alpha. The fixed deployment angle effectors showed drag improvement at increasingly higher alpha as deployment angle was increased. Oil flow visualization was completed on the clean airfoil and the fixed deployment angle effectors. The surface flow pictured by these oil flow tests proved that the effector causes the separation point to move aft on the airfoil, as compared to the clean airfoil. This is thought to be the main mechanism by which the effectors improve both lift and drag. Finally CFD simulations were run and compared to the oil flow visualization. Results for separation point agree between oil flow and CFD, for most alphas. Lift tests indicate that increasing the deployment angle past 60o amounts to very little improvement in Cl. Drag tests show that the free-moving effector naturally produces a drag curve in between the curves for the 30o and 45o fixed effectors.
Reevaluation of interpretive criteria for Haemophilus influenzae by using meropenem (10-microgram), imipenem (10-microgram), and ampicillin (2- and 10-microgram) disks.

A collection of 300 Haemophilus influenzae clinical strains was used to assess in vitro susceptibility to carbapenems (meropenem, imipenem) by MIC and disk diffusion methods and to compare disk diffusion test results with two potencies of ampicillin disks (2 and 10 micrograms). The isolates included ampicillin-susceptible or- intermediate (167 strains), beta-lactamase-positive (117 strains), and beta-lactamase-negative ampicillin-resistant (BLNAR; 16 strains) organisms. Disk diffusion testing was performed with 10-micrograms meropenem disks from two manufacturers. Meropenem was highly active against H. influenzae strains (MIC50, 0.06 microgram/ml; MIC90, 0.25 microgram/ml; MIC50 and MIC90, MICs at which 50 and 90%, respectively, of strains are inhibited) and was 8- to 16-fold more potent than imipenem (MIC50, 1 microgram/ml; MIC90, 2 micrograms/ml). Five non-imipenem-susceptible strains were identified (MIC, 8 micrograms/ml), but the disk diffusion test indicated susceptibility (zone diameters, 18 to 21 mm). MIC values of meropenem, doxycycline, ceftazidime, and ceftriaxone for BLNAR strains were two- to fourfold greater than those for other strains. The performance of both meropenem disks was comparable and considered acceptable. A single susceptible interpretive zone diameter of > or = 17 mm (MIC, or = 17 mm (MIC, or = 4 micrograms/ml). Among the BLNAR strains tested, 81.3% were miscategorized as susceptible or intermediate when the 10-micrograms ampicillin disk was used, while the 2-micrograms disk produced only minor interpretive errors (12.5%). Use of these criteria for testing H. influenzae against meropenem and ampicillin should maximize reference test and standardized disk diffusion test performance with the Haemophilus Test Medium. The imipenem disk diffusion test appears compromised and should be used with caution for detecting strains for which imipenem MICs are elevated.
Extrapolation model for pi pi scattering

A model is constructed as an alternative to, and for examination of, various extrapolation procedures used in determinations of $\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{\pi}$ phase shifts from the reaction $\ensuremath{\pi}+N\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\pi}+\ensuremath{\pi}+N$. This model is similar to that suggested by Ross and Kane in that it incorporates absorption effects approximately.
Urban mortality--race or place?

Several concomitant trends have occurred in American society in the 20th century. First life expectancy has improved overall and the gap between blacks and whites has narrowed. Second as the nature of the economy has changed from rural agrarian to urban postindustrial there have been fundamental changes in population residential patterns with most Americans now living in metropolitan areas. Within metropolitan areas blacks have become concentrated in poor inner cities as whites have moved to the more affluent suburbs. Black mortality rates are higher in big cities than elsewhere and appear to be directly related to the proportion of blacks in those cities. Black-white mortality ratios however are lower in cities of medium size than in either very large or small cities. (EXCERPT)
Decision Support Systems for Agrotechnology Transfer

Climate change causing sudden floods or prolonged droughts, and global warming resulting in loss of soil carbon and an increase in temperature are two major recent concerns in agriculture. The goal of maximum possible production to feed the world’s booming population is also a priority. Maximizing crop production while mitigating the effects of climate change and global warming can only be achieved if sustainable agriculture is practiced. As agricultural management practices and views of agriculturists changed, the definition of sustainable agriculture also changed. However, conservation of environmental resources along with maximum yield of crops or cropping systems has always been the main aim of sustainable agriculture. Crop forecasting through anticipation of future weather patterns and timely decision of proper agricultural management practices to avoid sudden crop failure is one of the most advanced ways of sustainable agriculture. The suite of crop simulation models in Decision Support Systems for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) is a very useful tool for sustainable agriculture advancement. DSSAT, which is used to predict the productivity ranges of crops, also has the flexibility to use geographic information system (GIS), decision-making analysis programs and weather generators. DSSAT has been used by many scientists, decision-makers and researchers all over the world for more than two decades and has been modified to meet specific needs and improve the predictability of the crop models under different circumstances.
The Affective Experience of Novice Computer Programmers

Novice students (N = 99) participated in a lab study in which they learned the fundamentals of computer programming in Python using a self-paced computerized learning environment involving a 25-min scaffolded learning phase and a 10-min unscaffolded fadeout phase. Students provided affect judgments at approximately 100 points (every 15 s) over the course of viewing videos of their faces and computer screens recorded during the learning session. The results indicated that engagement, confusion, frustration, boredom, and curiosity were the most frequent affective states, while anxiety, happiness, anger, surprise, disgust, sadness, and fear were rare. Confusion + frustration and curiosity + engagement were identified as two frequently co-occurring pairs of affective states. An analysis of affect dynamics indicated that there were reciprocal transitions between engagement and confusion, confusion and frustration, and one way transitions between frustration and boredom and boredom and engagement. Considering interaction events in tandem with affect revealed that constructing code was the central activity that preceded and followed each affective state. Further, confusion and frustration followed errors and preceded hint usage, while curiosity and engagement followed reading or coding. An analysis of affect-learning relationships after partialling out control variables (e.g., scholastic aptitude, hint usage) indicated that boredom (r = −.149) and frustration (r = −.218) were negative correlated with learning while transitions between confusion → frustration (r = .103), frustration → confusion (r = .105), and boredom → engagement (r = .282) were positively correlated with learning. Implications of the results to theory on affect incidence and dynamics and on the design of affect-aware learning environments are discussed.
Compatibility of Bordeaux Mixture and Cube

Bordeaux mixture, as commonly prepared, is neutral or slightly alkaline and the effect of this mixture on the constituents of cube appeared worthy of careful study.
Rat Decidual Cell Cultures

Pregnancy requires profound reorganization of the different tissues forming the uterus. Growth and differentiation of the uterine endometrial cells give rise to the decidual tissue, a transitory organ, which plays a key role in fetal survival. In this chapter, we describe a technique for the dispersion and the separation of the two different decidual cell subpopulations with high yield and viability. We also detail a cell culture method, which allows the maintenance of the function and life span of these highly purified decidual cells when cultured either separately or in a co-culture system.
Lymphocyte function in the critically ill surgical patient.

The authors succinctly describe the normal function of lymphocytes before analyzing at length the contribution by lymphocytes to the immune response. Abnormalities of dysfunction, evidence for it, and mechanisms causing immunosuppression are considered in the context of the humoral and cellular components of host defense.
Structure-Based Prediction of Protein-Folding Transition Paths

We propose a general theory to describe the distribution of protein-folding transition paths. We show that transition paths follow a predictable sequence of high-free-energy transient states that are separated by free-energy barriers. Each transient state corresponds to the assembly of one or more discrete, cooperative units, which are determined directly from the native structure. We show that the transition state on a folding pathway is reached when a small number of critical contacts are formed between a specific set of substructures, after which folding proceeds downhill in free energy. This approach suggests a natural resolution for distinguishing parallel folding pathways and provides a simple means to predict the rate-limiting step in a folding reaction. Our theory identifies a common folding mechanism for proteins with diverse native structures and establishes general principles for the self-assembly of polymers with specific interactions.
Polymorphisms in CYP1A1 and CYP3A5 Genes Contribute to the Variability in Granisetron Clearance and Exposure in Pregnant Women with Nausea and Vomiting.

Background Nausea and vomiting affect up to 90% of pregnant women. Granisetron is a potent and highly selective serotonin receptor antagonist and is an effective antiemetic. Findings from a prior study in pregnant women demonstrated a large interindividual variability in granisetron exposure. Granisetron is primarily metabolized by the cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes CYP1A1 and CYP3A and is likely a substrate of the ABCB1 transporter. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in CYP3A, CYP1A1, and ABCB1 can alter drug metabolism. Objective This study evaluated the influence of polymorphisms in CYP3A4, CYP3A5, CYP1A1, and ABCB1 on the pharmacokinetic properties of granisetron in pregnant women. Methods The study enrolled 16 pregnant women (gestational age of 12-19 wks). All patients had nausea and vomiting and were treated with granisetron 1 mg. Granisetron plasma concentrations were determined using liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry. The patients' genotype was determined using TaqMan SNP Genotyping Assays. The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was assessed by comparing observed and expected genotype frequencies, using the exact test. Intravenous granisetron clearance was used as the dependent variable for analysis of associations. Results Of 16 patients, 25% were homozygous for the allele variant CYP3A5*3 and had a significantly lower granisetron clearance and increased area under the plasma concentration-versus-time curve (AUC) compared with nonhomozygous patients. Approximately one-third of patients (n=5) were carriers for the allele variant CYP1A1*2A and had a significantly higher granisetron clearance and decreased AUC. We did not find significant differences in the AUC or clearance for any SNPs in CYP3A4 and ABCB1 genes. Conclusions Polymorphisms in CYP3A5 and CYP1A1 account for some of the variability in systemic clearance and exposure of granisetron in pregnant women.
Are outcomes of allografts for CLL still relevant

In this issue of Blood, Kramer et al have provided a long-term update on the outcomes of patients enrolled in the German CLL Study Group CLL3X trial who underwent a matched related or unrelated allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) with a reduced-intensity fludarabine/alkylator-based approach for high-risk chronic lymphocytic leukemia (HR-CLL).1
Dynamic structural econometric modeling of the ethanol industry

This chapter reviews some of the papers my co-authors and I have written developing and estimating dynamic structural econometric models of dynamic games in the ethanol industry. These structural econometric models model the dynamic and strategic decisions made by ethanol firms and enable us to analyze the effects of government policy. Analyses that ignore the dynamic implications of government policies, including their effects on incumbent ethanol firms’ investment, production, and exit decisions and on potential entrants’ entry behavior, may generate incomplete estimates of the impact of the policies and misleading predictions of the future evolution of the fuel ethanol industry. In Thome and Lin Lawell [50], we estimate a model of the investment timing game in corn ethanol plants in the United States. In Yi and Lin Lawell [53, 54], we estimate a model of the investment timing game in ethanol plants worldwide that allows for the choice among different feedstocks. In Yi et al. [55], we estimate a structural econometric model of ethanol firms’ investment, production, entry, and exit decisions in order to analyze the effects of government subsidies and the Renewable Fuel Standard on the U.S. fuel ethanol industry. The results of our research will help determine which policies and factors can promote fuel-ethanol industry development.
Paleobiology of the Late Cretaceous sclerorhynchid sawfish, Ischyrhiza mira (Elasmobranchii: Rajiformes), from North America based on new anatomical data

We describe seven associated skeletal remains of Ischyrhiza mira, a Late Cretaceous sclerorhynchid sawfish, from the Campanian‒lower Maastrichtian of Tennessee and Alabama, U.S.A., to decipher its ...
Brain Activity Associated With Attention Deficits Following Chemotherapy for Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

BACKGROUND The impact of contemporary chemotherapy treatment for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia on central nervous system activity is not fully appreciated. METHODS Neurocognitive testing and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) were obtained in 165 survivors five or more years postdiagnosis (average age = 14.4 years, 7.7 years from diagnosis, 51.5% males). Chemotherapy exposure was measured as serum concentration of methotrexate following high-dose intravenous injection. Neurocognitive testing included measures of attention and executive function. fMRI was obtained during completion of two tasks, the continuous performance task (CPT) and the attention network task (ANT). Image analysis was performed using Statistical Parametric Mapping software, with contrasts targeting sustained attention, alerting, orienting, and conflict. All statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS Compared with population norms, survivors demonstrated impairment on number-letter switching (P < .001, a measure of cognitive flexibility), which was associated with treatment intensity (P = .048). Task performance during fMRI was associated with neurocognitive dysfunction across multiple tasks. Regional brain activation was lower in survivors diagnosed at younger ages for the CPT (bilateral parietal and temporal lobes) and the ANT (left parietal and right hippocampus). With higher serum methotrexate exposure, CPT activation decreased in the right temporal and bilateral frontal and parietal lobes, but ANT alerting activation increased in the ventral frontal, insula, caudate, and anterior cingulate. CONCLUSIONS Brain activation during attention and executive function tasks was associated with serum methotrexate exposure and age at diagnosis. These findings provide evidence for compromised and compensatory changes in regional brain function that may help clarify the neural substrates of cognitive deficits in acute lymphoblastic leukemia survivors.
The Effects of a BDNF Val66Met Polymorphism on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Meta-Analysis.

Objective: Given evidence that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is moderately heritable, a number of studies utilizing candidate gene approaches have attempted to examine the potential contributions of theoretically relevant genetic variation. Some of these studies have found sup port for a brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) variant, Val66Met, in the risk of developing PTSD, while others have failed to find this link. Methods: This study sought to reconcile these conflicting findings using a meta-analysis framework. Analyses were also used to determine whether there is significant heterogeneity in the link between this variant and PTSD. We conducted a systematic review of the literature on BDNF and PTSD from the PsycINFO and PubMed databases. A total of 11 studies were included in the analysis. Results: Findings indicate a marginally significant effect of the BDNF Val66Met variant on PTSD (p < 0.1). However, of the 11 studies included, only 2 suggested an effect with a non-zero confidence interval, one of which showed a z score of 3.31. We did not find any evidence for heterogeneity. Conclusions: Findings from this meta-analytic investigation of the published literature provide little support for the Val66Met variant of BDNF as a predictor of PTSD. Future well-powered agnostic genome-wide association studies with more refined phenotyping are needed to clarify genetic influences on PTSD.
Characterization and Perceptions of Surgical Clinician Educators: An International Survey.

OBJECTIVE Surgeons worldwide face unique time and practice pressures differentiating them from other types of physicians, specifically as clinician educators (CEs). The purpose of this study is to identify and describe academic surgical clinician educators (SCEs) in international graduate medical education systems, characterize their perceptions of roles, preparedness, and factors affecting job satisfaction and retention, as compared to nonsurgical international CEs. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS A cross-sectional survey of CEs was conducted June 2013-June 2014 at academic medical centers in Singapore, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates that adopted competency-based graduate medical education and received accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-International. RESULTS Two hundred seventy-six (76.3%) of 359 eligible physicians responded; 64 (23.2%) were SCEs. SCEs were predominantly male (80%), less than 50 years of age (83%), with 64% having been in their current position less than 5 years. Overall, SCEs were significantly less confident, as compared to nonsurgical CEs, in aspects of educational programs, including curriculum development, assessment, and mentorship. SCEs spent significantly more time engaged in patient care activities, as compared to nonsurgeon colleagues. There were no significant differences between SCEs and nonsurgical CEs in terms of work-life balance and satisfaction with responsibilities, position, or potential promotion, with most SCEs intending to stay in academic medicine. CONCLUSIONS Academic SCEs working in the international programs reported overall job satisfaction with a desire to remain in academic medicine. However, SCEs have several faculty development needs. International surgical training programs can develop and expand offerings in teaching and education to improve skills and maintain SCE satisfaction and retention, necessary to successfully train the next generation of surgeons.
Interaction of Radionuclides with Geomedia from the Nevada Test Site

Aqueous/solid distribution coefficients have been measured for {sup 137}Cs, {sup 85}Sr, {sup 99}Tc, {sup 152}Eu, {sup 144}Ce, {sup 238}Pu, {sup 243}Am and {sup 244}Cm on powdered argillite and hornfels obtained from the Nevada Test Site. The fluid phases included a groundwater simulant and deionized water preequilibrated with powdered argillite. Distribution coefficients for lanthanides and actinides are generally high and Eleana shale was found to effectively sorb technetium.
Role of excess lipoyl dehydrogenase in reconstituted α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex of Escherichiacoli

The alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex of Escherichia coli can bind up to 12 dimers of dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase (E3) besides those already present. Maximal activity does not increase, however, when surplus E3 is present. This observation was previously interpreted to mean that the excess enzyme is inactive. We have now determined that if the reactions catalyzed by E3 are made rate-limiting, the excess E3 functions equivalently to that in the native complex.
Fourier Transform Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Study of Fibers, Polymer Films, and Coatings

A unique modification of the diffuse reflectance FT-IR (DRTFT) technique has been utillzed in the study of surface structure by vibrational spectroscopy. This approach has extended the use of DRIFT to fiber, polymer film, and coating surface characterization. High sensitivity, elimination of orientation effects, and a non-destructive sampling procedure are valuable aspects of the technique. The modification of the standard DRIFT experiment involves the use of a granular overlayer such as KBr whereby the relative contribution of the surface to the total spectrum can be controlled by the amount and particle size of the overlayer. Examples of this approach are described in this paper.
The Development of Dynamic Capabilities through Organizational and Managerial Processes

One key consequence of the dynamic capabilities approach is that the competitive advantage of a firm lies in its organizational and managerial processes. The research question examined in this paper is how organizational processes such as knowledge management and managerial processes such as the coordination between top managers specifically lead to dynamic capabilities. After reviewing the literature, we review several case studies and examine in detail the impact of these particular organizational and managerial processes on dynamic capabilities. Our first case is a healthcare firm that used a managerial process; however, this firm did not achieve a dynamic capability. The other two cases specifically illustrate how a financial services firm used an organizational process and how a manufacturing firm used a managerial process to develop dynamic capabilities. In comparing these three cases, we demonstrate the three sets of activities that are necessary to develop a dynamic capability.
The end of the Ordovician and the colonization of the land

The much improved fossil record of the Phanerozoic allows for a more detailed analysis of changes in animal and plant assemblages. Disappearance of some animals and plants, and the proliferation of new types can be at least partly quantified. Sudden extinction and rapid development of new groups of animals provide a picture of evolutionary history which suggests that there were rather spectacular extinction events as well as both sudden and gradual emergence of new forms. The extinction events are typically the most striking, with significant percentages of extant species wiped out in a very short time, even almost instantly. Extinction events were usually followed by rapid development of new types to fill the vacated ecological space, and this has happened several times over the last 500 million years. One of the most interesting developments in the early Phanerozoic was the proliferation of animals during the Ordovician, followed by a significant extinction event at or near its close. This was soon followed by the colonization of dry land previously inaccessible to life adapted to aquatic living. This innovation opened up an enormous area of ecological space and was a key step toward the Earth as we know it. An important part of geologic study is to understand what processes may be responsible for both extinction events and the way in which long-term geological changes may result in biological “opportunities”.
Characterizing the catastrophic 2017 Mud Creek landslide, California, using repeat structure-from-motion (SfM) photogrammetry

Along the rugged coast of Big Sur, California, the Mud Creek landslide failed catastrophically on May 20, 2017, and destroyed over 400 m of scenic California State Highway 1. We collected structure-from-motion (SfM) photogrammetry data using airborne platforms that, when combined with existing airborne lidar data, revealed that the area exhibited significant topographic change and displacement before, during, and after the catastrophic failure. Before the catastrophic failure, we document two areas of elevated change in the zone of depletion, which aligned with the double-peaked head scarp produced by the catastrophic failure. The catastrophic failure extended from 337-m elevation to at least 8 m below sea level, was 490 m wide, displaced ~ 3 million m3 of earth and rock, and deposited landslide debris at least 175 m seaward of the original shoreline. The failure was not a complete slope-clearing event, however, and several upslope and lateral regions that did not slip into the ocean exhibited significant displacement and topographic change during the days and months after the catastrophic failure. Additionally, we use the post-slide data to quantify several other processes, including the time-varying rates of talus accumulation and coastal erosion of the landslide toe. We conclude that repeat SfM surveys from aerial imagery can provide valuable information about landslide evolution and the potential for deep-seated landslide hazards—especially in the lead up to catastrophic failure—if photos are collected and processed regularly.
Physician case-by-case assignment and participation in Medicare.

ABSTRACT The prospect of budget cuts in Medicare is likely to result in less generous reimbursements from Medicare and thus affects physicians' willingness to accept Medicare patients with the reduced payments. This study examines physicians' decisions about case-by-case assignment and participation in Medicare in relation to Medicare reimbursement generosity. A two-part model is applied to a database from a national survey of physicians. The results indicate that reimbursement generosity from private insurance relative to that from Medicare negatively affects physicians' assignment rates, implying that the elderly's access to health care and/or the financial burden is likely to be jeopardized by further reductions in Medicare reimbursements.
A study on the improved expression of nutrition information in prepackaged food nutrition labels

Objective To explore the expression of nutrition information based on consumer cognitive psychology, and improve the applicability of pre-packaged food nutrition labels. Method Taking the “nutrition label” of a biscuit as an example: First, the energy (kilojoules) of the biscuit is converted into “food exchange serving”; Then, the energy supply ratio of three major calorigenic nutrients of various foods in the biscuit is calculated according to the “China Food Composition Table”, and the energy supply ratio of three major calorigenic nutrient in different food combinations is also calculated. Finally, we determined whether energy supply ratio of the three major calorigenic nutrients of the biscuit is similar to a mix of certain energy ratios of certain types of food. Thus, the new nutritional information expression of 'nutrition labels' was determined. The applicability and operability of balanced food practice was compared between the existing and improved nutrition information expression by the 'desktop deduction' method. Results The biscuit contains 1 823 kJ of energy per 100 g, which is about 5 “food exchange servings”. The average energy supply ratio of protein, fat, and carbohydrate of all kinds of food are as follows: The cereals were 15%, 5% and 80% respectively; the meats were 55%, 39% and 10% respectively; the vegetables were 27%, 9% and 58% respectively; and the fruits were 5%, 3% and 91%, respectively. If different types of food are mixed according to their energy ratio, then the energy supply ratio of the three energy producing nutrients is different. The energy ratio of the three energy producing nutrients of the prepackaged food will always be similar to that of the mixture of some kinds of food. The biscuit is similar to 1∶4 energy mixed with oil foods and cereals, which translates to about 10 g of oils and 100 g of grains, based on the 'food exchange serving'. Hence, if you eat 100 g of these cookies, subtract about 10 g of fat and 100 g of cereal from your three meals per day. Conclusion The nutritional ingredient list of 'prepackaged food nutrition label' should increase the expression of 'food exchange' and food category and energy proportion, so as to facilitate the practice of balanced diet by consumers. Key words: Food labeling; Diet; Research
Introduction “Engaged” Journalism: Studying the News Industry’s Changing Relationship with the Public

Relationships have long been at the heart of journalism. The reporter and their sources. The news outlet and its audience. Journalists and the community. Likewise, a number of movements and schools...