cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Virtual office, community, and computing (VOCC): designing an energy science hub collaboration system

The Consortium for Advanced Simulation of Light Water Reactors (CASL) implements a management strategy that imbues physical collocation; community; collaboration; central leadership; multidisciplinary teams executing a single milestones-driven plan; and integrated, co-dependent projects. The CASL-streamlined management structure includes collocation at CASL, use of technology to achieve multidiscipline collaboration, video conferencing for meetings, and a VOCC project that integrates both the latest and emerging technologies to build an extended "virtual one roof." CASL is headquartered at ORNL, where the CASL leadership and a majority of the multidisciplinary, multi-institutional scientists and engineers will be located. Work performed at partner sites will be seamlessly integrated across the consortium on a real-time basis via community and computing (VOCC) capability that integrates both the latest and emerging technologies to build an extended "virtual one-roof" allowing multidisciplinary collaboration among CASL staff at all sites. The paper describes the VOCC collaboration system.
Phagolysosomal Trafficking Assay

Phagolysosomal trafficking is an important innate defense pathway that clears microbes by delivering them to lysosomes, the degradative compartment of the cell. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of tuberculosis, subverts this host defense mechanism by arresting maturation of the phagosome. The ability of Mtb to arrest its delivery to the lysosome can be demonstrated by the prolonged co-localization of bacteria containing phagosomes/vacuole with early phagosomal markers [such as, Ras-related proteins in the brain 5 (Rab5) and Transferrin receptor (TfR)], and a failure to acquire late phagosomal and lysosomal markers (such as Rab7 and LAMP1) (Deretic and Fratti, 1999, Mehra et al., 2013). Here, a protocol is outlined for infection of macrophages with mycobacterial species like pathogenic Mtb, vaccine strain Mycobacterium bovis- bacillus Calmatte- Guerin (BCG) and rapidly dividing non-pathogenic Mycobacterium smegmatis (Msmeg), followed by indirect-immunofluorescence microscopy to visualize host vacuolar markers. Thereafter, automated quantification of degree of co-localization between mycobacteria and host vacuolar markers like TfR and LAMP1 is done by processing the binary images of bacteria using mathematical tools. This results in quantification of the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of these host markers directly around the bacteria/bacterial clusters with increased sensitivity relative to when done manually. By manipulating host or pathogen, this assay can be used to evaluate host or bacterial determinants of intracellular trafficking. The basic method can be applied to studying trafficking of other bacteria or particles like beads, although the kinetics of infection and phagosome maturation will depend upon the phagocytic cargo. The mathematical analysis tools are available in many standard imaging analysis programs. However, any adaption for similar analysis should be confirmed by the individual user with their imaging and analysis platform.
Development of a large area micro-structured solid-state neutron detector at low cost

The use of (He-3, BF-3) gas-based thermal neutron detector systems is limited by the cost, size, weight, and power requirements for many of the emerging applications. Therefore, the development of low-cost large-area solid-state neutron detectors for a wide range of civilian and defense applications is desirable. Solar cell type solid-state neutron detector using highly matured silicon technology would provide significant benefits in terms of cost, size, weight, and volume, and allow for wafer level integration with charge preamplifier and readout electronics. We present here the recent efforts on the fabrication of large area 10B filled honey-comb structured solid state thermal neutron detectors and detector modules with detection area up to 16 cm2 that requires only a single pre-amp and shaping amplifier for data acquisition. The average leakage current density of 1 cm2 area device is about 3×10−8 Acm−2 and neutron detection efficiency of ∼29% for 0.0253 eV neutrons. For two stacked 1 cm2 detector, the efficiency is about 46% with gamma efficiency of 0.001% above the discrimination level of 0.5 MeV.
Physiology of growth and development. Its relationship to performance in the young athlete.

Proper groupings of children for physical activity and sport is important for injury prevention and competition. Several of the classification systems presently used are reviewed, as are the physiologic underpinnings of pubertal growth and development as they relate to the accrual of strength and power. It is during adolesence that the greatest physiologic differences exist, mainly because of the wide variations in the timing and tempo of the pubertal growth spurt in normally growing boys and girls. Maturity-based categorization, especially in contact and collision sports, would heighten the competition and may lessen rates of injury.
Payoff and presentation modulation of elicited risk preferences in MPLs

Since Holt and Laury (Am Econ Rev 92(5):1644–1655, 2002), the multiple price list (MPL) procedure has widely been used to elicit individual risk preferences. We assess the impact of varying list order and spacing, and of presentation via text or graphs. Relative to the original MPL baseline, some non-linear transformations of lottery prices systematically increase elicited risk aversion, while some graphical displays tend to reduce it.
How my policy got in the way of our safety

A case history of how after a company had two or more work place safety policies in use, accidents started to rise and deaths started accumulating, a personal accountability tool we called an individual safety plan was put in place! This paper explains how we implemented human performance and change management in our new Safe Work Practices Program to achieve zero significant injuries or fatalities the very next year and a reduction in our total incident case rate.
Procedural Anticoagulation in Myocardial Infarction

The prognosis for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-STEMI (NSTEMI) is improved with the use of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Choosing the best procedural anticoagulation regimen to balance the risks of ischemia and bleeding during PCI is essential to optimize outcomes. Heparin, a nonspecific indirect thrombin inhibitor, was the only anticoagulant agent used during PCI for several decades, first with aspirin alone and then with aspirin plus a platelet P2Y12 receptor inhibitor (ticlopidine or clopidogrel). Adding a platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitor to heparin therapy further reduced the risk of stent thrombosis, reinfarction, and death among patients . . .
Search Engine Optimization and Ethical Leadership Strategies

The information technologies and media organizations embody the twin challenges of business ethics and leadership strategies. This chapter study of ethical leadership strategies (ELS, in advance) in media company management and their relationship with the search engine optimization (SEO, in advance). Analysis of the strategies and tactics used in the SEO and its results in the medium and long term. Comparative of ethical and unethical behavior in organizations based on information technologies. Deep studies through the strategies followed by search engines recognized in the market for information management. Analysis of the correlation between ethical behaviors in Web positioning strategies, and tangible and intangible results at information based organizations. This correlation would partly explained by a number of key factors such as integrity, commitment, people orientation, and transparency in communication. Finally, this chapter establishes a user guide that enables companies to have basic reference information on which to act at the strategic and operational on the SEO of your organization, taking into consideration the ethical codes of behavior.
Melting of the Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine Monolayer

Langmuir monolayer self-assembled at the air–water interface represents an excellent model for studying phase transition and lipid polymorphism in two dimensions. Compared with numerous studies of phospholipid phase transitions induced by isothermal compression, there are very scarce reports on two-dimensional phase transitions induced by isobaric heating. This is mainly due to technical difficulties of continuously regulating temperature variations while maintaining a constant surface pressure in a classical Langmuir-type film balance. Here, with technological advances in constrained drop surfactometry and closed-loop axisymmetric drop shape analysis, we studied the isobaric heating process of the dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) monolayer. It is found that temperature and surface pressure are two equally important intensive properties that jointly determine the phase behavior of the phospholipid monolayer. We have determined a critical point of the DPPC monolayer at a temperature of 44 °C and a sur...
Greener farming: managing carbon and nitrogen cycles to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture

Abstract The development of sustainable and productive farming depends on the effective management of the carbon and nitrogen cycles. Despite the importance of these natural processes, their recent separation within intensive, specialized production has led to increased environmental impacts, and loss pathways from both cycles are responsible for agriculture's substantial contribution to global warming. At the same time, growing populations are placing increasing demands on fragile agroecosystems and the effects of climate change are already being witnessed in a range of climatic zones. As a result of such impacts, there is an urgent need to review the way our food is produced to identify areas for greenhouse gas abatement and emission offsetting. This chapter explored some opportunities for improvement, with reference to individual practices and farming systems. Challenges and opportunities for the sector are also discussed from research, farm practice, and regulatory perspectives.
Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in recipients of cellular or solid organ allografts.

Transplantation of solid organs and cells (e.g., islets) has been made possible because of immunosuppressive agents. Cyclosporin A (CsA) or FK506 is often given in combination with other agents, such as polyclonal or monoclonal antibody based induction therapy, steroids, and/or mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). Immunosuppression must be administered throughout the recipient’s life, and while one year graft survival rates for solid organ transplants are excellent, the survival of transplanted organs drops dramatically over time (1). There are several adverse consequences associated with the use of chronic, generalized anti-rejection agents, including increased incidence of infection and malignancy, stunting of normal growth and development, diabetogenicity, nephrotoxicity, and osteoporosis (2-8).
Developing Tobacco Control Interventions in Permanent Supportive Housing for Formerly Homeless Adults

Smoke-free policies are effective population-based strategies to reduce tobacco use yet are uncommon in permanent supportive housing (PSH) for formerly homeless individuals who have high rates of s...
Asian Aproaches and The Theology of Karl Rahner

This article explores how Rahner’s work can fit within an Asian theological approach of understanding God. For many Asians, religion is a lived experience and being a Christian is a choice that can be counter-cultural. Christianity is still commonly perceived as a Western religion in many parts of Asia. This may result in a re-thinking of what it means to be an Asian Christian beyond the Western context. This article will offer some thoughts on the Asian approach to theology and then consider aspects of Rahner’s thought that can appeal to Asian sensibilities. Though Rahner comes from a Western context, there is a commonality in his work, which can speak to the Asian lived faith experience and their orientation towards the divine.
Abstract 106: Characterizing Aortic Wall Dynamics in Murine Models of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Using Ultrasound Imaging

The objective of this study is to use non-invasive ultrasound imaging to characterize aortic wall dynamics in abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). We induced AAAs (n=5) in apolipoprotein-E deficient ...
Strategies for Promoting Positive Lecturer-Student Relationship: Focus On College Algebra at USIU

This paper sets out to establish strategies that can be employed by a College Algebra lecturer in a classroom setting to develop a positive lecturer-student relationship in order to improve performance in examinations at university level. The instrument of data collection was a questionnaire administered to several students who voluntarily answered them. The findings show that positive lecturer-student relations have a significant impact on the student learning process and performance in College Algebra examinations. Key words: College Algebra, pedagogy, positive lecturer-student relations, classroom setting, teaching, lessons, lecturer, performance, students.
Variable ethanol concentrations and stable carbon isotopes reveal anthropogenic ethanol contributions to rainwater

Abstract The recent rapid increase in ethanol use as a biofuel and emission to the atmosphere may impact air quality and oxidizing capacity in the atmosphere. However, the global models show large uncertainties on sources of atmospheric ethanol. Concentrations and compound-specific stable carbon isotope ratios of ethanol (δ13Cethanol) in rainwater were measured in samples collected in six countries and 16 different locations over a two-year period (n = 270 for concentration; n = 111 for δ13Cethanol). Ethanol concentrations ranged from below the limit of detection ( 0.15), indicating that biofuel ethanol in rainwater is locally supplied during rain droplet formation. The results of this study are significant because they shed new insight into the role of anthropogenic emission of ethanol to the atmosphere. This study is particularly relevant as ethanol production and usage as a biofuel continues to increase globally.
Colloidal Quantum Dots as Photocatalysts for Triplet Excited State Reactions of Organic Molecules.

Triplet excited state chemistry has enabled a range of important organic transformations by accessing reaction pathways inaccessible to photoredox chemistry. Such photoreactions are triggered by tr...
A subset of CyberShake ground-motion time series for response-history analysis:

This manuscript describes a subset of CyberShake numerically simulated ground motions that were selected and vetted for use in engineering response-history analyses. Ground motions were selected th...
Fractured Understanding of Mindfulness: A Response to Clarifying the Mindfulness Muddle

We thank Glass et al. (2020) for their response to our book review of their work (Wilson & Gearity, 2020) and welcome this opportunity for greater dialogue. We find that our differences lay more in...
Unusual Features of QCD Low-Energy Modes in the Infrared Phase.

It was recently proposed that there is a phase in thermal QCD (IR phase) at temperatures well above the chiral crossover, featuring elements of scale invariance in the infrared (IR). Here, we study the effective spatial dimensions ${d}_{\mathrm{IR}}$ of Dirac low-energy modes in this phase, in the context of pure-glue QCD. Our ${d}_{\mathrm{IR}}$ is based on the scaling of mode support toward thermodynamic limit, and hence is an IR probe. Ordinary extended modes, such as those at high energy, have ${d}_{\mathrm{IR}}=3$. We find ${d}_{\mathrm{IR}}l3$ in the spectral range whose lower edge coincides with ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{\mathrm{IR}}=0$, the singularity of spectral density defining the IR phase, and the upper edge with ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{A}$, the previously identified Anderson-like nonanalyticity. Details near ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{\mathrm{IR}}$ are unexpected in that only exact zero modes are ${d}_{\mathrm{IR}}=3$, while a thin spectral layer near zero is ${d}_{\mathrm{IR}}=2$, followed by an extended layer of ${d}_{\mathrm{IR}}=1$ modes. With only integer values appearing, ${d}_{\mathrm{IR}}$ may have a topological origin. We find similar structure at ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{A}$, and associate its adjacent thin layer (${d}_{\mathrm{IR}}⪆2$) with Anderson-like criticality. Our analysis reveals the manner in which nonanalyticities at ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{\mathrm{IR}}$ and ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{A}$, originally identified in other quantities, appear in ${d}_{\mathrm{IR}}(\ensuremath{\lambda})$. This dimension structure may be important for understanding the near-perfect fluidity of the quark-gluon medium seen in accelerator experiments. The role of ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{A}$ in previously conjectured decoupling of IR component is explained.
Abiotic stress through time

Throughout plant evolution the circadian clock has expanded into a complex signaling network, coordinating physiological and metabolic processes with the environment. Early land plants faced new environmental pressures that required energy-demanding stress responses. Integrating abiotic stress response into the circadian system provides control over daily energy expenditure. Here, we describe the evolution of the circadian clock in plants and the limited, yet compelling, evidence for conserved regulation of abiotic stress. The need to introduce abiotic stress tolerance into current crops has expanded research into wild accessions and revealed extensive variation in circadian clock parameters across monocot and eudicot species. We argue that research into the ancestral links between the clock and abiotic stress will benefit crop improvement efforts.
Enjoined and Incarcerated: Complications with Incarcerated People Seeking Economic Relief under the CARES Act (preprint)

Congress passed the first round of checks as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) in late March 2020 to infuse more than $2 trillion into the national economy and address the overlapping medical and economic emergencies stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. But incarcerated individuals were initially excluded from receiving stimulus checks, despite being eligible to receive them. This delay in delivering immediate cash assistance through the CARES Act to incarcerated individuals exposes the inadequacy of the tax administrative doctrine in resolving emergency relief disputes and how exclusionary measures embedded in the tax system and other economic policies inhibit the rehabilitation prospects of incarcerated people. Millions of Americans made personal and financial sacrifices in 2020 to aid the public health efforts, including incarcerated individuals. In return, those who were denied economic relief on an arbitrary basis by the government should not have to wait until the following tax year to seek a legal remedy. In other words, the legal framework for challenging tax decisions is too unsympathetic toward many taxpayers that rely on policies embedded in the tax code for immediate economic relief. Further, by providing nearly universal economic stimulus, Congress recognized the plight of incarcerated individuals during a pandemic and moved away from the exclusionary stimulus measures enacted in prior economic crises. Providing economic stimulus to those in incarceration is sound economic stimulus policy so long as punitive measures for individuals in and exiting incarceration are embedded in tax and economic policy.
Preclinical Western Blot in the Era of Digital Transformation and Reproducible Research, an Eastern Perspective

The current research is an interdisciplinary endeavor to develop a necessary tool in preclinical protein studies of diseases or disorders through western blotting. In the era of digital transformation and open access principles, an interactive cloud-based database called East–West Blot ( https://rancs-lab.shinyapps.io/WesternBlots ) is designed and developed. The online interactive subject-specific database built on the R shiny platform facilitates a systematic literature search on the specific subject matter, here set to western blot studies of protein regulation in the preclinical model of TBI. The tool summarizes the existing publicly available knowledge through a data visualization technique and easy access to the critical data elements and links to the study itself. The application compiled a relational database of PubMed-indexed western blot studies labeled under HHS public access, reporting downstream protein regulations presented by fluid percussion injury model of traumatic brain injury. The promises of the developed tool include progressing toward implementing the principles of 3Rs (replacement, reduction, and refinement) for humane experiments, cultivating the prerequisites of reproducible research in terms of reporting characteristics, paving the ways for a more collaborative experimental design in basic science, and rendering an up-to-date and summarized perspective of current publicly available knowledge.
Classification with Few Tests through Self-Selection

We study test-based binary classification, where a principal either accepts or rejects agents based on the outcomes they get in a set of tests. The principal commits to a policy, which consists of all sets of outcomes that lead to acceptance. Each agent is modeled by a distribution over the space of possible outcomes. When an agent takes a test, he pays a cost and receives an independent sample from his distribution as the outcome. Agents can always choose between taking another test and stopping. They maximize their expected utility, which is the value of acceptance if the principal's policy accepts the set of outcomes they have and 0 otherwise, minus the total cost of tests taken. We focus on the case where agents can be either "good" or "bad" (corresponding to their distribution over test outcomes), and the principal's goal is to accept good agents and reject bad ones. We show, roughly speaking, that as long as the good and bad agents have different distributions (which can be arbitrarily close to each other), the principal can always achieve perfect accuracy, meaning good agents are accepted with probability 1, and bad ones are rejected with probability 1. Moreover, there is a policy achieving perfect accuracy under which the maximum number of tests any agent needs to take is constant — in sharp contrast to the case where the principal directly observes samples from agents' distributions. The key technique is to choose the policy so that agents self-select into taking tests.
Outsiders in the Valley: The Navigational Strategies of Black Tech Entrepreneurs

Black tech workers face numerous racial barriers in the technology industry, from their extreme underrepresentation to blocked advancement on the job. These challenges are compounded in entrepreneu...
Receptor binding, immune escape, and protein stability direct the natural selection of SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Emergence of new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 variants has raised concerns related to the effectiveness of vaccines and antibody therapeutics developed against the unmutated wildtype virus. Here, we examined the effect of the 12 most commonly occurring mutations in the receptor-binding domain of the spike protein on its expression, stability, activity, and antibody escape potential. Stability was measured using thermal denaturation, and the activity and antibody escape potential were measured using isothermal titration calorimetry in terms of binding to the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 and to neutralizing human antibody CC12.1, respectively. Our results show that mutants differ in their expression levels. Of the eight best-expressed mutants, two (N501Y and K417T/E484K/N501Y) showed stronger affinity to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 compared with the wildtype, whereas four (Y453F, S477N, T478I, and S494P) had similar affinity and two (K417N and E484K) had weaker affinity than the wildtype. Compared with the wildtype, four mutants (K417N, Y453F, N501Y, and K417T/E484K/N501Y) had weaker affinity for the CC12.1 antibody, whereas two (S477N and S494P) had similar affinity, and two (T478I and E484K) had stronger affinity than the wildtype. Mutants also differ in their thermal stability, with the two least stable mutants showing reduced expression. Taken together, these results indicate that multiple factors contribute toward the natural selection of variants, and all these factors need to be considered to understand the evolution of the virus. In addition, since not all variants can escape a given neutralizing antibody, antibodies to treat new variants can be chosen based on the specific mutations in that variant.
Endorsement of specific alcohol use disorder criterion items changes with age in individuals with persistent alcohol use disorders in 2 generations of the San Diego Prospective Study.

Background Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) alcohol use disorder (AUD) criteria are written in broad enough terms to apply to diverse populations. The current analyses evaluate whether the endorsement of criteria changes with increasing age in individuals with persistent AUDs. Methods Data regarding AUDs persisting across 3 timepoints between average ages of 31 and 43 were gathered about every 5 years from 318 interviews for 106 San Diego Prospective Study (SDPS) AUD male probands. Similar data regarding persistent AUDs across 2 timepoints were obtained from 136 interviews with 68 SDPS AUD offspring between average ages of 21 and 27. Changes in the endorsement of each AUD criterion were evaluated using Cochran's Q test. Results For AUD probands across time, significant decreases were observed in the proportions endorsing 4 criteria (tolerance, withdrawal, failure to fulfill obligations, and using alcohol in hazardous situations). Increased rates of endorsement were documented for 3 criteria (drinking alcohol in higher amounts or for longer periods of time, spending a great deal of time regarding alcohol, and continued use despite social or interpersonal problems). Significant increases in rates of endorsements for offspring were seen for spending a great deal of time regarding alcohol and giving up or reducing important activities in order to drink. Conclusions These data indicate that the salience of many DSM AUD criterion items changed significantly with age in both SDPS generations among individuals with persistent AUDs. The current results support the need for additional systematic research to determine whether specific criterion items might need to be weighted differently in evaluating older and younger individuals with persistent AUDs.
An empirical investigation of the relationships between perceived risk and the experience of organizational buyers

This study investigated the relationships between perceived risk and job experience in an organizational buying context. Specifically, the study determined if organizational buyers with varying amounts of purchasing experience, perceived significantly different amount of risk, and considered some risk types and risk reduction strategies to be more important than others.
Iodine Compounds in the Atmosphere

The current understanding of iodine sources in the atmosphere, the abundance of atmospheric iodine compounds and their chemistry are reviewed. Besides CH3I, several other organic iodine compounds of biological origin, such as CH2I2, CH2ClI and C3H7I have been detected in ocean water. Due to their low solubility the water can become super-saturated with iodocarbons causing a flux from the aqueous to the gas phase. Anthropogenic sources of iodine in the atmosphere include the combustion of fossil fuels and the potential future use of halon replacements, such as CF3I. Data from measurements of iodine compounds in ocean water and the atmosphere are compiled. The atmospheric reaction cycles of iodine are described which comprise the photolytic decomposition of iodocarbons the interchange of iodine between the reservoir species and the interaction of iodine with aerosol particles. Depending on the concentration of reactive iodine in the troposphere, or the lower stratosphere, the photooxidant budget can significantly be affected and substantial ozone depletion is possible.
Conflict resolution approaches: Western and Middle Eastern lessons and possibilities.

Abstract. Conflict resolution processes exist in every society. However, a comparison between Western and Middle Eastern procedures of dispute resolution processes reveals different assumptions underline each approach. The comparison is based on the analysis of two case studies, the first case study is a description of dispute settlement process between Christians and Druze in an Arab village in Israel (mediated by Muslims). The second case study describes a collaborative problem solving process implemented in Cleveland, Ohio in a community racial conflict. Distinctive cultural and professional assumptions that underlie both intervention processes are identified. Also, it is noted that the third party roles and the main outcomes which were achieved in both cases were different. Two sets of principles and concepts, which can be applied interchangeably in both Middle Eastern and Western settings, and those which are unique to each context, are explored.
Identification of a nucleocapsid protein as a specific serological marker of human herpesvirus 6 infection.

Abstract Enveloped whole virions and nucleocapsids of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) strain Z29 were purified from supernatant fluids of infected human cord blood lymphocytes by filtration through polyvinylpyrrolidone-treated filters, banding on a Nycondenz step gradient, and centrifugation through two successive continuous sucrose gradients. More than 20 proteins ranging in molecular weight from less than 30,000 to more than 200,000 were identified in preparations of purified whole virions labeled with [35S]methionine and [35S]cysteine. Immunogenic virion proteins of HHV-6 were identified in immunoblot assays with human immune sera, immune sera generated from mice immunized with purified whole virions or purified nucleocapsids, and a monoclonal antibody generated from a mouse immunized with purified nucleocapsids. The sera and the monoclonal antibody reacted strongly with a 101-kilodalton protein in the immunoblots, suggesting that the protein is a component of the nucleocapsid. Human sera lacking HHV-6-specific antibodies and seropositive for one or more of the other human herpesviruses failed to react with this protein, indicating that it is a specific serologic marker for HHV-6 infection.
The Walt Disney Company and Pixar Inc.: To Acquire or Not to Acquire? An Update

This four-page update to the case, 'The Walt Disney Company and Pixar Inc.: To Acquire or Not to Acquire?' details the Walt Disney Company's acquisition of Pixar, including deal terms, executive appointments, and operating guidelines for the two studios.
Nitrogen-nitride reactions in molten U-Sn alloys

The nitride formation and dissociation reactions in 2 to 18 pct (uranium) U−Sn alloys have been studied over the temperature range of 600° to 1600°C by a modified Sieverts technique. Two different reactions occur depending upon the temperature: U2N3 being formed in the lower part of the temperature range and UN in the higher. The equilibrium data on the UN reaction make it possible to provide the standard free energy of this reaction as follows with a reasonable degree of confidence: $$UN(s) = \underline U (pct) + \raise.5ex\hbox{$\scriptstyle 1$}\kern-.1em/ \kern-.15em\lower.25ex\hbox{$\scriptstyle 2$} N_2 (g); \Delta G^ \circ = + 35,350 - 20.0T$$ Considerably less reliable data on the U2N3 reaction can be represented by the following standard free energy equation: $$U_2 N_3 (s) = 2\underline U (pct) + \frac{3}{2}N_2 (g); \Delta G^ \circ = + 3890 + 7.5T$$ Activity data on uranium have been derived.
Modulation of mouse cardiac function in vivo by eNOS and ANP.

To study the role of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in cardiac function, we compared eNOS expression, contractility, and relaxation in the left ventricles of wild-type and eNOS-deficient ...
Operation of hybrid multi-terminal DC system under normal and DC fault operating conditions

Recently, multi-terminal DC (MTDC) system has received more attention in the power transmission areas. Development of modular structured power converter topologies has now enabled the power converter technology to attain high voltage high power ratings. Compared to current source converter technology, voltage source converters have several benefits including higher power quality, independent control of active and reactive power etc. This paper focuses on a unique MTDC system consisting of terminals with different converter topologies especially considering the fact that each of the terminals may be manufactured by different vendors. In this particular configuration, the MTDC system consists of four terminals namely two advanced modular multi-level converter with high frequency isolation, one standard modular multi-level converter (MMC) with half bridge sub modules and the fourth terminal is modular DC-DC converter which integrates PV along with a Battery energy storage system with the DC grid directly. This paper presents a system level study of hybrid MTDC System. Also the DC fault contingency case has been explored thoroughly. An algorithm has been proposed to prevent the system damage. All the cases have been demonstrated with the PSCAD simulation results. To show the system practically works in real time, the system is also evaluated in a unique real time platform, consisting of interconnected RTDS and OPAL RT systems.
Second‐hand eating? maternal perception of the food environment affects reproductive investment in mice

Objective Little information exists on how perception of the food (or “energetic”) environment affects body composition and reproductive investment. The hypothesis was tested that female mice, who are themselves consuming standard chow diets but who are exposed to conspecifics eating a rich “cafeteria diet,” will exhibit altered weight gain and reproductive investment. Methods Female C57BL/6 mice were raised on a cafeteria diet. At maturity, subjects were switched to a standard chow diet, and their cage-mates were assigned to consume either a cafeteria diet (treatment, n = 20) or standard chow (control, n = 20). Subjects were mated and pups raised to weaning. Subjects and pups were analyzed for body composition. Results Treatment had no discernable effect on dam body weight or composition but caused pups to have lower body weight (P = 0.036) and less fat mass (P = 0.041). A nearly significant treatment effect on “time to successful reproduction” (avg. 55 versus 44 days), likely due to increased failed first pregnancies, (14/19 versus 8/19, P = 0.099) was found. Conclusions These data indicate that perceived food environment (independent of the diet actually consumed) can produce small pups with less body fat and possibly induce difficulties in pregnancy for dams. Replication and mechanistic studies should follow.
Synthesis of 2‐amino‐1,5‐dihydro‐1‐(methyl‐13C)‐4H‐imidazol‐4‐one‐5‐13C (creatinine‐13C2)

2-Amino-1,5-dihydro-1-(methyl-13c)-4h-imidazol-4-one-5-13c (creatinine-13C2) (8) is synthesized as follows. Glycine-2-13c (1) is tosylated; the product (2) is treated with iodomethane-13C; and the resultant doubly-labeled product (3) is detosylated to yield sarcosine-13C2 (4). Creatine-13C2 (7) is obtained by treating 4 with 2-methylisothiourea monohydriodide (5) or cyanamide (6). Dehydration of 7 under vacuum sublimation conditions gives 8.
Modeling continuous auxiliary covariate data in generalized linear mixed models using the kernel smoother

Auxiliary covariate data are often collected in biomedical studies when the primary exposure variable is only assessed on a subset of the study subjects. In this study, we investigate a semiparametric-estimated likelihood estimation for the generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) in the presence of a continuous auxiliary variable. We use a kernel smoother to handle continuous auxiliary data. The method can be used to deal with missing or mismeasured covariate data problems in a variety of applications when an auxiliary variable is available and cluster sizes are not too small. Simulation study results show that the proposed method performs better than that which ignores the random effects in GLMM and that which only uses data in the validation data set. We illustrate the proposed method with a real data set from a recent environmental epidemiology study on the maternal serum 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl) ethylene level in relationship to preterm births.
Transform-limited behavior from the synchronously pumped cw dye laser

Abstract We report for the first time transform limited behavior from the picosecond synchronously pumped cw dye laser. This is accomplished by the use of an inexpensive, low-loss intra-cavity etalon. The Fourier relationship between pulse frequency width and time duration is shown to be obeyed quantitatively at three different wavelengths. The pulse profile changes as a function of wavelength and does not follow an analytical functionality at any wavelength studied. For each wavelength, the optical cavity length producing transform limited pulses is shown to be the same.
Type II Diabetes and Cognitive Function: A population-based study of Native Americans

OBJECTIVE To explore the relationship between type II diabetes and cognitive function in older Native Americans and to assess the effects of other selected risk factors for cognitive dysfunction on this relationship. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Cognitive function was assessed in 80 diabetic and 81 nondiabetic Native Americans who were 45–76 years of age in a cross-sectional population-based sub-study of the Strong Heart Study. Thirteen cognitive function tests were administered during a personal interview. Information about six other risk factors for cognitive dysfunction, including depressive symptoms, physical function, alcoholism, current alcohol use, hypertension, and myocardial infarction, was ascertained from interviews andfrom abstraction of medical records. RESULTS Diabetes was associated with impairment on only two tests of cognitive function: verbal fluency ( P = 0.004) and similarities ( P = 0.010). Depressive symptoms were related to verbal fluency ( P = 0.004), but did not explain thediabetes-related difference in performance. The effects of hypertension, depressive symptoms, and current alcohol use explained the diabetes-related performance difference on similarities. Cognitive function was not related to metabolic control (HbA 1c level). CONCLUSIONS We found little evidence that type II diabetes in this population of Native Americans is associated with decrement in cognitive function. Some of the cognitive impairment previously attributed to diabetes may be related, at least in part, to the influence of other risk factors. This should be considered in the design of future studies in other populations.
Relationships among age, deprivational severity and intake behavior of rats

The effects of different kinds of deprivation were compared in rats of various ages. Sixteen groups of 10 Ss at ages 28, 50, 100, and 200 days were either ad lib maintained or terminally deprived of food, water, or both food and water. Survival measures indicated significant differences in severity as a consequence of age, deprivation regimen, and their interaction. This interaction appeared to depend upon some characteristic intake behaviors of rats. Although food intakes were independent of age, water intake was directly related to age and, thus, constituted a relatively severe deprivation condition for older Ss.
Cadmium‐Saturation Technique for Measuring Metallothionein in Brook Trout

Abstract A cadmium-saturation technique for quantifying metallothionein (MT) in mammalian tissues was evaluated for use in fish tissue. We administered 3 mg109 cadmium/kg body weight by intraperitoneal injection over a 5-d period to adult brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis to induce MT in liver and kidney tissues. The cadmium-saturation technique was modified so the amount of cadmium bound to unsaturated and cadmium-saturated MT could be measured. The method gave precise measurements of MT concentrations when aliquots of liver supernatant, which were analyzed separately, were quantified by atomic absorption or radiometric measurements. Two to four times more cadmium and MT concentrated in the liver of treated fish than in the kidney. Intraperitoneal administration of cadmium completely displaced copper and zinc from MT in liver of treated fish; cadmium concentrations in liver determined by the quantitation of cadmium-saturated MT and of unsaturated MT were identical. However, exposure of brook trout to cad...
Enhanced DNA photocleavage and binding properties of sapphyrin-polyamine conjugates

Abstract The synthesis of several water-soluble sapphyrin derivatives is described. Of these, the sapphyrins 2–4 , bearing appended polyamines, exhibit enhanced DNA photocleavage and binding over sapphyrin 1 as determined from pBR322 plasmid cleavage experiments and an ethidium bromide displacement fluorescence assay.
Experience with Combination Therapy of Deferiprone and Desferrioxamine in β-Thalassemia Major Patients with Iron Overload at Maternity and Children Hospital, Al Madinah Al Munawarah, Saudi Arabia

Abstract Objective Describe our experience with combination therapy of Deferiprone (DFP) and Desferrioxamine (DFO) in treating β-Thalassemia Major patients with severe iron overload in Al Madinah Al Munawarah, Saudi Arabia and to determine any adverse events of treatment. Methods Twenty eight patients with β-Thalassemia major between the ages of 8 - 27 (mean 15.5 ± 4.6 years SD) were enrolled into a prospective open label one year study from January 1 st 2006 to December 31 st 2006, at Al Madinah Maternity & Children's Hospital (Al Madinah Hereditary Blood Diseases Center). Participants were followed regularly at Al Madinah Hereditary Blood Diseases Center for at least 6 years prior to their enrolment in the study. The inclusion criteria were all patients who are transfusion dependent Thalassemia Major with an age of more than 8 years and serum ferretin levels > 3000 ng/L which were progressively increasing despite receiving chelating therapy with subcutaneous Desferrioxamine for at least 5 years prior to study. The doses used for Deferiprone was 75 mg/kg while the dose of Desferrioxamine was 40-50 mg/kg/day. Serum ferretin and other laboratory investigations were monitored every 3 weeks and adverse events of both drugs were assessed regularly along with patients’ compliance. Results There was no significant reduction of serum ferretin from baseline and by the end of the study period and no serious adverse events were observed. Conclusion Deferiprone is a safe drug, however it did not reduce the serum ferretin from the base line, but it maintained the iron balance despite chronic transfusion in patients with β-Thalassemia major when used in combination with Desferrioxamine.
A mixed nonconforming finite element for linear elasticity

This article considers a mixed finite element method for linear elasticity. It is based on a modified mixed formulation that enforces the continuity of the stress weakly by adding a jump term of the approximated stress on interior edges. The symmetric stress are approximated by nonconforming linear elements and the displacement by piecewise constants. We establish (h) error bound in the (broken) L 2 norm for the divergence of the stress and (h) error bound in the L 2 norm for both the displacement and the stress
Labor and delivery outcomes among young adolescents.

Objective We sought to determine whether young adolescents aged 11-14 years and teens aged 15-17 and 18-19 years have an increased risk of cesarean or operative delivery, as well as maternal or neonatal delivery-related morbidity, compared to young adults aged 20-24 years. Study Design We conducted a retrospective population-based cohort study using Washington State birth certificate data linked to hospital records from 1987 through 2009 for 26,091 nulliparas with singleton gestations between 24-43 weeks. We compared young adolescents aged 11-14 years, young teens aged 15-17 years, and older teens aged 18-19 years to young adults aged 20-24 years. The primary outcome was method of delivery. Secondary outcomes included postpartum hemorrhage, shoulder dystocia, third- and fourth-degree perineal lacerations, chorioamnionitis, prolonged maternal length of stay, gestational age at delivery, birthweight, respiratory distress syndrome, neonatal length of stay, and death. We used multivariate regression to assess associations between age and delivery outcomes. Results Young adolescents aged 11-14 years had a lower risk of cesarean (risk ratio [RR], 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.65–0.83) and operative vaginal (RR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.78–0.97) delivery compared to young adults aged 20-24 years. Compared to young adults, young adolescents had an increased risk of prolonged length of stay for both vaginal and cesarean delivery (RR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.20–1.49, and RR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.38–2.12, respectively), with no significant differences in indication for cesarean delivery or other measures of maternal morbidity. Young adolescents had an increased risk of preterm delivery (RR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.79–2.48), low and very low birthweight (RR, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.73–2.50, and RR, 3.25; 95% CI, 2.22–4.77, respectively), and infant death (RR, 3.90; 95% CI, 2.36–6.44) compared to young adults. Conclusion Young adolescents have a decreased risk of cesarean and operative vaginal delivery compared to young adults; however, their neonates face higher risks of preterm delivery, low and very low birthweight, and death. This information can be used to inform clinical care for this population.
Vibrational energy transfer in CD3I

Subsequent to excitation of the ν 2 CD 3 symmetric deformation, vibrational mode by a 10.6μ Q -switch CO 2 laser, infrared fluorescence has been detected from the 2ν 5 , ν 1 , ν 4 and ν 6 levels of CD 3 I. A single exponential decay rate of approximately 27 ms p−1 torr p− is observed from the ≈4.5μ levels, in agreement with other decay rates established for the other methyl halides. The upper levels are activated at a rate of 782 ms p−1 torr p−1 suggesting a rapid resonant transfer up the ν 5 manifold. Activation rates of 92 ms p−1 torr p−1 are observed for the ν 6 level. The rare gas dependence of these rates have also been measured. These rates are discussed in terms of existing V-V and V-T/R theories and collisional energy transfer. Comparison is made with other previously measured methyl halide systems as well as with the deuterated series.
INSULIN INCREASES LIVER PROTEIN PHOSPHATASE-1 AND PROTEIN PHOSPHATASE-2C ACTIVITIES IN LEAN, YOUNG ADULT RHESUS MONKEYS

Liver glycogen synthase activity is increased, and glycogen phosphorylase activity and glucose 6-phosphate content reduced by in vivo insulin during a euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp in lean young adult rhesus monkeys. To examine the mechanism of dephosphorylation of liver glycogen synthase and glycogen phosphorylase, the enzyme activities of protein phosphatase-1, protein phosphatase-2C, cAMP-dependent protein kinase, glycogen synthase kinase-3, protein kinase C and protein tyrosine kinase were determined before and after three hours of in vivo insulin in these same monkeys. The bioactivity of an inositol phosphoglycan insulin mediator (pH 2.0) and cAMP concentrations were also measured in the liver before and after insulin administration. Insulin caused significant increases in protein phosphatase-1 (p = 0.005) and in protein phosphatase-2C activities (p = 0.001). Insulin-stimulated minus basal bioactivity of the pH 2.0 insulin mediator was strongly inversely related to the insulin-stimulated minus basal glucose 6-phosphate content (r = -0.93, p < 0.0001). These findings suggest that protein phosphatase-1 and protein phosphatase-2C may be involved in the mechanism of in vivo insulin activation of liver glycogen synthase and inactivation of liver glycogen phosphorylase.