cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Shafer (Hermite-Padé) approximants for functions with exponentially small imaginary part with application to equatorial waves with critical latitude

Quadratic Shafer approximants and their generalization to higher degree polynomials called Hermite-Padeapproximants have been successfully used in quantum mechanics for calculation of exponentially small escape rates. In this paper we test quadratic Shafer approximants in representing growth rates typical for equatorial atmosphere. One of the characteristic features of the equatorial Kelvin wave - the dominant mode in equatorial dynamics-is its exceptionally small linear growth rate. For example, Kelvin wave evolving on the zonal basic state with small linear shear @e has growth rate O(exp(-1/@e^2)) in contrast to I(E)~O(exp(-1/@e)) common to similar problems in quantum mechanics. It is interesting to know how well Hermite-Pade approximants handle this more computationally expensive problem. First we apply the quadratic Shafer approximants to calculate the imaginary part of the Gauss-Stieltjes function defined asG"S(@e)=lim"@d"->"0@!"0^~exp-t^2t-[1+i@d]/@edton its branch cut. The imaginary part of G"S(@e) can be shown to beI(G"S)(@e)=@pexp-1@e^2,which is of the same order of magnitude as Kelvin-in-shear growth rate. Next, we use this technique to sum the divergent Rayleigh-Schrodinger perturbation series of the Hermite-with-Pole equationu"y"y+@e11+@ey-@l-y^2u=0,which is a simple model for equatorial waves in shear. The Hermite-with-Pole equation has been previously studied numerically and analytically in [J.P. Boyd, A. Nataroc, Stud. Appl. Math. 101 (1998) 43]. We compare Shafer approximants against numerical integration and find that for small @e, Shafer approximants are more efficient, primarily because with rational coefficients, one does not need multiple precision at the main stage of the calculation. Although the higher-order approximants are usually more accurate, the overall improvement of accuracy is not monotonic due to the appearance of nearly coincident zeros in the approximants.
Risk-based constraint relaxation for security constrained economic dispatch

In the electricity markets of North America, security constrained economic dispatch (SCED) is widely implemented to make dispatch decision for day-ahead and real-time markets. Due to limitations on resource availability, control capability and facility limits, there exists some situations where the SCED model is infeasible. This paper first summarizes the industry-based approach in handling the infeasible SCED problem by using a penalty price, and it identifies the disadvantages of this approach. Then, a new method, using risk-based constraint relaxation, is proposed for overcoming the deficiencies of the industry approach. It constrains system risk and contingency risk, which quantifies the security level of the overall system and particular contingencies causing infeasibility, respectively. In this approach, we relax the thermal limit of individual circuits while simultaneously resisting risk increase; this approach avoids selection of penalty prices and thus reduces the tendency for LMPs to spike in certain regions of the network. A 6-bus network is used to illustrate its performance.
(5R,6S)-4-Isopropyl-5-methyl-6-phenyl-3-propanoyl-2H-1,3,4-oxadiazinan-2-one

The title compound, C16H22N2O3, was synthesized during the course of a study on (1R,2S)-norephedrine-derived 1,3,4-oxadiazinan-2-ones. The conformation adopted by the isopropyl group is pseudo-axial relative to the oxadiazinan core. The allylic strain contributes to this conformational arrangement.
Mechanisms Involved in Persistent Facilitation of Neuromuscular Synapses in Aplysia

Synaptic plasticity can last from a fraction of a second to weeks depending on how it was induced. The mechanisms that underlie short-, intermediate-, and long-term plasticity have been intensively...
A Cross-Cultural Perspective of Supervisory Values: Comment

The article presents comments on the article “A Cross-Cultural Perspective of Supervisory Values,” by Richard B. Peterson in the March 1972 issue. The original article discussed what Peterson calle...
Effects of Pyrethrins upon Blowflies

The penetration of contact insecticides through the cuticle of insects and the consequent lethal effect should depend on the characteristics of the cuticle at the time of treatment. Immediately after molting or after emergence of the adult from the pupa the cuticle is softer and thinner than at other times. Therefore one might suppose that insects that have just cast their skins would be more susceptible to contact insecticides than those whose cuticle has hardened and thickened. Because the literature contains little information on this question, the writers were prompted to make a few experiments on the relative susceptibility to pyrethrins of newly emerged and older blowflies, Phormia regina Meigen.
Relationship Between Attenuation Changes on CT and Posttraumatic CSF-CKBB-Activity in Severely Head-Injured Patients

CT-scanning has made it possible to separate the high attenuation of a hematoma from the low attenuation of localized edema. A contusion is usually recognized as scattered areas of high attenuation (blood) within areas of normal or even low attenuation, i.e. so-called mixed density areas, it is difficult, however, to delineate a contusion exactly.
Repetitive Daily Blindness with Hemiplegic Migraine and SCN1A Mutations

Two novel SCN1A mutations are identified in two unrelated families with familial hemiplegic migraine and a unique phenotype of elicited repetitive daily blindness, in a report from Hopital Lariboisiere, and other centers in Paris, France, and Geneva, Switzerland.
Factors Impacting the Likelihood of Student Withdrawals in Core Business Classes

The course withdrawal decision includes both monetary and time costs for the student. Institutional costs include the misallocation of scarce seats to noncompleting students. Understanding the cour...
Abstract 830: Pin1 is a novel target of withaferin A, a mammary cancer chemopreventative steroidal lactone fromWithania somnifera

We have shown previously that naturally occurring steroidal lactone withaferin A (WA) inhibits breast cancer development in a transgenic mouse model. Mammary cancer chemoprevention by WA in vivo was associated with suppression of peptidyl-prolyl isomerase Pin1 protein. Pin1 is known to regulate diverse cellular processes including cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, apoptosis, and migration. Moreover, Pin1 is overexpressed in breast tumor and its expression is positively correlated with tumor grade. Thus, we studied functional significance of Pin1 downregulation by WA. Consistent with in vivo observations, Pin1 protein and mRNA expression was decreased upon WA treatment in human breast cancer cells irrespective of ER, HER-2 or p53 status. Overexpression of Pin1 partly reversed the growth inhibitory effect of WA in both MCF-7 (wild-type p53) and SUM159 (mutant p53) cells. However, WA-induced mitotic arrest and apoptosis were partly abrogated only in MCF-7 cells upon ectopic expression of Pin1 perhaps due to p53 stabilization. Molecular docking suggested covalent binding of WA with Cys113 of Pin1, which was confirmed by mass spectrometry. Overexpression of mutant (C113A) Pin1 augmented WA-mediated inhibition of cell survival as well as mitotic arrest and apoptosis in MCF-7 cells indicating that decreased catalytic activity of Pin1 is essential for growth inhibition by WA in breast cancer cells. Taken together, the present study suggests a critical role for Pin1 in WA-mediated growth inhibition of breast cancer. This study was supported by the grant CA142604 awarded by the National Cancer Institute. Citation Format: Suman K. Samanta, Shivendra V. Singh. Pin1 is a novel target of withaferin A, a mammary cancer chemopreventative steroidal lactone from Withania somnifera . [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 830.
Establishing the Parameters

The problems of time, eternity, and the relationship between them have fascinated people for millennia. This book is written in the context of the ongoing dialogue on these topics, with a focus on one particular problem area: the doctrine of God’s eternal existence.
Research Productivity of Sports Medicine Fellowship Faculty

Background:Research productivity is considered an important factor in academic advancement in sports medicine. No study to date has evaluated academic productivity and correlates of academic rank f...
Patient-Centric Medical Notes: Identifying Areas For Improvement In The Age Of Open Medical Records

Abstract Objective Patients are increasingly provided facilitated access to their medical notes. Physicians have reported concerns that patients will find notes confusing and offensive, and that typographical errors will appear unprofessional. This exploratory study quantifies the prevalence of potentially confusing or offensive medical language and typographic errors within notes. Methods The authors performed a retrospective, cross-sectional review of 400 inpatient History and Physical notes from a tertiary care center. All notes were from admissions to general internal medicine services. Words and phrases of interest were codified into five pre-established categories and subdivisions. Results Of 400 notes, 337 notes written by residents and hospitalists were analyzed. The most prevalent characteristics identified per note were General Medical Acronyms (99.1%), Medical Jargon (96.7%), and Typographical Errors (49%). Residents used a greater number of acronyms and abbreviations (p Conclusion While the place of medical shorthand, jargon, and sensitive history in the note is unlikely to change in the near future, this study identifies typographical errors as a modifiable area for improvement. The examination of medical note language may prove beneficial to the patient-physician relationship in the digital era.
Bronchial neuroendocrine neoplasms: A Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database review of treatment outcomes.

4098 Background: Bronchial neuroendocrine tumors (NENs) are a biologically heterogeneous group of malignancies with varied approaches to treatment. We queried the SEER database about outcomes of surgery and radiation. Methods: We identified 945331 cases in the SEER database with malignancies of the lung and extracted 187991 bronchial NENs – 130092 cases of small cell carcinoma, 44520 cases of large cell carcinoma, 3349 cases of neuroendocrine carcinoma (grades 3/4 [G3/4]), 9135 cases of typical bronchial carcinoid (grade 1 [G1]), and 895 cases of atypical bronchial carcinoid (grade 2 [G2]) – to examine clinical outcomes by treatment modality, including radiation in 82157 cases and surgery in 21352. Results: Surgical intervention on the primary NEN became less frequent as SEER stage become more extensive; operations were performed in 56.0% of cases of localized disease, 19.9% of regional disease, and 4.5% of distant disease. Proportionately more surgery was performed on lower-grade histologies (e.g. 84% of...
California 49th Congressional District: A Near Upset in the Golden State

California’s 49th Congressional District in Southern California had been reliably Republican until the 2016 election. Long-time incumbent Darrell Issa was reelected by just 1,621 votes in the closest House race in the country. Democrat Doug Applegate took advantage of partisan changes and the support of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to outspend Issa. Issa faced a constituency that was more anti-Trump than most other vulnerable House Republican incumbents. Issa was hurt by his record investigating the Obama administration, endorsement of Trump, and Trump’s tweet supporting his candidacy. Issa espoused more moderate views and reached out to constituents in the aftermath of the close election. Issa’s district and others in California that have been trending Democratic will be ones to watch in upcoming elections.
3.04 – Declarative Memory System: Amnesia

Significant information about how memory is organized has come from the study of patients with memory disorders (amnesia). Amnesia refers to difficulty in acquiring new declarative (conscious) knowledge and in remembering the recent past. This condition results from bilateral damage to the medial temporal lobe or the diencephalic midline. Declarative memory impairment can occur as a well-circumscribed disorder against a background of otherwise intact intellectual and cognitive functions. Older memories that have undergone a process of consolidation and reorganization are usually intact in amnesic patients and are stored in the neocortex independently of the medial temporal lobe. Amnesic patients retain the ability to learn nondeclaratively (unconsciously), as in the case of habits and skills for which memory is expressed through performance rather than recollection.
Relativistic quasiparticle band structures of Mg2Si, Mg2Ge, and Mg2Sn: Consistent parameterization and prediction of Seebeck coefficients

We apply density functional and many-body perturbation theory calculations to consistently determine and parameterize the relativistic quasiparticle band structures of Mg2Si, Mg2Ge, and Mg2Sn, and predict the Seebeck coefficient as a function of doping and temperature. The quasiparticle band gaps, including spin-orbit coupling effects, are determined to be 0.728 eV, 0.555 eV, and 0.142 eV for Mg2Si, Mg2Ge, and Mg2Sn, respectively. The inclusion of the semicore electrons of Mg, Ge, and Sn in the valence is found to be important for the accurate determination of the band gaps of Mg2Ge and Mg2Sn. We also developed a Luttinger-Kohn Hamiltonian and determined a set of band parameters to model the near-edge relativistic quasiparticle band structure consistently for all three compounds that can be applied for thermoelectric device simulations. Our calculated values for the Seebeck coefficient of all three compounds are in good agreement with the available experimental data for a broad range of temperatures and carrier concentrations. Our results indicate that quasiparticle corrections are necessary for the accurate determination of Seebeck coefficients at high temperatures at which bipolar transport becomes important.
Role of Caregiver-Reported Outcomes in Identification of Children with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure during the First Year of Life

Earlier identification of children with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) remains a challenge. The objective of this study was to identify neurobehavioral (NB) outcomes associated with PAE in infants. This manuscript evaluates NB outcomes at 6.33±1.12 months of age in 93 infants (39 PAE and 54 No-PAE) recruited prospectively into the ENRICH cohort. PAE was assessed by prospective repeated TLFB interviews and a panel of ethanol biomarkers. NB outcomes were evaluated by the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID-III), Parenting Stress Index (PSI), Infant Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ-R), and Infant Sensory Profile (ISP). Mean maternal age at enrollment was 28.18±5.75, and 64.52% were Hispanic/Latina. Across three TLFB calendars, absolute alcohol per day in the PAE group was 0.44±0.72, corresponding to low-moderate alcohol consumption. While no association was observed between PAE and BSID-III (P’s>0.05), PAE was associated with higher scores on the PSI difficult child scale ( =13.9; P=0.015), total stress ( =13.9; P=0.010), and IBQ negative affect ( =8.60; P=0.008) measures after adjustment for covariates. Caregiver-reported assessments may provide a currently unrecognized opportunity to identify behavioral deficits, point to early interventions, and should be included in clinical assessments of infants at-risk for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
A Query-Driven Anytime Algorithm for Argumentative and Abductive Reasoning

This paper presents a new approximation methodfor computing arguments or explanations in the context of logic-based argumentative or abductive reasoning. The algorithm can be interrupted at any time returning the solution foundso far. The quality of the approximation increases monotonically when more computational resources are available. The methodis basedon cost functions andreturns lower and upper bounds.
Síntomas durante el sueño en pacientes con sospecha de Síndrome de Apnea e Hipopnea Obstruciva del sueño

Background Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a frequent sleep-related breathing disorder being associated with cardiovascular, metabolic and neurobehavioral consequences. Most patients with OSAS are untreated because they are not timely diagnosed. Aim to determine the association of sleep symptoms and body mass index in patients with OSAS diagnosed by polysomnography. Material and methods We studied 144 patients aged 47 ± 14 years (75% males) in whom a polysomnography was done. These patients answered a sleep symptom questionnaire and the Epworth sleepiness scale. Their weight and body mass index was also recorded. Results Snoring and the presence of pauses during breathing were the symptoms with the higher sensitivity to predict the presence of OSAS. Body mass index was significantly higher among patients with OSAS. No differences in the Epworth scale were observed between patients with and without OSAS. Conclusions Snoring and apneas while sleeping are symptoms that should lead to the suspicion of the presence of OSAS.
Schottky Subgroups of Mapping Class Groups and the Geometry of Surface-by-Free Groups

This is an expanded version of a conference lecture on groups ΓΣF of the form $$1 \to {\pi _1}\sum \to {\Gamma _{\sum , }}F \to F \to 1$$ where Σ is a closed, oriented surface of genus ≥ 2 and F is a free subgroup of rank ≥ 2 in the mapping class group MCG(Σ) = Out(π1Σ). In joint work with Benson Farb [FM01], [FM00a]we characterize when ΓΣF is word hyperbolic, and when it is, we prove that ΓΣF is quasi-isometrically rigid in a very strong sense.
NEUROTROPHIC FACTORS | Neuroprotective Strategies in Epilepsy

Neuronal loss is a feature of many forms of epilepsy. This loss has been blamed for some of the functional consequences of epilepsy, including cognitive and emotional impairments. The search for strategies to protect neurons from death has led researchers to neurotrophic factors – protein growth factors which enhance the survival or phenotype of cells in the nervous system. Because of their demonstrated protective role in other systems, a number of growth factors have been tested in animal models of epilepsy. Results have been mixed, and sometimes difficult to interpret due to unanticipated effects of these factors on neuronal excitability. For example, the neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) may fail to protect neurons after seizures because it increases neuron excitability, whereas another growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), does protect neurons, but may do so at least in part by suppressing seizure activity. In spite of these challenges, progress is being made in defining which growth factors have neuroprotective potential in epilepsy. Novel approaches to treatment, involving direct blockade of the biochemical pathways involved in cell death, have also proved promising, and may provide an alternative approach to protecting neurons.
Using variants of zero forcing to bound the inertia set of a graph

Zero forcing is a combinatorial game played on a graph with a goal of changing the color of every vertex at minimal cost. This leads to a parameter known as the zero forcing number that can be used to give an upper bound for the maximum nullity of a matrix associated with the graph. A variation on the zero forcing game is introduced that can be used to give an upper bound for the maximum nullity of such a matrix when it is constrained to have exactly q negative eigenvalues. This constrains the possible inertias that a matrix associated with a graph can achieve and gives a method to construct lower bounds on the inertia set of a graph (which is the set of all possible pairs (p,q) where p is the number of positive eigenvalues and q is the number of negative eigenvalues).
Logic-based MultiObjective Optimization for Restoration Planning

After a disruption in an interconnected set of systems, it is necessary to restore service. This requires the determination of the tasks that need to be undertaken to restore service, and then scheduling those tasks using the available resources. This chapter discusses combining mathematical programming and constraint programming into multiple objective restoration planning in order to schedule the tasks that need to be performed. There are three classic objectives involved in scheduling problems: the cost, the tardiness, and the make span. Efficient solutions for the multiple objective function problem are determined using convex combinations of the classic objectives. For each combination, a mixed integer program is solved using a Benders decomposition approach. The master problem assigns tasks to work groups, and then subproblems schedule the tasks assigned to each work group. Hooker has proposed using integer programming to solve the master problem and constraint programming to solve the subproblems when using one of the classic objective functions. We show that this approach can be successfully generalized to the multiple objective problem. The speed at which a useful set of points on the efficient frontier can be determined should allow the integration of the determination of the tasks to be performed with the evaluation of the various costs of performing those tasks.
The Social Message in Chinese Poetry

In recent years, Chinese poetry has become so fashionable in Europe and America that many an observer of the new literary movements in China has begun to be puzzled at the fact that young China is endeavoring to overthrow a thing which has come to be so highly treasured in the West. Have we been guilty of lacking in appreciation for our own treasures? Or have the Occidental admirers of Chinese poetry been guilty of treasuring something which is after all not so valuable as they think? My own answer is that neither is the case. It is quite natural that Occidental poetry which has long been under the unconscious influence of epic verbosity, should find much admiration for the brief and concise imageries of Chinese poetry which for 3,000 years has almost never indulged in the field of the epic. And it equally is natural that the Chinese poetry which has so long been petrified by an overemphasis upon a contentless formalism, should find itself in need of an emancipation largely in the direction of unadorned naturalness and simplicity.
Intersection between gonadal function and vascular aging in women.

Vascular aging, characterized by endothelial dysfunction and large elastic arterial stiffening, is a major risk factor for age-associated cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although women have a lower p...
Human-Robot-Interaction for mobile industrial robot teams

Abstract Due to high variants and small lot sizes, a conventional use of robots behind fences does not fulfill the requirements of today’s production anymore. Therefore, the importance of mobile robot systems is increasing. In order to best use the capabilities of these robots, teams consisting of several robots or a robot and a human are built. For a cooperative work between robot and human, interaction systems are necessary. This paper describes an interaction concept, where the channel to the robot system is realized through gestures and eye tracking and the channel coming from the robot system is realized with projection.
Relationship stigma and Black-White interracial marital satisfaction: the mediating role of religious/spiritual well-being

Although the percentage of Black-White interracial marriage continues to increase in the United States, research is limited related to the impact of stigma on these couples and the processes that i...
The Things of the Time: Cairo at the Turn of the Century

This chapter looks at the Cairo of the first decade of the twentieth century in order to unpack nahdawi representations of colonial modernity as simulacrum. Selim offers a reading of Muhammad Al-Muwaylihi’s iconic text Hadith ʿIsa Ibn Hisham, which shows how the nahda discourse on authenticity and imitation masked a social conservatism which banished the “errant trajectories” of everyday practices emerging in and through the modern. Building on the work of David Harvey on nineteenth-century Paris, Selim discusses the colonial “two cities” paradigm of modern Cairo and draws attention to the mobile sociabilities that drew on new circuits of cultural traffic unbound by the anxious rhetoric of authenticity and difference.
Factors Affecting Soil Total Mercury in Seasonal Pond Basins within a Northern Hardwood Forest in Minnesota, USA

Forest canopies are sites for mercury (Hg) deposition, and forests can act as Hg sources to downstream aquatic environments. This study examined soil total Hg (THg), carbon (C), and nitrogen (N) to 15 cm in 10 seasonal pond basins in a northern hardwood forest in Minnesota. Pools (mass per area) and concentrations (mass per soil mass) of THg to 15 cm were lower in uplands than in ponds, indicating downslope transport. In uplands, THg concentrations were the same at 0- to 2-cm and 2- to 5-cm depths and then decreased, whereas THg density (mass per volume) peaked at 2 to 5 cm, highlighting the importance of bulk density on mass. Carbon and N trends were similar to THg. Apart from pond centers, strong positive relationships between THg and C were observed. Upland slope length, graminoid cover, basin area, and tree height accounted for over half of THg variance at pond edge. Understanding the distribution, trends, and contributing factors of soil THg can further efforts toward immobilization and sequestration, thus minimizing the potential for bioaccumulation.
Tight-Knit Webs and Telescoping Families: Conversations With Psychological Experts in India and China:

This qualitative exploratory study based on therapy observations and interviews with psychological experts and family therapists in Beijing, China, and Delhi, India, compares and contrasts families...
Helicopter Transport Use for Trauma Patients Is Decreasing Significantly Nationwide but Remains Overutilized.

Rapid transfer of trauma patients to a trauma center for definitive management is essential to increase survival. The utilization of helicopter transportation for this purpose remains heavily debated. The purpose of this study was to characterize the trends in helicopter transportations of trauma patients in the United States over the last decade. Subjects with a primary mode of either ground or helicopter transportation were selected from the National Trauma Data Bank datasets 2007 to 2015. Over this period, the proportion of patients transported by a helicopter decreased significantly in a linear fashion from 17 per cent in 2007 to 10.2 per cent in 2015 (P 65 years) patients requiring helicopter transportation increased by 69.1 per cent, whereas their associated mortality decreased by 21.5 per cent. The use of a helicopter for the transportation of trauma patients has significantly decreased over the last decade without any significant change in mortality, possibly indicating more effective utilization of available resources. Overtriage of patients with minor injuries remained relatively unchanged.
Continued use of e-learning technology in higher education: a managerial perspective

This paper develops a managerial-influence perspective in the context of e-learning technology in higher education. Drawing on principal-agent theory and the information systems (IS) continuance mo...
Equipping teachers with globally competent practices: A mixed methods study on integrating global competence and teacher education

Abstract Education leaders recommend that global competence–global citizenship mentality and knowledge development for global participation–be incorporated into school curricula. This mixed methods study examined teacher’s perceptions and self-reported practices of globally competent teaching. Data was collected from teachers taking a graduate education course infused with global learning. Results suggest teachers value and desire to enact globally competent teaching but need practical direction for classroom effectuation. Data manifest all four dimensions of the Global Teaching Model (i.e., situated relevant practice, integrated global learning, critical and cultural consciousness raising, and intercultural collaboration for transformative action) to differing degrees. This study provides evidence for the Global Teaching Model as a prospective framework and emphasizes the critical dimension when internationalizing teacher education.
Optimal Choice of Waveform for Library Characterization for Accurate Delay Calculation

Accuracy of waveform aware delay calculation approaches in STA tools require selection of an appropriate driver waveform during library characterization. The optimal waveform shape is dependent on process corner, voltage, temperature, parasitics and also the properties of the transistors involved. Traditionally used ramp waveform is not suitable for accuracy particularly at lower voltages and temperatures. Identification of waveform shape across a wide range of operating corners and for different transistor types can involve significant cost in terms of resources and time. This paper discusses an efficient approach for finding the driver waveform for library characterization. It also enlists the factors that influence the waveform shape and the related careabouts during the waveform identification process. Lastly, it proposes an approach to reduce the run-time and resources used to get the optimal characterization waveform at all operating corners.
Pathways coordinating oocyte attrition and abundance during mammalian ovarian reserve establishment

The mammalian ovarian reserve is comprised of a finite pool of primordial follicles, representing the lifetime reproductive capacity of females. In most mammals, the reserve is produced during embryonic and early postnatal development with oocyte numbers peaking during mid-to-late gestation, and then experiencing a dramatic decline continuing until shortly after birth. Oocytes remaining after the bulk of this attrition are subsequently surrounded by a layer of somatic pre-granulosa cells with these units then referred to as "primordial follicles." The complex and varied cell death mechanisms intrinsic to this process are not only characteristic of, but also essential for, the proper formation of this pool of follicles, and as a result must be immaculately balanced to ensure long-term fertility and reproductive health. Too few follicles can lead to Primary Ovarian Insufficiency, resulting in fertility loss and other features of aging, such as an overall shorter lifespan. On the other hand, whereas an excess of follicles might extend reproductive lifespan, this might also be the underlying etiology of other ovarian pathologies. The last decade, in particular, has vastly expanded our understanding of oocyte attrition and determinants of ovarian reserve abundance. By continuing to decipher the intricacies underlying the cell death processes and development of the initial primordial follicle pool, we may be in a much better position to understand idiopathic cases of premature follicle depletion and improve ovarian health in reproductive-age women.
An improved detailed chemical kinetic model for C3-C4 linear and iso-alcohols and their blends with gasoline at engine-relevant conditions

Abstract Propanol and butanol isomers have received significant research attention as promising fuel additives or neat biofuels. Robust chemical kinetic models are needed that can provide accurate and efficient predictions of combustion performance across a wide range of engine relevant conditions. This study seeks to improve the understanding of ignition and combustion behavior of pure C3-C4 linear and iso-alcohols, and their blends with gasoline at engine-relevant conditions. In this work, a kinetic model with improved thermochemistry and reaction kinetics was developed based on recent theoretical calculations of H-atom abstraction and peroxy radical reaction rates. Kinetic model validations are reported, and the current model reproduces the ignition delay times of the C3 and C4 alcohols well. Variations in reactivity over a wide range of temperatures and other operating conditions are also well predicted by the current model. Recent ignition delay time measurements from a rapid compression machine of neat iso-propanol and iso-butanol [Cheng et al., Proc. Combust Inst. (2020)] and blends with a research grade gasoline [Goldsborough et al., Proc. Combust Inst. (2020)] at elevated pressure (20–40 bar) and intermediate temperatures (780–950 K) were used to demonstrate the accuracy of the current kinetic model at conditions relevant to boosted spark-ignition engines. The effects of alcohol blending with gasoline on the autoignition behavior are discussed. The current model captures the suppression of reactivity in the low-temperature and negative-temperature-coefficient (NTC) region when either isopropanol and isobutanol are added to a research grade gasoline. Sensitivity and reaction flux analysis were performed to provide insights into the relevant fuel chemistry of the C3-C4 alcohols.
A Dynamical Analysis of the 47 Ursae Majoris Planetary System

Thirteen years of Doppler velocity measurements have revealed the presence of two planets orbiting the star 47 Ursae Majoris on low-eccentricity orbits. A two-Keplerian fit to the radial velocity data suggests that the inner planet has a period Pb = 1089.0 ? 2.9 days and a nominal [sin(i) = 1] mass M sin i = 2.54 MJup, while the outer planet has a period Pc = 2594 ? 90 days and a mass M sin i = 0.76 MJup. These mass and period ratios suggest a possible kinship to the Jupiter-Saturn pair in our own solar system. We explore the current dynamical state of this system with numerical integrations, and compare the results with analytic secular theory. We find that the planets in the system are likely participating in a secular resonance in which the difference in the longitudes of pericenter librates around zero. Alternately, it is possible that the system is participating in the 7?:?3 mean motion resonance (in which case apsidal alignment does not occur). Using a self-consistent fitting procedure in conjunction with numerical integrations, we show that stability considerations restrict the mutual inclination between the two planets to ~40? or less, and that this result is relatively insensitive to the total mass of the two planets. We present hydrodynamical simulations which measure the torques exerted on the planets by a hypothesized external protoplanetary disk. We show that planetary migration in response to torques from the disk may have led to capture of the system into a 7?:?3 mean-motion resonance, although it is unclear how the eccentricities of the planets would have been damped after capture occurred. We show that Earth-mass planets can survive for long periods in some regions of the habitable zone of the nominal coplanar system. A set of planetary accretion calculations, however, shows that it is unlikely that large terrestrial planets can form in the 47 UMa habitable zone.
Implications of the iron oxide phase transition on the interiors of rocky exoplanets

The discovery of an extraordinary number of extrasolar planets, characterized by an unexpected variety of sizes, masses and orbits, challenges our understanding of the formation and evolution of the planets in the Solar System and the perception of the Earth as the prototypical habitable world. Many exoplanets appear to be rocky and yet more massive than the Earth, with expected pressures and temperatures of hundreds of gigapascal and thousands of Kelvin in their deep interiors. At these conditions, the properties of bridgmanite and ferropericlase, expected to dominate their mantles, are largely unconstrained, limiting our knowledge of their interior structure. Here we used nano-second X-ray diffraction and dynamic compression to experimentally investigate the atomic structure and density of iron oxide (FeO), one of the end-members of the (Mg,Fe)O ferropericlase solid solution, up to 700 GPa, a pressure exceeding the core–mantle boundary of a 5 Earth masses planet. Our data document the stability of the high-pressure cesium-chloride B2 structure above 300 GPa, well below the pressure required for magnesium oxide (MgO) to adopt the same phase. These observations, complemented by the calculation of the binary MgO–FeO phase diagram, reveal complex stratification and rheology inside large terrestrial exoplanets. The interior structure and rheology of large terrestrial exoplanets is strongly affected by the phase transition of iron-oxide, according to dynamic compression and X-ray diffraction FeO experiments up to 700 GPa and calculation of the binary MgO–FeO phase diagram.
MRI of Sinonasal Malignancies.

ABSTRACT Sinonasal cavity is an important subsite in head and neck tumors. There are a myriad of malignancies that present within this area. Adequate staging for treatment planning requires multimodality evaluation. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) forms an important component in the evaluation of sinonasal tumors. We sought to review the most common sinonasal tumors, including sinonasal anatomy, clinical features, and common imaging features. A literature review was performed to evaluate common sinonasal tumors. Owing to the different tissue types within the sinonasal cavity, there are multiple different tumor pathologies within the sinonasal compartment. Most present in adults although some present in the young. Many of these tumor types have imaging overlaps, although some have a characteristic appearance. MRI can aid in soft tissue delineation, evaluation of multicompartmental extension, intracranial spread, and perineural spread. Sinonasal tumors are a heterogeneous group for which soft tissue delineation via MRI forms an important role in ensuring adequate treatment planning to improve outcomes, decreasing morbidity, and improve functional outcomes.
Associations of agression and use of caffeine, alcohol and nicotine in healthy and aggressive individuals

Abstract Background Caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine are the three most commonly used psychoactive substances in the world. Given the known propensity of these substances to influence behavior, the relationship between these substances and aggressive and impulsive behaviors, in particular is of interest. Methods 1062 adult individuals participated in this study including those with Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED) and non-aggressive healthy (HC) and psychiatric (PC) controls. Data regarding current and life use of caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine were recorded as were responses on measures of aggression, anger, and impulsivity. Results . Dimensional measures of aggression, anger, and impulsiveness were variably but significantly related to the consumption of these commonly used psychoactive substances. These findings were generally mirrored when using the categorical construct of IED. Finally, these findings were not due to comorbidity with other psychiatric disorders. Conclusions These data confirm a link between these externalizing behaviors and these three legal and commonly consumed psychoactive substances in clinically relevant individuals.
Classroom ethics: hacking and cracking

The goal of the educator is to instill the knowledge that they have about any given subject into their students so that they not only understand the material but also know how to apply it. This applies to Computer Science and Electrical Engineering when studying the field of Data and Computer Communications which covers everything from broadcast AM/FM radio and television to computers and the internet. While the subject can be quite interesting, there is a "dark side" that the educator must approach with caution. That is the hacking and cracking of these systems. This paper describes what one professor does and does not do when this subject comes up.
Management and complications associated with treatment of cervical oesophageal perforations in horses

Summary Six horses were evaluated for colic and anorexia, choke or suspected oesophageal rupture with and without tracheal laceration. Clinical findings were variable, but a painful ventral neck swelling was noted in all cases. Two of the horses had signs of dehydration and sepsis. Additional findings included evidence of previous trauma over the trachea and oesophagus, ventral neck abscessation, choke and aspiration pneumonia. A diagnosis of oesophageal perforation was made using endoscopy. Two horses were subjected to euthanasia without treatment. All horses where treatment was attempted received debridement of the oesophageal perforation and surrounding tissues with or without surgical closure of the oesophageal defect. Other therapies included broad spectrum antimicrobials, anti-inflammatory drugs, fluid and nutritional support as well as additional therapeutics for sepsis and individual complications. Complications included diverticulum formation, thrombophlebitis, diarrhoea, laryngeal hemiplegia, azotaemia, aspiration pneumonia, oesophageal obstruction, weight loss and laminitis. All 4 treated horses recovered from the oesophageal perforation and are able to eat a normal diet. Two of the 4 horses have had infrequent episodes of recurrent choke. Oesophageal rupture should be considered as a differential diagnosis for horses with a painful swelling of the ventral neck. With surgical debridement and adequate supportive care, oesophageal perforation cases can have a fair to good long-term survival, although chronic complications can occur, therapy is prolonged, and a significant economic commitment is required.
Covariance Controllers: A New Parameterization of the Class of All Stabilizing Controllers

The class of all stabilizing controllers is parameterized in terms of the covariance matrix and an arbitrary skew symmetric matrix. The new parameterization is in closed form for any specified controller order.
Amyloid precursor protein cross‐linking stimulates beta amyloid production and pro‐inflammatory cytokine release in monocytic lineage cells

Beta amyloid peptide-containing neuritic plaques are a defining feature of Alzheimer's disease pathology. Beta amyloid are 38–43 residue peptides derived by proteolytic cleavage of amyloid precursor protein. Although much attention has focused on the proteolytic events leading to beta amyloid generation, the function of amyloid precursor protein remains poorly described. Previously, we reported that amyloid precursor protein functions as a pro-inflammatory receptor on monocytic lineage cells and defined a role for amyloid precursor protein in adhesion by demonstrating that β1 integrin-mediated pro-inflammatory activation of monocytes is amyloid precursor protein dependent. We demonstrated that antibody-induced cross-linking of amyloid precursor protein in human THP-1 monocytes and primary mouse microglia stimulates a tyrosine kinase-based pro-inflammatory signaling response leading to acquisition of a reactive phenotype. Here, we have identified pro-inflammatory mediators released upon amyloid precursor protein-dependent activation of monocytes and microglia. We show that amyloid precursor protein cross-linking stimulated tyrosine kinase-dependent increases in pro-inflammatory cytokine release and a tyrosine kinase-independent increase in beta amyloid 1–42 generation. These data provide much needed insight into the function of amyloid precursor protein and provide potential therapeutic targets to limit inflammatory changes associated with the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
What health-related information flows through you every day? A content analysis of microblog messages on air pollution

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate how the information about haze, a term used in China to describe the air pollution problem, is portrayed on Chinese social media by different types of organizations using the theoretical framework of the health belief model (HBM). Design/methodology/approach – A content analysis was conducted based on the 756 posts retrieved from Sina Weibo, the top microbloging platform in China, following the simple random sampling method. χ2 analysis was conducted to examine the relationships across the three types of organizations (governmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, and corporations) and the use of the HBM concepts (perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, self-efficacy, and cues to action) in terms of haze and its threat to health. Findings – The results of this study indicated that corporations posted more Weibo messages categorized as perceived benefit and most of these posts are related to th...
Comparison of direct and indirect solid-phase microradioimmunoassays for the detection of viral antigens and antiviral antibody.

Viral antigens were fixed to the surface of microtiter wells, and serial dilutions of antiviral antibody were added. The amount of antiviral antibody bound to viral antigens was determined by measuring the extent to which the antiviral antibody either inhibited the specific binding of 125I-labeled antiviral immunoglobulin G (IgG) (direct technique) or enhanced the specific binding of 125I-labeled anti-IgG (indirect technique). Immune complexes composed of viral antigens and antiviral antibody (human) could be detected by the binding of 125I-labeled rheumatoid factor. Specific binding was influenced by the concentration of protein in the diluents used during the different steps of the procedure. A high concentration of protein in the diluent used with the viral antigens decreased specific binding, whereas a high concentration of protein in the diluent used with 125I-labeled anti-IgG increased specific binding by decreasing nonspecific attachment of the labeled anti-IgG. Under the conditions employed, the titer of a given antiviral serum was several hundredfold greater by the indirect than by the direct technique.
Norms of linear-fractional composition operators

We obtain a representation for the norm of the composition operator C Φ on the Hardy space H 2 whenever Φ is a linear-fractional mapping of the form Φ(z) = b/(cz + d). The representation shows that, for such mappings Φ, the norm of C Φ always exceeds the essential norm of C Φ . Moreover, it shows that a formula obtained by Cowen for the norms of composition operators induced by mappings of the form Φ(z) = sz + t has no natural generalization that would yield the norms of all linear-fractional composition operators. For rational numbers s and t, Cowen's formula yields an algebraic number as the norm; we show, e.g., that the norm of C 1/(2-z) is a transcendental number. Our principal results are based on a process that allows us to associate with each non-compact linear-fractional composition operator C Φ , for which ∥C Φ ∥ > ∥C Φ ∥ e , an equation whose maximum (real) solution is ∥C Φ ∥ 2 . Our work answers a number of questions in the literature; for example, we settle an issue raised by Cowen and MacCluer concerning co-hyponormality of a certain family of composition operators.
Positron emission tomography radioligands for in vivo imaging of Aβ plaques

The development of positron emission tomography (PET) radioligands for the non-invasive imaging of amyloid-β plaque burden has been the focus of intense research efforts over the last decade. A variety of structural backbones have been investigated and several radiolabeled molecules have been evaluated in phase I (and later) clinical studies. These efforts have been driven by the desire not only to develop a suitable diagnostic imaging agent but also to develop a means to evaluate potential therapies for Alzheimer's disease. This review focuses on the development of these ligands, as well as the radiochemistry and current regulatory status of these PET radioligands. Particular attention is given to those ligands that have progressed to the later stages of drug development (phase II/III clinical trial studies) or approved New Drug Application status.