cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Composition of Three-Way Catalysts

Three-way catalysts being used to meet 1981 and 1982 emission control requirements in the United States contain the noble metals rhodium, platinum, and often palladium. Many catalyst compositions are in use. Properties which distinguish these catalysts are the noble metal loadings, the identity of base metal additives, and the supports.
Abstract 3838: Upregulation of DLEU1 significantly prolongs survival in a rituximab-treated DLEU1 knockout human Burkitt lymphoma (BL) xenograft NSG mouse model: DLEU1 may act as a tumor suppressor gene in pediatric BL

BACKGROUND: Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is the most common histological subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in children and adolescents (Cairo et al., Blood 2007; Miles/Cairo., BJHaem 2012). We identified that pediatric BL patients with chromosome 13q deletion, particularly 13q14.3, had significantly poorer outcome and inferior overall survival despite aggressive short, intensive multi-agent chemotherapy (Poirel/Cairo et al., Leuk 2009; Nelson/Cairo/Sanger et al., BJH 2009). Deleted in lymphocytic leukemia 1 (DLEU1) is a BL classifier gene in the 13q14.3 region (Dave et al., NEJM 2006) and interacts with C-MYC, TUBB2C and UBR1 (Stelzl et al., Cell 2005). We have previously reported a regulated DLEU1 expression significantly associated with changes in BL proliferation in vitro (Lee/Cairo et al., AACR 2015). We hypothesize that DLEU1 may have function as a tumor suppressor gene; however, functions and mechanisms underlying DLEU1 expression in the BL are poorly understood. OBJECTIVES: We hypothesize that DLEU1 may act as a tumor suppressor gene in BL and therefore examined whether up-regulation of DLEU1 results in changes in survival following targeted immunotherapy. METHODS: DLEU1 stably overexpressing Raji BL cells (Lee/Cairo et al., ASH 2013) were transfected with a firefly luciferase expression plasmid, kindly provided by Laurence Cooper MD, PhD. Four- to six- week-old female NSG (NOD.Cg-Prkdcscid Il2rgtm1Wjl/SzJ) mice from The Jackson Lab. Tumor burden and tumor progression were monitored by bioluminescence imaging system. Mice were treated with either rituximab (30 mg/kg) or cyclophosphamide (25 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection at 7 day intervals. Survival rates were analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method using the Prism Version 6.0 software. RESULTS: We observed that DLEU1 stably overexpressing Raji BL cells xenografted (GFP-DLEU1) mice had significantly extended survival compared to GFP control mice following treatment rituximab (59 vs 51 days, p CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that the upregulation of DLEU1 expression significantly improved the survival in DLEU1 overexpressing BL cells xenografted NSG mice following rituximab, cyclophosphamide and in combination treatment. Therefore, the up-regulation of DLEU1 expression in BL may in part result in sensitizing to chemoimmunotherapy induced survival and may result in a consideration of potential therapeutic strategies Citation Format: Sanghoon Lee, Changhong Yin, Tishi Shah, Janet Ayello, Erin Morris, Carmella van de Ven, Mitchell S. Cairo. Upregulation of DLEU1 significantly prolongs survival in a rituximab-treated DLEU1 knockout human Burkitt lymphoma (BL) xenograft NSG mouse model: DLEU1 may act as a tumor suppressor gene in pediatric BL. [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 3838.
Roles of UGT, P450, and Gut Microbiota in the Metabolism of Epacadostat in Humans

Epacadostat (EPA, INCB024360) is a first-in-class, orally active, investigational drug targeting the enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1). In Phase I studies, EPA has demonstrated promising clinical activity when used in combination with checkpoint modulators. When the metabolism of EPA was investigated in humans, three major, IDO1-inactive, circulating plasma metabolites were detected and characterized: M9, a direct O-glucuronide of EPA; M11, an amidine; and M12, N-dealkylated M11. Glucuronidation of EPA to form M9 is the dominant metabolic pathway, and in vitro, this metabolite is formed by UGT1A9. However, negligible quantities of M11 and M12 were detected when EPA was incubated with a panel of human microsomes from multiple tissues, hepatocytes, recombinant human cytochrome P450s (P450s), and non-P450 enzymatic systems. Given the reductive nature of M11 formation and the inability to define its source, the role of gut microbiota was investigated. Analysis of plasma from mice dosed with EPA following pretreatment with either antibiotic (ciprofloxacin) to inhibit gut bacteria or 1-aminobenzotriazole (ABT) to systemically inhibit P450s demonstrated that gut microbiota is responsible for the formation of M11. Incubations of EPA in human feces confirmed the role of gut bacteria in the formation of M11. Further, incubations of M11 with recombinant P450s showed that M12 is formed via N-dealkylation of M11 by CYP3A4, CYP2C19, and CYP1A2. Thus, in humans three major plasma metabolites of EPA were characterized: two primary metabolites, M9 and M11, formed directly from EPA via UGT1A9 and gut microbiota, respectively, and M12 formed as a secondary metabolite via P450s from M11.
Pornography Use and Religious Bonding Among Heterosexually Married Americans: A Longitudinal Examination

Research suggests that frequent pornography use holds consequences both for the marital experiences of devoutly-religious Americans and religious commitment itself. Extending this line of research, this study considers how pornography viewing influences the religious bonding of heterosexually married Americans by affecting the frequency with which they pray with their spouses. Longitudinal data are taken from two waves of the nationally representative Portraits of American Life Study. Multivariate findings show the net effect of earlier porn viewing on the frequency with which married Americans pray with their spouses is curvilinear. Married Americans who never viewed pornography report praying with their spouses more often than the average; those who used pornography at moderate levels report praying with their spouses below the average; and a small minority of respondents who used pornography at the highest frequencies report praying with their spouses more than the average. These effects are robust to controls for respondents’ religious characteristics, moral beliefs about pornography, marital happiness, and sociodemographic factors. The study concludes by outlining the limitations and implications of these findings for research on religion, pornography use, and families.
Modal beam generation from circularly bound random array topologies

This work examines the characteristic modes and measurement of a circular canonical family (CCF) of ad-hoc array topologies in which element radiators are used independently to deliver both sum and difference beams. We present a mathematical framework for the analysis of radiation characteristics from randomly distributed antenna arrays of the generalized circular topologies. Fourier probabilistic methods (i.e. characteristic function analyses) are applied to derive associated n-th order characteristic functions governing the radiation pattern. Sum and difference pattern behavior is generated using even and odd element distributions. Numerical simulations are performed using both ANSYS HFSS and MATLAB to demonstrate beam steering and examine the modal pattern characteristics. To validate our analytical approach, we include measured results of uniformly distributed array topologies, geometrically constrained to a set of 32 elements. Scanned patterns are provided for the sum-difference modes in both the E and H planes under lossless conditions. These are compared to theoretically-derived pattern behavior. The results demonstrate the utility of the CCF topology in generating radiation modes; because of this, applying the CCF in radar and electronic warfare technology will lead to greater performance such as enhanced target resolution and increased range capabilities.
Inflammatory and oxidative responses induced by exposure to commonly used e-cigarette flavoring chemicals and flavored e-liquids without nicotine

Background: The respiratory health effects of inhalation exposure to e-cigarette flavoring chemicals are not well understood. We focused our study on the immuno-toxicological and the oxidative stress effects by these e-cigarette flavoring chemicals on two types of human monocytic cell lines, Mono-mac6 (MM6) and U937.The potential to cause oxidative stress by these flavoring chemicals was assessed by measuring the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). We hypothesized that the flavoring chemicals used in e-juices/e-liquids induce an inflammatory response, cellular toxicity, and ROS production. Methods: Two monocytic cell types, MM6 and U937 were exposed to commonly used e-cigarette flavoring chemicals; diacetyl, cinnamaldehyde, acetoin, pentanedione, o-vanillin, maltol and coumarin at different doses between 10 μM and 1000 μM. Cell viability and the concentrations of the secreted inflammatory cytokine interleukin 8 (IL-8) were measured in the conditioned media. Cell-free ROS produced by these commonly used flavoring chemicals were also measured using a 2’,7’dichlorofluorescein diacetate probe. These DCF fluorescence data were expressed as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) equivalents. Cytotoxicity due to the exposure to selected e-liquids was assessed by cell viability and the IL-8 inflammatory cytokine response in the conditioned media. Results: Treatment of the cells with flavoring chemicals and flavored e-liquid without nicotine caused cytotoxicity dose-dependently. The exposed monocytic cells secreted interleukin 8 (IL-8) chemokine in a dose-dependent manner compared to the unexposed cell groups depicting a biologically significant inflammatory response. The measurement of cell-free ROS by the flavoring chemicals and e-liquids showed significantly increased levels of H2O2 equivalents in a dose-dependent manner compared to the control reagents. Mixing a variety of flavors resulted in greater cytotoxicity and cell-free ROS levels compared to the treatments with individual flavors, suggesting that mixing of multiple flavors of e-liquids are more harmful to the users. Conclusions: Our data suggest that the flavorings used in e-juices can trigger an inflammatory response in monocytes, mediated by ROS production, providing insights into potential pulmonary toxicity and tissue damage in e-cigarette users.
Student Perception of Active Learning Group in a Problem-Based Learning Curricular Environment

The “Active Learning Group” (ALG) described in this paper is a hybrid form of problem-based learning established at the Cooper Medical School of Rowan University 5 years ago. The present study relates to an overall effort to ensure continuous quality improvement in the undergraduate medical education curriculum. As part of the course evaluation, the Office of Medical Education uses a survey instrument to collect student opinions about the ALG format and process. The survey instrument focuses on three domains: (1) professionalism; (2) positive learning experience; and (3) partnership in learning (collaboration). Ninety-five percent of the students value professionalism highly, especially teamwork. The survey results and student evaluations of the cases and facilitators allow us to identify and address deficits in the ALG process as a whole, paying special attention to the quality of the cases and facilitator contributions. In the future, items that elucidate student reflective practice will be included in the survey instrument.
The Relationships between Teacher Quality and Sixth Grade Students’ Mathematics Competencies in Kenya and Zimbabwe

Students should begin to engage in problem-solving and higher order thinking skills in mathematics in the early years of school in preparation for 21st-century technology and problem-solving competencies. Using the Southern and Eastern Africa Consortium for Monitoring Educational Quality (SACMEQ), this study examines the distribution of significant teacher quality factors related to sixth-grade students’ mathematics competencies across the regions of Kenya and Zimbabwe. The mathematics competencies range from Pre-numeracy to Abstract Problem Solving level. First, we use a multi-level regression model to analyze the relationships between teacher quality and students’ mathematics competencies to find out which teacher quality variables are important for the improvement in students’ mathematics competencies in the participating countries. We then illustrate the distributions of the teacher quality factors within the regions in Kenya and Zimbabwe. From the multilevel model analysis, the teacher quality factors related to students’ increase in mathematics competencies were teaching experience, mathematics competencies, and teachers’ academic qualifications. We observe that students taught by permanently employed teachers had lower math competencies and that the days spent by the teachers in professional development influence students’ mathematics competencies negatively. The distributions of these teacher quality factors that matter in sub-Sahara Africa are concentrated in the capital cities and particular regions in Kenya and Zimbabwe. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.
Comparison of Respiratory Pathogen Detection in Upper versus Lower Respiratory Tract Samples Using the BioFire FilmArray Respiratory Panel in the Immunocompromised Host

Background. The FilmArray Respiratory Panel (FARP) (BioFire Diagnostics, Inc.) is a multiplex, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique that can detect 17 respiratory viruses and 3 bacterial targets in a single reaction. Immunocompromised hosts (ICH) with respiratory illnesses often undergo bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). This prospective study aimed to evaluate the yield and concordance of NP and BAL FARP testing when performed on the same patient concurrently. Methods. From February to December 2016, 125 patients (100 ICH and 25 non-ICH) were enrolled. NP swabs and BAL samples were sent for FARP testing. Results. The yield of the BAL FARP among ICH and non-ICH was 24% (24/100) and 8% (2/25), respectively. The yield of positive NP swabs in ICH was 27% (27/100) versus 4% (1/25) in non-ICH. The majority of patients (89%; 111/125) had concordant results between NP and BAL specimens. Of the 24 ICH patients who had a positive BAL FARP, the majority (79%) had the same pathogen detected from the NP swab. Conclusion. The FARP may be useful in the ICH. Given the high concordance, in patients whom a pathogen is identified on the NP FARP, a FARP performed on BAL will likely yield the same result. However, if the NP FARP is negative, performing the test on a BAL sample may have an incremental yield.
“Crystal Engineering” with Two-Dimensional Hydrogen Bonding Networks

One approach toward controlling the assembly of molecules into predictable crystalline architectures involves the use of higher dimensional supramolecular networks that are resilient toward changes in ancillary functional groups attached to molecular constituents of the network. The use of n-dimensional networks facilitates the design and synthesis of new materials by reducing crystal engineering to 3- n dimensions. We describe herein the assembly of adjustable and highly porous host lattices based on robust two-dimensional guanidinium-sulfonate hydrogen bonded networks. The resilience of this network allows facile prediction of crystal structure, including architectural isomers that can be directed by judicious choice of guest molecules in solution. Two architectural isomers, a pillared bilayer form and a pillared brick form, have substantial porosity that is sustained by a diverse variety of guest molecules. Notably, the brick frameworks have packing fractions (without guest), nominally twice that of the bilayer materials. Molecular host lattices with nanometer scale porosity provide substantial opportunities in areas including crystallization-based chemical separations, synthesis of new functional materials, and topochemically-directed reactions.
Cognitive correlates of EEG spectral power indicate human-swarm task performance

In this paper, we examine whether the geometric complexity of a robotic group affects performance in a human-swarm target acquisition task, and if these changes are reflected in average neurophysiological and behavioral characteristics. This is one of the first studies to utilize both the distribution of EEG spectral power and external behaviors to paint a more complex interaction between cognitive processes, behaviors, and task performance. Our results show that increasing the geometric complexity of the robotic group reduced task performance by 48.5%. Furthermore, the decrease in performance is accompanied by an increase in neurological measures that indicate more internal processing and suppression of visual stimuli. Accompanying changes in gaze and control activity enforce these differences.
Characterization of a Multiple-Scan-Rate Voltammetric Waveform for Real-Time Detection of Met-Enkephalin

Opioid peptides are critically involved in a variety of physiological functions necessary for adaptation and survival, and as such, understanding the precise actions of endogenous opioid peptides will aid in identification of potential therapeutic strategies to treat a variety of disorders. However, few analytical tools are currently available that offer both the sensitivity and spatial resolution required to monitor peptidergic concentration fluctuations in situ on a time scale commensurate with that of neuronal communication. Our group has developed a multiple-scan-rate waveform to enable real-time voltammetric detection of tyrosine containing neuropeptides. Herein, we have evaluated the waveform parameters to increase sensitivity to methionine-enkephalin (M-ENK), an endogenous opioid neuropeptide implicated in pain, stress, and reward circuits. M-ENK dynamics were monitored in adrenal gland tissue, as well as in the dorsal striatum of anesthetized and freely behaving animals. The data reveal cofluctuations of catecholamine and M-ENK in both locations and provide measurements of M-ENK dynamics in the brain with subsecond temporal resolution. Importantly, this work also demonstrates how voltammetric waveforms can be customized to enhance detection of specific target analytes, broadly speaking.
The reflection problem in network effect estimation

This paper discusses the empirical identification of network effects in light of the reflection problem of Manski. I argue that models of indirect network effects present reasonable exclusion restrictions to address the challenges of the reflection problem.
Political Affiliations and Bank Runs

In the presence of huge political costs associated with bank failures, this paper asks the following questions: Do political affiliations of banks matter during banking panics? If so, why? I address these questions by looking at the effect of political affiliations of banks on depositor runs using a unique dataset from India that allows me to associate banks to different political parties. To conduct the analysis, I first use a shock caused by the failure of a politically unaffiliated bank and analyze depositor runs on surviving banks. Interestingly, only banks affiliated to the incumbent political party suffer significant deposit loss. Moreover, the magnitude of excess deposit loss suffered by incumbent party banks is startling. The data, however, shows no significant deposit loss for banks affiliated to the non-incumbent party. I then use a second shock triggered by the failure of three banks, one affiliated with the incumbent party, one with non-incumbent party and an unaffiliated bank, to analyze depositor runs. Once again, banks affiliated to the incumbent party suffer significant deposit loss while those affiliated to non-incumbent party do not suffer deposit loss despite the failure of a non-incumbent party bank. I further find that in the second shock, deposit loss for incumbent party banks is primarily concentrated in areas where there was a failure. These results are most consistent with a hypothesis based on predation by rumors due to political rivalry.
A Comparison of Lecture-based and Active Learning Design Patterns in CS Education

This paper describes and compares two categories of pedagogical design patterns that have emerged from CS education practice: lecture-based design patterns and active learning design patterns. Pedagogical design patterns provide faculty with combinations of generalized descriptions of problems and solutions that occur in teaching and learning. The benefit of forming design patterns is the codification of successful practice that can be reused in multiple scenarios and draw on the creativity of the instructor for defining the details relevant to the course and the students. Design patterns have been represented in many formats since Alexander’s initial design pattern model highlighting different aspects of what is important in each domain in which the patterns are created and used. This paper analyzes design patterns emerging from recent developments in lecture-based pedagogy and active learning in CS education. Traditional lectures in computer science, engineering, and other STEM disciplines are being reconsidered due to research that shows that students are less likely to learn while listening and more likely to learn while actively engaged. Design patterns that address problems and provide potential solutions to traditional lectures in computer science education have been published that provide solutions to engage students during the lecture. The pedagogy of flipped classrooms and active learning have recently been adopted by many faculty in Computer Science leading to emerging design patterns for active learning. We compare how previously published lecture-based patterns and our active learning patterns address similar problems with different solutions to engaging students. We show how an object-based structure for pedagogical design patterns can provide additional information about the problems and the solutions addressed by the patterns that are more easily indexed and combined.
Exposure to artificial light at night increases innate immune activity during development in a precocial bird.

Abstract Humans have greatly altered Earth's night-time photic environment via the production of artificial light at night (ALAN; e.g. street lights, car traffic, billboards, lit buildings). ALAN is a problem of growing importance because it may significantly disrupt the seasonal and daily physiological rhythms and behaviors of animals. There has been considerable interest in the impacts of ALAN on health of humans and other animals, but most of this work has centered on adults and we know comparatively little about effects on young animals. We exposed 3-week-old king quail (Excalfactoria chinensis) to a constant overnight blue-light regime for 6 weeks and assessed weekly bactericidal activity of plasma against Escherichia coli – a commonly employed metric of innate immunity in animals. We found that chronic ALAN exposure significantly increased bactericidal activity and that this elevation in immune performance manifested at different developmental time points in males and females. Whether this short-term increase in immune activity can be extended to wild animals, and whether ALAN-mediated increases in immune activity have positive or negative fitness effects, are unknown and will provide interesting avenues for future studies.
HFpEF Is the Substrate for Stroke in Obesity and Diabetes Independent of Atrial Fibrillation

Both obesity and type 2 diabetes are important risk factors for the development of heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), and both disorders increase the risk of systemic thromboembolic events. Traditionally, the risk of stroke has been explained by the strong association of these disorders with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, adiposity and diabetes are risk factors for systemic thromboembolism, even in the absence of AF, because both can lead to the development of an inflammatory and fibrotic atrial and ventricular myopathy, the 2 major elements of HFpEF. Atrial myopathy: 1) exacerbates pulmonary venous hypertension and exertional dyspnea; 2) leads to decreased flow, thrombogenesis, and systemic thromboembolization; and 3) often clinically manifests as AF; however, the relationship between AF and thromboembolism is unclear. Atrial fibrosis predisposes to thrombus formation, even in the absence of AF, and most thromboembolic events bear a poor temporal relationship to the occurrence of AF, whereas HFpEF (and the accompanying atrial disease) predicts stroke in patients with or without AF. Furthermore, rhythm control does not reduce the risk of stroke, although it reduces the burden of AF. These observations support the primacy of atrial myopathy as a critical component of HFpEF, rather than AF, as the mediator of systemic thromboembolism in obesity or diabetes. The well-established association between AF and stroke is likely explained by the fact that AF is a biomarker of more advanced inflammatory atrial disease but not necessarily a direct causal mechanism.
A hybrid multi-agent Coordination Optimization Algorithm

Abstract Many-Objective optimization problems (MaOPs) are the optimization problems which contain more than three conflicting objectives. Extensive interests from both algorithms development and practical applications are attracted to study the MaOPs. The success of the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm and Evolutionary Algorithm (EA) as single-objective optimizers motivated researchers to extend the use of those techniques to solve the MaOPs: many-objective particle swarm optimization algorithms (MOPSOs) and many-objective evolutionary algorithms (MOEAs). In this paper, we extend a recently developed bio-inspired optimization algorithm, Multi-agent Coordination Optimization Algorithm (MCO) from a single-objective optimizer to a many-objective optimizer: Many-Objective Multi-agent Coordination Optimization Algorithm (MOMCO). The cooperative mechanism in the MCO accelerates the searching process. To tackle the MaOPs, an inverted generational distance indicator method is used to distinguish the non-dominated solutions in MOMCO to balance the diversity ability and convergence ability of the solutions during the searching process. Together with a hybrid combination with EA, the diversity and accuracy of the MOMCO will be improved. Moreover, the convergence issue is studied for the proposed MOMCO algorithm by using the Jury's test. Experimental results are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed MOMCO by comprising with six state-of-the-art MOPSOs and MOEAs. By calculating the Wilcoxon's rank sum test, the proposed MOMCO algorithm demonstrated superior performance among all the seven algorithms.
Feasible but Not Yet Efficacious: A Scoping Review of Wearable Activity Monitors in Interventions Targeting Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Sleep.

This review explored the characteristics of interventions that use wearable activity monitors (WAM) and descriptively summarize their efficacy. A total of 61 studies were included. Most of the WAM-based interventions (n = 58) were designed to improve physical activity (PA). Interventions targeting sedentary behavior (SB) were much less common (n = 12), and even less frequent were WAM-based sleep interventions (n = 3). Most studies tested the feasibility of WAM-based interventions. WAM-based interventions exhibited preliminary efficacy in increasing PA and potential in decreasing sedentary time. More evidence are needed to determine the utility of WAM in improving sleep. The efficacy of interventions using WAM to improve PA, SB, and/or sleep could not be conclusively determined. Major challenges with including WAM as part of interventions are reduced engagement with the devices over time, and the rapid changes in technology resulting in devices becoming obsolete soon after completion of an efficacy trial.
Checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy in kidney cancer.

Kidney cancer has unique features that make this malignancy attractive for therapeutic approaches that target components of the immune system. Immune checkpoint inhibition is a well-established part of kidney cancer treatment, and rapid advances continue to be made in this field. Initial preclinical studies that elucidated the biology of the programmed cell death 1 (PD-1), programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) and cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) immune checkpoints led to a series of clinical trials that resulted in regulatory approval of nivolumab and the combination of ipilimumab plus nivolumab for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma. Subsequent data led to approvals of combination strategies of immune checkpoint inhibition plus agents that target the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor and a shift in the current standard of renal cell carcinoma care. However, controversies remain regarding the optimal therapy selection and treatment strategy for individual patients, which might be eventually overcome by current intensive efforts in biomarker research. That work includes evaluation of tumour cell PD-L1 expression, gene expression signatures, CD8+ T cell density and others. In the future, further advances in the understanding of immune checkpoint biology might reveal new therapeutic targets beyond PD-1, PD-L1 and CTLA-4, as well as new combination approaches. In this Review, Xu et al. provide an overview of mechanisms of immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) therapy and its clinical development in patients with kidney cancer, discuss combination ICI strategies and review future directions for ICI in kidney cancer encompassing biomarker and therapeutic target research.
The Shaky Foundations of Competition Law

This paper examines the ideas behind competition law in New Zealand and offers a critical assessment of its practice. It is a policy paper aimed at lawyers and legal scholars. While the paper focuses on the NZ Commerce Act, it has general applicability. The purpose of competition law in New Zealand is "to promote competition in markets for the long-term benefit of consumers". (Commerce Act 1986, s 1A) In other words, it is believed that markets left to their own devices, without any regulation of prices, quantities, or structure, could (in some cases) be harmful to consumers. The risk for consumers is such that a regulatory body, the New Zealand Commerce Commission, is necessary to make sure that market participants always take into account the benefits to consumers in their decisions. This view rests on the idea that competition is a state of affairs that must be regulated and managed by the authorities because undesirable situations of monopoly can emerge all the time. The purpose of this paper is threefold: (a) to show that the Commerce Act rests on a mistaken view of competition; (b) to explain the nature of (true) competition, and (c) to expose the real face of competition law by showing that it cannot achieve the aim it is supposed to achieve (ie to correct market outcomes so as to make sure producers' decisions always benefit consumers). The paper briefly assesses important concepts used in competition law, such as "market definition," "market power," "lessening of competition," and "dynamic efficiency." It is argued that the problem assumed by competition law is only exacerbated by regulation. Regulators should take into account the entrepreneurial process (as theorized by Israel Kirzner and others) in their analysis of market situations. So while there may be situations where competition law may seem warranted, in fact there is no crime at the crime scene. While competition law aims to protect consumers, the danger is that it may affect the self-correcting properties of the market system (an outcome worse than the disease it tries to cure).
Unusual Case of Hepatic Sinusoidal Obstruction Syndrome Induced By Low Dose Oral Cyclophosphamide

Hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) has been reported in patients receiving high dose intravenous (IV) cyclophosphamide especially as a part of preparative regimen for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Hepatic SOS from low dose oral cyclophosphamide has not been reported. Here we present a rare case of hepatic SOS induced by low dose oral cyclophosphamide. A 78-year-old male with history of coronary artery disease status post coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) was initially seen in hematology clinic for evaluation of normocytic anemia. During workup, bone marrow biopsy revealed NK cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia (LGL). He was then started on low dose oral cyclophosphamide 50 mg daily. After 2 months, his dose was reduced to 25 mg daily due to severe neutropenia. He then tolerated cyclophosphamide well and his hemoglobin (Hb) improved from his baseline 8 gm/dl to 12 gm/dl in 4 months. After 6 months of treatment, he was admitted to the hospital for abdominal distension, ascites and 15 pounds weight gain over 3 weeks. Labs most prominent on admission were Hb of 12.5 gm/dL , WBC 5.3 x 103/µL, Platelets 197 x 103/µL, total bilirubin 1.6 mg/dL, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) 89 U/L , alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 35 U/L and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) 283 U/L. Workup of ascites included abdominal paracentesis which revealed serum ascites albumin gradient(SAAG) High dose of IV cyclophosphamide given as myeloablative therapy in combination of total body irradiation or busulfan (or other agents) in preparation for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation can induce hepatic SOS, which can be severe leading to acute liver failure and death. The diagnosis is usually based on clinical features of tender hepatomegaly, weight gain, ascites and jaundice. Liver biopsy is usually diagnostic. Mechanism of injury is related to direct toxic effects of cyclophosphamide on sinusoidal cells in the liver, causing their necrosis and release into the sinusoids, obstruction and obliteration of hepatic veins. This case demonstrates that hepatic SOS can also be caused by low dose oral cyclophosphamide. Given this rare occurrence, it is prudent for the clinicians to keep an open mind and consider hepatic SOS as a potential side effect even with oral cyclophosphamide. Disclosures Yacoub: Novartis: Speakers Bureau; Agios: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Speakers Bureau; Hylapharm: Current equity holder in private company; Cara Therapeutics: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Ardelyx: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Dynavax: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Roche: Other: Support of parent study and funding of editorial support.
Lamellar Dissection Technique for Traumatic Cataract With Corneal Incarceration.

Purpose To describe a technique for traumatic cataract management for cases in which part of the anterior capsule has been incarcerated into a healed corneal laceration. Methods This is a single-center retrospective chart review of 3 patients with capsular/corneal incarceration after penetrating injury. Each patient underwent primary globe repair, followed by subsequent cataract surgery with intraocular lens (IOL) and iris prosthesis placement. The main outcome measure was corrected distance visual acuity. Results At a mean of 19-month postoperative follow-up (range 12-26 mo), corrected distance visual acuity ranged from 20/25 to 20/80 and all patients had improved vision compared with before cataract surgery. At the final follow-up, all IOLs and iris prostheses were in stable position and no eyes required corneal transplantation. Conclusions Traumatic cataracts may be complicated by incarceration of the anterior capsule into the cornea. Incorporating the posterior aspect of the cornea into the anterior capsulotomy enables cataract removal and IOL placement in a stable capsular bag complex.
Development and validation of an A3 problem-solving assessment tool and self-instructional package for teachers of quality improvement in healthcare.

Purpose A3 problem solving is part of the Lean management approach to quality improvement (QI). However, few tools are available to assess A3 problem-solving skills. The authors sought to develop an assessment tool for problem-solving A3s with an accompanying self-instruction package and to test agreement in assessments made by individuals who teach A3 problem solving. Methods After reviewing relevant literature, the authors developed an A3 assessment tool and self-instruction package over five improvement cycles. Lean experts and individuals from two institutions with QI proficiency and experience teaching QI provided iterative feedback on the materials. Tests of inter-rater agreement were conducted in cycles 3, 4 and 5. The final assessment tool was tested in a study involving 12 raters assessing 23 items on six A3s that were modified to enable testing a range of scores. Results The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for overall assessment of an A3 (rater’s mean on 23 items per A3 compared across 12 raters and 6 A3s) was 0.89 (95% CI 0.75 to 0.98), indicating excellent reliability. For the 20 items with appreciable variation in scores across A3s, ICCs ranged from 0.41 to 0.97, indicating fair to excellent reliability. Raters from two institutions scored items similarly (mean ratings of 2.10 and 2.13, p=0.57). Physicians provided marginally higher ratings than QI professionals (mean ratings of 2.17 and 2.00, p=0.003). Raters averaged completing the self-instruction package in 1.5 hours, then rated six A3s in 2.0 hours. Conclusion This study provides evidence of the reliability of a tool to assess healthcare QI project proposals that use the A3 problem-solving approach. The tool also demonstrated evidence of measurement, content and construct validity. QI educators and practitioners can use the free online materials to assess learners’ A3s, provide formative and summative feedback on QI project proposals and enhance their teaching.
Coherent and incoherent imaging of biological specimens with electrons and X-rays.

Abstract Since radiation damage is proportional to fluence, radiation damage limits the spatial resolution of biological structures determined by either X-ray or electron scattering. If only elastic scattering is used for structural information then electrons are superior as the ratio of elastic to inelastic scattering is higher than for X-rays. For soft X-rays in the water window below the O K edge photoabsorption contrast might be better than elastic scattering for distinguishing different biological materials. Phase contrast elastic scattering is most effective in the hard X-ray region up to about 10 keV. Radiation damage limits spatial resolution for most X-ray imaging to 10-20 nm. Local molar concentrations of Na,K and Ca ions can be determined at somewhat lower spatial resolutions using relevant absorption edges. At higher energies resolution res is only limited by the fluence available from the light source, since energy deposition is small.
Political Polarization and Platform Migration:: A Study of Parler and Twitter Usage by United States of America Congress Members

Growing dissatisfaction with platform governance decisions at major social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram has led to a number of substantial efforts, originating both on the political right and the political left, to shift to new platforms. In this paper, we examine one of the most impactful of these platform migration efforts, a recent effort primarily on the political right to shift from Twitter to Parler in response to Twitter's increased efforts to flag misinformation in the lead up to the 2020 election in the US. As a case study, we analyze the usage of Parler by all members of the United States Congress and compare that to their usage of Twitter. Even though usage of Parler, even at its peak, was only a small percentage of Twitter usage, Parler usage has been impactful. Specifically, it was linked to the planning of the January 6, 2021 attack on the United States Capitol building. Going forward, Parler itself may not have a large and lasting impact, but it offers important lessons about the relationship between political polarization, platform migration, and the real-world political impacts of platform governance decisions and the splintering of our media landscape.
The Emerging Phylogenetic Perspective on the Evolution of Actinopterygian Fishes

The emergence of a new phylogeny of ray-finned fishes at the turn of the twenty-first century marked a paradigm shift in understanding the evolutionary history of half of living vertebrates. We rev...
Lighting in cryogenic and noncryogenic fluids

In fluid flow and heat-transfer studies, it is often necessary to illuminate the fluid for visual observations or for photography. Windows can be used but it may be more convenient to immerse the light source directly in the fluid. This raises the question as to whether standard light bulbs can withstand the thermal gradients that would be imposed if immersed in cryogenic or noncryogenic fluids.
ENDOMETRIOSIS AND INFERTILITY: A LAPAROSCOPIC STUDY OF ENDOMETRIOSIS AMONG FERTILE AND INFERTILE WOMEN

To test the widely accepted—but not well-supported—impression that endometriosis and infertility are associated, we compared the prevalence of endometriosis visualized at laparoscopy in 100 patients being evaluated for infertility and in 200 fertile control subjects (two age-matched to each patient) undergoing tubal ligation. The extent of endometriosis and adhesions noted in the operative reports was classified according to the system proposed by The American Fertility Society. Endometriosis was found in 21 of the 100 infertile patients—mild in 11, moderate in 8, severe in 2. It was found in 4 (2%) of the 200 controls and was mild in all 4. Thus, endometriosis is more often present, and more often severe, among infertile patients. The risk of infertility was estimated to be almost 20 times greater with endometriosis than without. These data support the clinical impression that an association exists.
Congo red as a fluorochrome for the rapid detection of fungi.

Congo red may be applied as a fluorochrome to rapidly detect fungi in clinical specimens, tissue, and fungal culture preparations. This generally available stain is cost effective and simple to prepare. The stain may be prepared with potassium permanganate as a counterstain or with Formalin or glutaraldehyde as a fungicide. Images
Dialogues between humans and an artificial belief system

An artificial belief system capable of conducting on-line dialogues with humans has been constructed. It accepts information, answers questions and establishes a credibility for the information it acquires and for its human informants. Beginning with beliefs of high credibility from a highly believed source, the system is being subjected to the experience of dialogues with other humans.
Observed decline in Titan's thermospheric methane due to solar cycle drivers

We present Cassini Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer observations of Titan's N2 and CH4 from Cassini flybys of Titan spanning the time period from 2004 to 2013 representing 9 years of in situ neutral density observations. This data reveal an upward trend in CH4 mixing ratios during the extended solar minimum encountered prior to 2011 followed by a downward trend in the mixing ratios of CH4 after the onset of solar maximum conditions in 2011. Through modeling studies using the time-dependent Titan Global Ionosphere-Thermosphere Model we show that this trend is due to enhanced photodestruction of CH4 in Titan's thermosphere from the increased solar EUV/UV flux during solar maximum times. The enhanced photodestruction of the methane leads to an increase in production of large hydrocarbons as observed in the enhanced production of large hydrocarbon ions and a twofold increase in the downward flux of C2 and larger hydrocarbons during solar maximum. Methane in the thermosphere is resupplied through upward flux from the lower thermosphere and stratosphere resulting in a refilling of the thermospheric methane on timescales of three Earth years. From this calculation it is expected that Titan's thermospheric methane will recover in the 2015 timeframe.
Declarative and dynamic pedagogical content knowledge as elicited through two video‐based interview methods

Although pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) has become widely recognized as an essential part of the knowledge base for teaching, empirical evidence demonstrating a connection between PCK and teaching practice or student learning outcomes is mixed. In response, we argue for further attention to the measurement of dynamic (spontaneous or flexible, as opposed to static) aspects of PCK. We identify a set of trade-offs entailed in the measurement of teachers’ PCK and propose two video-based interview methods for eliciting teachers’ PCK. We describe a study in which we used these methods to elicit high-school physics teachers’ PCK for the topic of force and motion. Interview 1 was based on video clips from teachers’ own classroom instruction and elicited the reasoning underlying their instructional decision making. In Interview 2, teachers responded to a standard set of video clips highlighting both typical and unexpected student thinking. Although all six teachers demonstrated the main components of their declarative PCK consistently across the two interviews, Interview 2 allowed us to characterize a more dynamic form of PCK that may underlie teachers’ in-the-moment instructional reasoning. When exhibiting strong dynamic PCK, teachers appeared to rely heavily on their declarative PCK as they reasoned about new examples of student thinking and corresponding instructional responses. In addition, demonstrations of dynamic PCK included features likely to support further PCK development, including a willingness to think critically about evidence of student thinking, physics content, and pros and cons of instructional representations. Although we were able to detect seemingly meaningful differences in teachers’ declarative and dynamic PCK, diversity in and the contextualized nature of the responses demonstrating strong PCK raise questions about the possibility of differentiating between such responses for measurement purposes and, thus, the potential for moving beyond elicitation, to measurement, of dynamic forms of PCK. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach.
Fundamental considerations in the design of fluorine-18 labeled progestins and androgens as imaging agents for receptor-positive tumors of the breast and prostate.

Most efforts at developing steroid receptor-based imaging agents have, up to now, been focused on the estrogen receptor (ER) in breast cancer. Success in this area has been very significant, with good preparations for high affinity compounds labeled with single photon emitters (“Br, “Br, lz31: Kiesewetter, 1984; Landvatter et al., 1982; Katzenellenbogen et al., 1981, 1982a; McElvany et al., 1982a, 1982b; Senderoff et al., 1982) and positron emitters (“C, ‘*F: Kiesewetter et al., 1984; Landvatter et al., 1983; Reiffers et al., 1980; Feenstra et al., 1982; Feenstra et al., 1983; Vaalburg et al., 1977; Vaalburg et nl., 1981) being described, and promising animal uptake studies and preliminary clinical investigations reported. There are, however, significant opportunities for further development of steroid receptor-based imaging agents, both for other hormone systems and other target tissues. In this review, we will discuss those structural and functional features that we feel are crticial in the design and development of imaging agents for the progesterone receptor (PR) and the androgen receptor (AR), directed towards imaging receptor-positive tumors in the breast and prostate, respectively. These considerations are based on literature precedents in the pharmacology of certain structural classes of progestins and androgens and in our own experience in these systems, as well as our previous experience with the estrogens.