cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of a validated risk score for interstage death or transplant after stage I palliation for single-ventricle heart disease.

Abstract Objective To develop a risk score to predict mortality or transplant in the interstage period. Background The “interstage” period between the stage 1 and stage 2 palliation is a time of high morbidity and mortality for infants with single-ventricle congenital heart disease. Methods This was an analysis of patients with single-ventricle congenital heart disease requiring arch reconstruction who were enrolled in the National Pediatric Cardiology Quality Improvement Collaborative registry from 2008 to 2015. The primary composite endpoint was interstage mortality or transplant. Multivariable logistic regression and classification and regression tree analysis were performed on two-thirds of the patients (“learning cohort”) to build a risk score for the composite endpoint, that was validated in the remaining patients (“validation cohort”). Results In the 2128 patients analyzed in the registry, the overall event rate was 9% (153 [7%] deaths, 42 [2%] transplants). In the learning cohort, factors independently associated with the composite endpoint were (1) type of Norwood; (2) postoperative ECMO; (3) discharge with Opiates; (4) No Digoxin at discharge; (5) postoperative Arch obstruction, (6) moderate-to-severe Tricuspid regurgitation without an oxygen requirement, and (7) Extra Oxygen required at discharge in patients with moderate-to-severe tricuspid regurgitation. This model was used to create a weighted risk score (“NEONATE” score; 0-76 points), with >75% accuracy in the learning and validation cohorts. In the validation cohort, the event rate in patients with a score >17 was nearly three times those with a score ≤17. Conclusions We introduce a risk score that can be used post-stage 1 palliation to predict freedom from interstage mortality or transplant.
Impact of the Milan System for Reporting Salivary Gland Cytology on risk assessment when used in routine practice in a real-time setting.

Introduction Several retrospective studies across the world have validated the role of the Milan System for Reporting Salivary Gland Cytology (MSRSGC) in improving communication between pathologists and clinicians. In this study, we evaluated the applications of MSRSGC in a real-time setting for 2 years. Materials and methods All salivary gland lesions that underwent fine-needle aspiration (FNA) from January 2018 to December 2020 were categorized according to MSRSGC guidelines. The risk of malignancy (ROM) was calculated for each category and compared with the ROM proposed by MSRSGC and recent retrospective studies. Results A total of 160 FNA of salivary gland lesions were categorized as: nondiagnostic (ND) 30 (18%), non-neoplastic (NN) 7 (10.6%), atypia of undetermined significance (AUS) 5 (3.1%), benign neoplasm (BN) 59 (36.8%), salivary gland of uncertain malignant potential (SUMP) 21 (13%), suspicious for malignancy (SM) 3 (1.84%), and malignant (M) 25 (15.6%). Histopathologic follow-up was available for 94 (57.5%) cases. The ROM for each category was ND 54%, NN 0%, AUS 66%, BN 0%, SUMP 37.56%, SM 100%, and M 100%. Conclusion With strict adherence to the diagnostic criteria and MSRSGC guidelines, a ROM of 100% in SM and M categories and a ROM of 0% in NN can be achieved in a real-time setting. The high ROM in the ND category in our study highlights the value of repeat FNA/biopsy for this category. High ROM for AUS indicates the tendency to classify high-grade tumors as AUS, calling for refinement in its criteria.
Continued Anticoagulant Rodenticide Exposure of Red-tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) in the Northeastern United States with an Evaluation of Serum for Biomonitoring.

Prior studies (2006-2016) in birds of prey admitted to a wildlife clinic in Massachusetts, USA, revealed widespread exposure to second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) among red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis, RTHAs). Continued monitoring of species for which historic data are available can reveal trends in exposure that aid in evaluating the effectiveness of risk-mitigation measures. While the majority of exposure-monitoring studies utilize liver tissue collected postmortem, antemortem modalities, such as serum analysis, may be desirable for risk assessments in certain populations. However, the sensitivity of serum for detecting anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) is not well studied. Paired liver and serum samples from 43 RTHAs were evaluated from 2017 to 2019. In liver tissue, 100% of birds were positive for ARs, with the SGARs brodifacoum, bromadiolone, and difethialone identified most frequently; 91% of birds had liver residues of 2 to 4 ARs. These findings represent the highest exposure both to ARs overall and to multiple ARs in RTHAs compared to previous studies. All birds diagnosed with AR toxicosis (n = 14) were positive for ARs in serum; however, all subclinically exposed birds (n = 29) were negative in serum. These data show that exposure to SGARs remains widespread in RTHAs in this geographic area. In addition, although serum analysis is not sensitive for detecting sublethal exposures in RTHAs, it can potentially support a diagnosis of AR toxicosis in conjunction with other consistent signs. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:2325-2335. © 2020 SETAC.
Service Capacity and Price Promotion Wars

Price promotion wars have been commonly observed in the online retail industry. One intuitive explanation is that firms cut their prices in the current period, hoping for locking in customers for future profit. While such practice is prevalent, our understanding of the role of service capacity in firms’ price promotion strategy is lacking, especially when customers’ purchase experience may be negatively affected by firms’ limited service capacity. In this paper, we revisit the classic symmetric two-firm, two-period price competition model with customer switching costs, making the following modification|depending on the first-period demand and available service capacity, customers may be either satisfied or unsatisfied, which, in turn, determines a high or low switching cost in the second period. Our analysis of the model reveals three main insights. First, when service capacity is relatively limited, the magnitude of the first-period discount becomes smaller. As a result, limited service capacity makes the market less competitive, and firms’ profit improves. Second, perhaps most surprisingly, when the service capacity is limited but close to cover one half of the total market demand, competition intensifies, forcing firms to use a mixed strategy with randomized pricing in the first period. Third, having higher service capacity in an asymmetric capacity case can provide a competitive advantage for firms. Our numerical experiments further demonstrate that the randomized pricing insight carries over to the asymmetric capacity case, as long as one of the firms has a limited service capacity close to cover one half of the total market demand.
Failures in Revascularization for Pediatric Moyamoya Disease and Syndrome: A Scoping Review.

Background Moyamoya disease (MMD) and moyamoya syndrome (MMS) are a rare cause of stroke commonly managed surgically. We conducted a scoping review to identify the current scope of the literature regarding factors associated with failure of revascularization surgery for MMD and MMS in pediatric patients and to catalyze future research. Methods A scoping review was conducted to explore failures of revascularization surgery for MMD and MMS in pediatric patients using the PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases. Titles and abstracts returned from searches were screened for full-text review. Studies meeting inclusion criteria were reviewed in full, and relevant data were extracted. Results Of 2450 resultant articles, 15 were included. Angiographic outcomes were reported for 900 hemispheres, of which 442 (49.1%) were denoted as Matsushima grade A, 299 (33.2%) as Matsushima grade B, and 159 (17.7%) as Matsushima grade C. Patients with MMS had poorer angiographic outcomes than did patients with MMD. Patients with poor neovascularization had a greater degree of moyamoya vessels on follow-up angiogram. Suzuki stage was not associated with angiographic outcome in individual patients. Angiographic outcomes differed by surgical approach and were not associated with clinical outcomes. Literature identifying factors was sparse. Conclusions The existing literature indicates that factors such as cause, degree of moyamoya vessels, and surgical approach may affect the likelihood of Matsushima grade C revascularization in pediatric patients with MMD and MMS. Future studies are necessary to definitively elucidate factors associated with failure of revascularization surgery for pediatric MMD.
Examining Psychometrics of the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale in Children Ages 8–12 Years Using Child and Parent Report

Perfectionism, especially the evaluative concerns domain, correlates positively with mental health distress. The Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (F-MPS) is one of the most widely used measures of perfectionism, but has not been validated in children or as a measure of parent-report of child perfectionism. The present study aimed to validate the reliability and concurrent, convergent, and factor analytic validity of the F-MPS as a measure for young children. The F-MPS was administered to a sample of 114 children ages 8-12, and their parent. Results suggest that the F-MPS is valid for parent, but not child, report of child perfectionism. The lack of support for the child report may be due to developmental limitations of children understanding and reporting of their own perfectionism traits. In contrast, parent-report using the brief version of the F-MPS appears to be an economical and valid measure of perfectionism in young children. Improved measures of perfectionism in youth would aid in early intervention to buffer the negative mental health effects of the maladaptive aspects of perfectionism.
PEDIATRIC SUBSPECIALTY WORKFORCE

Objective Gaining timely access to pediatric subspecialists is becoming increasingly difficult in the United States. Hospitals, primary care providers, families, and health plans are struggling with alternative ways to address this critical workforce shortage in pediatrics. One approach is to expand the reach of existing state and regional networks of pediatric subspecialty services and the other approach is to strengthen the capacity of primary care providers (PCPs) with more consultation support and coordination from pediatric subspecialists. Unfortunately, there are several barriers that impede expanded pediatric subspecialty access and increased coordination between primary and specialty care. These barriers primarily pertain to the supply of pediatric subspecialists, communication and coordination between primary and specialty pediatric providers, and funding. Methods A Federal Expert Work Group on Pediatric Subspecialty Capacity, comprised of experts in pediatric health care, was established in 2005 to: 1) assess the scope and impact of pediatric subspecialty workforce problems; 2) identify promising practices; and 3) develop a tactical plan to improve access to pediatric subspecialty care within the context of comprehensive, community-based medical homes. Result/Conclusions Through several meetings of the Expert Work Group, 10 innovative approaches were identified related to referral, consultation, and shared management. An analysis of these approaches will be presented.
Curcumin down-regulates neuropilin-1, semaphorin 3a, ccl2 and ccr2 mRNA expression in PC-3 cells

2753 Curcumin is the active phytochemical ingredient of turmeric (Curcuma longa). Turmeric is used frequently as a spice in India and Asia, leading to about 80-200 mg of curcumin ingested daily. The ingestion of high levels of curcumin could be one reason for the lower incidence of prostate cancer (PCa) in these regions compared to the United States. It has been reported that curcumin decreases cell viability and invasion of PCa cell lines; however, the underlying mechanism of curcumin in PCa has not yet been fully elucidated. With this study, we hypothesized that curcumin can regulate the expression of important mediators of proliferation and cell motility in PC-3 cells, a bone-derived metastatic androgen-independent prostate cancer cell line. PC-3 cells were exposed to curcumin (30 μM, 18 hrs), dose and time points that are below the threshold levels at which curcumin decreases cell viability, allowing for a better understanding of the mechanistic effects of curcumin that are separate from any cytotoxic effects. Using inventoried Taqman primers in the 7500 FAST Real-Time PCR system (Applied Biosystems), we found that curcumin suppressed the mRNA expression of important mediators of PCa progression and invasion when compared to an ETOH vehicle control. Curcumin significantly decreased(-68% ± 8% SEM) the expression of neuropilin-1 (NP-1), an important receptor of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) isoform 165 signaling. When highly expressed, NP-1 increases invasion and proliferation of PCa. Curcumin also significantly down-regulated (-74% ± 8% SEM) the mRNA expression of semaphorin 3A, another binding partner of NP-1, which can, depending on various cellular cues, lead to very different yet important changes in cellular invasion and adhesion. Furthermore, we found that curcumin significantly decreased (-86% ± 8.1% SEM) the mRNA expression of chemokine CCL2 (chemokine ligand-2 or monocyte chemotactic protein-1) as well as the small membrane bound G-protein CCL2 receptor, CCR2 (-86% ± 4% SEM). Recent evidence demonstrated that CCL2 is a potent chemoattractant of PC-3 cells and CCR2 levels increase with increased PCa progression. We also observed, using a human CCL2 ELISA kit from Ebiosicences, that PC-3 cells exposed to curcumin, exhibited decreased levels of secreted CCL2 (-61% ± 4% SEM). The effects of curcumin were specific to PC-3 and were not uniformly exhibited when other cell lines (DU145, LNCaP and RWPE1) were studied. These data suggest that exposure of bone-derived PC-3 cells to curcumin results in the suppression of important mediators of PCa progression, and indicate novel mechanisms by which curcumin may decrease PCa growth and metastasis.
A Brief Measure of Work Environment for Human Service Organizations

Organizational characteristics are important predictors of workplace outcomes, but the length and complexity of validated instruments restrict their use in research and practice. This study tested ...
Rise of the Copyleft Trolls: When Photographers Sue After Creative Commons Licenses Go Awry

Creative Commons licenses typically signal that a photograph uploaded to the web may be used for limited purposes, such as noncommercial uses or with attribution. Some photographers are monetizing this, uploading photos with little commercial value, searching the web for uses with improper attribution, then demanding payment and engaging in high-volume litigation. This study examines more than 30 cases involving photographers suing after a Creative Commons license terminated, finding that courts are showing a willingness to accept users’ arguments of fair use based on transformative purposes and lack of economic harm, as well as general distaste for the arguments of photographers engaging in this kind of litigation.
Associations of Regional and Network Functional Connectivity With Exercise-Induced Low Back Pain.

Musculoskeletal pain is an aversive experience that exists within a variety of conditions and can result in significant impairment for individuals. Gaining greater understanding of the factors related to pain vulnerability and resilience to musculoskeletal pain may help target at-risk individuals for early intervention. This analysis builds on our previous work identifying regions where greater gray matter density was associated with lower pain following standardized, exercise induced musculoskeletal injury. Here we sought to examine the relationship between baseline resting state functional connectivity in a priori regions and networks, and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) pain intensity following a single session of eccentric exercise in healthy adults. Participants completed a baseline functional MRI scan and a high intensity trunk exercise protocol in the erector spinae. Pain intensity ratings were collected 48-hours later. Resting state functional connectivity from four seed regions and 3 networks were separately regressed on pain intensity scores. Results revealed that connectivity between left middle frontal gyrus, the left occipital gyrus and cerebellar network seeds and clusters associated with discriminative, emotional, and cognitive aspects of pain were associated with lower post-DOMS pain. Results suggest resilience to clinically relevant pain is associated with aspects of regional and network neural coherence. Investigations of pain modulatory capacity that integrate multimodal neuroimaging metrics are called for. Perspective: Our results provide key support for the role of structural and functional coherence in regional and network connectivity in adaptive pain response and represent an important step in clarifying neural mechanisms of resilience to clinically relevant pain.
Eye-Opening Experiences: Physical Education Teacher Candidates’ Conference Attendance

The benefits of professional conference attendance include acquisition of knowledge and practical ideas, establishment of professional networks, exploration of job opportunities, and staying current). Yet, to date, no study has comprehensively examined physical education teacher candidates’ (TCs) conference attendance at the national level. Using occupational socialization theory, this study examined physical education TCs’ perceptions of their professional conference attendance. Participants included 12 university physical education TCs attending the 2017 Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) National Convention. Data sources included photo- elicitation interviews, participants’ diaries, photographs, and demographic questionnaires. Interview transcripts and diaries were analyzed utilizing open and axial coding. Photographs were analyzed using a reflexive approach combined with methods recognizing the contingency of visual meanings. Results indicated that the majority of formal conference sessions attended by TCs were activity/movement oriented and were selected based upon professor advice and learner interests. Prominent themes of their experience included future focused learning, relationship building, and breaking out of the comfort zone. Overall, conference attendance represents an impactful learning activity, one in which faculty play an important role in shaping TCs’ professional growth. Results indicate the importance of supporting TCs’ continual learning and development as they transition between phases of teacher socialization. Subscribe to TPE
The $H_0$ and $S_8$ tensions necessitate early and late time changes to $\Lambda$CDM

An only early or only late time alteration to $\Lambda$CDM has been inadequate at resolving both the $H_0$ and $S_8$ tensions simultaneously; however, a combination of early and late time alterations to $\Lambda$CDM can provide a solution to both tensions. As an illustration, we examine a combined Early Dark Energy - Decaying Dark Matter model. While early dark energy has the ability to resolve the $H_0$ tension, it leads to a discrepancy in $S_8$ measurements. We show that the addition of decaying dark matter helps resolve the $S_8$ discrepancy that would otherwise be enhanced in an early dark energy model, while the latter is able to relieve the $H_0$ disagreement to within the 95th percentile interval. Our results show a preference for the combined model over $\Lambda$CDM with $\Delta \rm{AIC} = -6.72$, hinting that both early and late universe modifications may be necessary to address the cosmological tensions.
Revisiting Strategy in a Time of Crisis

The season of upheaval brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic is a critical occasion for libraries to revisit their organizational strategies. Strategy includes two complementary dimensions: alignment with the environment and the pursuit of competitive advantage. Rapid changes in the environment call for practicing strategic thinking iteratively rather than engaging in a fixed rhythm of multi-year planning. An effective library strategy displays four key attributes: (1) It responds to the concerns of diverse stakeholders. (2) It is flexible enough to adapt to emerging conditions. (3) It enacts organizational mission but can also help to reshape it. (4) It integrates with organization development to achieve success with and through people.
Change classification of topographic data based on four-factor model

In order to identity the change typology of all geographical features,this paper proposes a new classification method of change based on the four-factor model. The four factors are the whole object, the component ofobject, the state of object and object component, the result of Boolean calculation on the attribute values. There are some hierarchy relationships among the four factors. In the process of identifying change type, thereare strict orders among the factors,from high level factor to low level factor. Based on this new method, the software for automatic extracting change information is developed. The practical application indicates that this new method can satisfy the requirements of many spatial data producers.
Efficient SAT-based unbounded symbolic model checking using circuit cofactoring

We describe an efficient approach for SAT-based quantifier elimination that significantly improves the performance of pre-image and fixed-point computation in SAT-based unbounded symbolic model checking (UMC). The proposed method captures a larger set of new states per SAT-based enumeration step during quantifier elimination, in comparison to previous approaches. The novelty of our approach is in the use of circuit-based cofactoring to capture a large set of states, and in the use of a functional hashing based simplified circuit graph to represent the captured states. We also propose a number of heuristics to further enlarge the state set represented per enumeration, thereby reducing the number of enumeration steps. We have implemented our techniques in a SAT-based UMC framework where we show the effectiveness of SAT-based existential quantification on public benchmarks, and on a number of large industry designs that were hard to model check using purely BDD-based techniques. We show several orders of improvement in time and space using our approach over previous CNF-based approaches. We also present controlled experiments to demonstrate the role of several heuristics proposed in the paper. Importantly, we were able to prove using our method the correctness of a safety property in an industry design that could not be proved using other known approaches.
How to Cope with Space Weather

Space weather-the fluctuating magnetic fields and energetic particles that originate from the Sun and penetrate far into Earth9s atmosphere-has the power to damage satellites and disrupt communications or power grids on Earth9s surface. In his Perspective, Baker reviews recent efforts to understand space weather and shield satellites from its harmful effects.
Sensory Rhodopsin Signaling in Green Flagellate Algae

The sensory rhodopsins of the green f lagellate alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii are recent additions to the large and diverse family of microbial rhodopsins, proteins that are characterized by their visual pigment-like domain, consisting of 7-transmembrane helices forming an internal pocket for the chromophore retinal (see Spudich and Jung, Chapter 1). The first members of this family were observed in halophilic Archaea (reviewed in Hoff et al., 1997; Schafer et al., 1999; Spudich et al., 2000). In haloarchaea, two are light-driven ion pumps [bacteriorhodopsin (BR) and halorhodopsin (HR)], and two are sensory receptors for phototaxis [sensory rhodopsins I and II (SRI and SRII)]. Over the past four years, cloning, heterologous expression, and functional analysis of homologous genes from cultivated-microorganism genome projects as well as environmental genomics of uncultivated microbes have revealed photoactive archaeal-rhodopsin homologs in the other two domains of life as well, i.e. Bacteria (Beja et al., 2001; Jung et al., 2003) and Eucarya (Bieszke et al., 1999a; Sineshchekov et al., 2002). Both transport and sensory rhodopsins exist in Archaea and both functional classes are also found in Bacteria (e.g. proton-pumping marine proteorhodopsins and Anabaena sensory rhodopsin); so far only sensory members have been demonstrated in microbial Eucarya, namely the C. reinhardtii sensory rhodopsins reviewed here. The prokaryotic rhodopsins rank among the best-understood membrane proteins in terms of structure and function at the atomic level. Atomic resolution structures, which exist for <60 membrane proteins, have been obtained from electron and X-ray crystallography of BR (Grigorieff et al., 1996; Pebay-Peyroula et al., 1997; Essen et al., 1998; Luecke et al., 1999), HR (Kolbe et al., 2000), SRII (Luecke et al., 2001; Royant et al., 2001), and Anabaena sensory rhodopsin (Vogeley et al., 2004). This knowledge and the fact that they can be activated by light, which permits precise temporal reso-
The Q—1 interval of the phonocardiogram: In patients with ventricular septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus and Blalock anastomosis

Abstract Eighteen patients with varying degrees of left-to-right shunt at the ventricular and pulmonary artery level (in which the shunt flow passes through the mitral valve) were studied by right heart catheterization and phonocardiography. There was good correlation between the relative size of the left-to-right shunt and the duration of the phonocardiographic Q-1 interval. Possible explanations of this finding are discussed. The measurement of the Q-1 interval in these patients may be of clinical value in evaluating the relative size of the left-to-right shunt and in assessing postoperative results.
Plasma studies of a catalyzed-D noncircular Tokamak

The use of the “catalyzed deuterium” fuel cycle in a Tokamak power reactor is compared to a D-T cycle in the present work. Large reactor sizes and magnetic fields are necessary for catalyzed deuterium but several advantages are obtained. These include the possible use of direct conversion and a simplified blanket design because tritium breeding is unnecessary and radiation damage is reduced. With large reactor powers (about 12 GW), ignited operation of the “catalyzed deuterium” Tokamak appears to be possible with some safety margin.
Construction of potentials from given dynamical discontinuities of partial-wave amplitudes

A method is derived, which allows the determination of a potential from given dynamical singularities of partial-wave amplitudes. The special examples of the one-pole approximation of the left-hand cut and the singlet nucleon-nucleon amplitudes are treated.
Sublethal effect of brood parasitism on the grass-carrying wasp Isodontia mexicana

1. The nests of solitary, nest-provisioning wasps (Sphecidae and Crabronidae) are commonly attacked by brood parasites, including flies of the families Phoridae and Sarcophagidae. Larvae of the flies commonly kill the wasp offspring directly or starve it by consuming prey provided by the adult female wasps. 2. To determine whether brood parasitic flies can have a sublethal effect (i.e. reduced body size) on wasp offspring, nests of the wasp Isodontia mexicana were collected at two field sites in upstate New York, U.S.A. Nest diameter had no effect on the probability that a wasp cell would be inhabited by a brood parasite. Most offspring that developed in cells also containing phorids or sarcophagids managed to complete development and emerge as adults. Nevertheless, they had significantly smaller body size than conspecifics emerging from unparasitised cells in which the developing wasp did not have to compete for food (which in this species consists of tree crickets and katydids). Apparently, this is the first time that a sublethal effect of brood parasitism on offspring body size has been quantified for a solitary wasp species. Known effects of body size on the reproductive success of adult wasps suggest that sublethal consequences of the presence of brood parasites may have a significant effect on the fitness of adult I. mexicana.
A fully automated recommender system using collaborative filters

Recommender systems represent valuable marketing tools in e-commerce. No wonder that this field has enjoyed quite some attention from the scientific community that seeks to develop algorithms that optimize the performance of recommender systems based on the analysis of historical data. In the research reported here, we experimented with a mechanism that combines traditional collaborative filtering approaches with explicit rating. This paper describes the technique and illustrates its behavior in a test-bed we created from real-world data. The results are promising.
Orientation and quasar black hole mass estimation

We have constructed a sample of 386 radio-loud quasars with z < 0.75 from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey in order to investigate orientation effects on black hole mass estimates. Orientation is estimated using radio core dominance measurements based on FIRST survey maps. Black hole masses are estimated from virial-based scaling relationships using H-beta, and compared to the stellar velocity dispersion (sigma_*), predicted using the Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM) of [O III] 5007, which tracks mass via the M-sigma_* relation. We find that the FWHM of Hbeta correlates significantly with radio core dominance and biases black hole mass determinations that use it, but that this is not the case for sigma_* based on [O III] 5007. The ratio of black hole masses predicted using orientation-biased and unbiased estimates, which can be determined for radio-quiet as well as radio-loud quasars, is significantly correlated with radio core dominance. Although there is significant scatter, this mass ratio calculated in this way may in fact serve as an orientation estimator. We additionally note the existence of a small population radio core-dominated quasars with extremely broad H-beta emission lines that we hypothesise may represent recent black hole mergers.
Beyond Exciton Theory: A Time-Dependent DFT and Franck−Condon Study of Perylene Diimide and Its Chromophoric Dimer

The diimide perylene motif exhibits a dramatic intensity reversal between the 0 --> 0 and 0 --> 1 vibronic bands upon pi-pi stacking; this distinct spectral property has previously been used to measure folding dynamics in covalently bound oligomers and synthetic biological hybrid foldamers. It is also used as a tool to assess organization of the pi-stacking, indicating the presence of H- or J-aggregation. The zeroth-order exciton model, often used to describe the optical properties of chromophoric aggregates, is solely a transition dipole coupling scheme, which ignores the explicit electronic structure of the system as well as vibrational coupling to the electronic transition. We have therefore examined the optical properties of gas-phase perylene tetracarboxylic diimide (PTCDI) and its chromophoric dimer as a function of conformation to relate the excited-state distributions predicted by exciton theory with that of time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). Using ground- and excited-state geometries, the Franck-Condon (FC) factors for the lowest energy molecular nature electronic transition have been calculated and the origin of the intensity reversal of 0 --> 0 and 0 --> 1 vibronic bands has been proposed.
Changes in brain gonadotropin-releasing hormone, plasma estradiol 17-β, and progesterone during the final reproductive cycle of the female sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus

Changes in ovarian morphology, brain gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), plasma estradiol, and progesterone were examined during the 1988 and 1989 spawning migrations of the adult female sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus. There were significant increases through time in brain GnRH (1989) and plasma estradiol (1988 and 1989), with progesterone levels fluctuating (1988 and 1989) during the freshwater phase of the spawning migrations. In 1989, brain GnRH and plasma estradiol levels gradually increased through time until just prior to spawning when levels decreased. During 1988, there were no significant changes in GnRH, which may reflect lower temperatures in that year. These data provide new information on brain GnRH during final maturational processes in the female sea lamprey. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Internal Working Models Concept: What do we Really know about the Self in Relation to Others?:

The internal working models concept is the foundation for understanding how attachment processes operate in adult relationships, yet many questions exist about the precise nature and structure of w...
Multivariate value at risk and related topics

Multivariate Value at Risk, or MVaR, is defined as the quantile set of a multivariate probability distribution. It has already been introduced and used in the literature under the name of p-Level Efficient Points, or pLEP’s, or briefly p-efficient points. Some of the topics connected with it are surveyed: discrete convexity, algorithmic generation, relation to logconcavity. A related notion: Multivariate Conditional Value at Risk, or MCVaR, is also introduced and some of its properties are explored. Finally, optimization problems, based on these notions, are presented and discussed, from the point of view of convexity and algorithmic solution.
An avian cDNA encoding a tyrosine-phosphorylated protein with PDZ, coiled-coil, and SAM domains.

Tyrosine phosphoproteins of size 115-120 kDa were purified from membranes of chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF) infected with Rous sarcoma virus (RSV). A mouse was immunized with these proteins, and the immune serum was used to screen a CEF cDNA expression library. A highly immunoreactive clone (KS5) was identified and characterized. The cDNA of this clone is 2.3 kb in length with a short 5' UTR and a single major open reading frame (ORF) encoding a polypeptide of 719 amino acids, with a calculated molecular weight of 81.1 kDa. The encoded protein contains an amino terminal PDZ domain, followed by a predicted coiled-coil region, a PEST domain, and a carboxy-terminal SAM domain. Consensus sequence motifs for tyrosine phosphorylation are also present, as are consensus sequences for the binding of SH2 and PDZ domains. Antisera from mice immunized with bacterially expressed fragments of the KS5 protein recognized proteins of size 230, 116, and 65 kDa in CEF. In other chicken embryo tissues, a 116-kDa species was the predominant protein recognized. The 116-kDa species is tyrosine-phosphorylated in RSV-CEF. The presence of PDZ and SAM domains in the KS5 protein suggests that it may act as a molecular adaptor, promoting and relaying information in a signal transduction pathway. It is a member of a family of related proteins, all of which have a highly conserved PDZ domain adjacent to a coiled-coil region. Two other members of this family are the neuronal proteins spinophilin (Allen, P.B., Ouimet, C.C., Greengard, P., 1997. Spinophilin, a novel protein phosphatase 1 binding protein localized to dendritic spines. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94, 9956-9961) and neurabin (Nakanishi, H., Obaishi, H., Satoh, A., Wada, M., Mandai, K., Satoh, K., Nishioka, H., Matsuura, Y., Mizoguchi, A. , Takai, Y., 1997. Neurabin: A novel neural tissue-specific actin filament-binding protein involved in neurite formation. J. Cell Biol. 139, 951-961).
Mechanisms for sub-gap optical conductivity in Herbertsmithite

Recent terahertz conductivity measurements observed low-power-law frequency dependence of optical conduction within the Mott gap of the kagome lattice spin-liquid candidate Herbertsmithite. We investigate mechanisms for this observed sub-gap conductivity for two possible scenarios in which the ground state is described by (1) a U(1) Dirac spin liquid with emergent fermionic spinons or (2) a nearly critical ${Z}_{2}$ spin liquid in the vicinity of a continuous quantum phase transition to magnetic order. We identify new mechanisms for optical absorption via magnetoelastic effects and spin-orbit coupling. In addition, for the Dirac spin liquid scenario, we establish an explicit microscopic origin for previously proposed absorption mechanisms based on slave-particle effective field theory descriptions.
Nanosecond Pulsed Plasma Dental Probe

A novel coaxial tubular device capable of generating a 2.5 cm long pencil-like plasma plume in ambient atmosphere has recently been developed to disinfect root canal systems during endodontic treatment. Powered with short (≈100 ns), intense (6 kV) electric pulses at 1 kHz, the plasma dental probe is safe for operation, electromagnetic noise-free, with low power consumption (an average power of ≈1 W) and minimal heating of materials under treatment. It thus has the essential features required for oral and dental disinfection. In this communication, we present the design of the device and evidence that the plasma dental probe is effective for tooth surface disinfection. Scanning electron microscopy shows complete destruction of endodontic biofilms for a depth of 1 mm inside a root canal after plasma treatment for 5 min. Plasma emission spectroscopy identifies atomic oxygen as one of the likely active agents for the bactericidal effect.
Mindfulness Meditation for Symptom Reduction in Fibromyalgia: Psychophysiological Correlates

Objectives Fibromyalgia, a chronic pain syndrome, is often accompanied by psychological distress and increased basal sympathetic tone. In a previous report it was shown that mindfulness-based stress-reduction (MBSR) reduced depressive symptoms in patients with fibromyalgia with gains maintained at two months follow-up (Sephton et al., Arthr Rheum 57:77–85, 2007). This second study explores the effects of MBSR on basal sympathetic (SNS) activation among women with fibromyalgia. Methods Participants (n = 24) responded to a television news appearance, newspaper, and radio advertisements. Effects on anxiety, depressive symptoms, and SNS activation measures were tested before and after MBSR using a within-subjects design. Results The MBSR treatment significantly reduced basal electrodermal (skin conductance level; SCL) activity (t = 3.298, p = .005) and SCL activity during meditation (t = 4.389, p = .001), consistent with reduced SNS activation. Conclusions In this small sample, basal SNS activity was reduced following MBSR treatment. Future studies should assess how MBSR may help reduce negative psychological symptoms and attenuate SNS activation in fibromyalgia. Further clarification of psychological and physiological responses associated with fibromyalgia may lead to more beneficial treatment.
Non-ribosomal peptide synthetase module fusions to produce derivatives of daptomycin in Streptomyces roseosporus.

Genetic engineering has been applied to reprogramme non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) to produce novel antibiotics, but little is known about what determines the efficiency of production. We explored module exchanges at nucleotide sequences encoding interpeptide linkers in dptD, a gene encoding a di-modular NRPS subunit that incorporates 3-methylglutamic acid (3mGlu12) and kynurenine (Kyn13) into daptomycin. Mutations causing amino acid substitutions, deletions or insertions in the inter-module linker had no negative effects on lipopeptide yields. Hybrid DptD subunits were generated by fusing the 3mGlu12 module to terminal modules from calcium-dependent antibiotic (CDA) or A54145 NRPSs, and recombinants produced daptomycin analogues with Trp13 or Ile13 at high efficiencies. A recombinant expressing DptD with a hybrid Kyn13 module containing a di-domain from a d-Asn module caused the production of a new daptomycin analogue containing Asn13.
Development of a fluorescent microsphere technique for rapid histological determination of cerebral blood flow.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to develop a more efficient fluorescent microsphere method to facilitate the rapid use of the histological technique and to enable its use in large tissue regions. Using fluorescent plate/slide imaging technology and automated detection and analysis software, we were able to rapidly image, detect, and count 3 separate microsphere colors in 200 μm thick tissue sections from piglet brain. In resting newborn piglets (n = 6) on isoflurane anesthesia, we measured a median total cerebral blood flow (CBF) of 105 ml/min/100 g (range 27–206 ml/min/100 g). Compared with other FM analysis methods, our method reduces the time required to determine blood flow, improves accuracy in lipid-rich tissues and large tissue regions and, unlike the radiolabeled microsphere method, can be combined with histological analysis.
Die Bedeutung chronischer Stauungszustände im Lungenkreislaufe für die Bildung abnormer Kollateralen in das Gebiet der oberen Hohlvene; zugleich ein Beitrag zur Frage der Luftembolie in den gro\en Kreislauf und das rechte Herz

Bei allen chronischen Stauungszustanden der Lunge, auf dem Boden einer chronischen Entzundung (Tuberkulose) entstanden, ist mit der Moglichkeit des Bestehens abnormer Gefa\kollateralen in pleuritischen Verwachsungen zwischen gestauten Lungenvenen und der oberen Hohlvene zu rechnen. Experimentell konnten wir sie erzeugen durch partiellen Verschlu\ aller Pulmonalvenen einer Lunge. Ein zweiter Modus der uberwindung der chronischen Lungenstauung besteht in der Erweiterung bestehender, ableitender Gefa\e, speziell der Bronchialvenen und deren Verbindungen mit anderen Venen (V. pericardiaco-phrenica; V. oesophagea). Diesen Modus konnten wir experimentell erzeugen durch partielle Okklusion der Pulmonalvenen einer Lunge; einschlagige klinische Beobachtungen konnte ich nicht finden.
Preheated ignition and work function studies on alkaline earth metal oxides coated tungsten electrodes of fluorescent lamps

This paper describes measurements on the alkaline earth (Ba, Sr, Ca) oxide layers utilized as emitting material in fluorescent lamp electrodes. In a first approach we compared the emission capabilities of the different materials (BaO, SrO and CaO coatings on tungsten filaments) by their ability to facilitate the start of a lamp. In a second investigation the work function was measured quantitatively by means of a Kelvin probe. Basically, the results of both measurements coincide. The impact of sample geometry on measurement results of a Kelvin probe applied for work function measurements of lamp electrodes are discussed in detail.
Measurement of a CMOS negative inductor for wideband non-foster metamaterials

There is increasing interest in impedance-matching methods that use non-Foster circuits to provide wideband operation in a variety of microwave devices such as antennas and metamaterials. In addition, many of these prior non-Foster circuits employ bipolar negative impedance converter designs, and it is advantageous to move such designs into CMOS. Therefore, the present work provides new measured results building upon an earlier proposed design of a negative inductor in a 0.5 micron CMOS process. The proposed circuit eliminates a resistor from a common negative impedance converter topology, and the prototype performs well at high frequency. Measured results show a low-frequency inductance of −95 nH falling to −85 nH at 750 MHz and −63 nH at 1 GHz. Finally, simulation results are presented for the performance of the circuit in a metamaterial application.
Effectiveness of a weekly faculty conversation forum about teaching.

Objective. To evaluate the effectiveness of holding weekly 60–90 minute conversation forums for faculty members to discuss, explore, and reflect on various teaching topics in a relaxed, informal, interactive format. Methods. Weekly, 60–90 minute sessions were held for faculty members of the University of Illinois College of Pharmacy. A 15-item retrospective pretest-posttest questionnaire was developed and administered at the end of the first year of implementation to evaluate the participants' perceived knowledge, abilities, and confidence gains relative to becoming effective educators. Results. Eleven faculty members completed the questionnaire. All respondents tended to agree (6/11) or agreed (5/11) that their confidence as educators improved after attending the conversation forums. In addition,7 respondents tended to agree and 4 agreed that their ability to self-assess their teaching had improved. Conclusions. An ongoing weekly conversations forum provides faculty members opportunities to explore and l...
Paired Domination in Graphs

A set S of vertices in a graph G is a paired dominating set if every vertex of G is adjacent to a vertex in S and the subgraph induced by S contains a perfect matching (not necessarily as an induced subgraph). The minimum cardinality of a paired dominating set of G is the paired domination number of G. This chapter presents a survey of the major results on paired domination with an emphasis on bounds for the paired domination number.
Structure-Based Discovery of Glycolipids for CD1d-Mediated NKT Cell Activation: Tuning the Adjuvant versus Immunosuppression Activity

Introduction of an aromatic group into the fatty acyl chain of alpha-GalCer modulates the activity and selectivity of IFN-gamma/IL-4 secretion through CD1d-mediated activation of NKT cells. Compound 14-16 are more potent than alpha-Galcer and biased for IFN-gamma than for IL-4. These new glycolipids may find use as adjuvants or as antimetastatic agents.
Perinatal Outcomes Among Foreign-Born and US-Born Chinese Americans, 1995–2000

This paper examines nativity differences in adverse perinatal outcomes of Chinese-American mothers. Singleton live births to US-resident Chinese women (150,620 foreign-born, 15,040 US-born) and a random sample of 150,620 non-Hispanic White mothers were selected from 1995 to 2000 national linked birth/infant death certificate files. Associations between maternal nativity status and adverse perinatal outcomes were assessed using multivariable logistic regressions. Compared to US-born Chinese mothers, foreign-born Chinese mothers were less likely to be unmarried, teen mothers, have a non-Hispanic White or other race partner, be rural residents, and more likely to be less educated, or utilize prenatal care inadequately. Controlling for these factors, foreign-born Chinese-American mothers had significantly lower risks for low birth weight, preterm birth, and small-for-gestational age, whereas risks for infant mortality, neonatal mortality, and post-neonatal mortality did not differ significantly from those of infants of US-born Chinese mothers. Chinese Americans exhibited clear nativity differentials for adverse birth outcomes.
A gendered practice of urban cultivation: performing power and well-being in M'Bour, Senegal

This article outlines how a theoretical approach that explores gender as ‘emplaced performance’ can improve the analytical value of gender by drawing attention to (1) the ways in which gender, as a socially and spatially contingent performance, is enrolled in the relationships that create the city, and (2) how the city, as a constantly evolving and dynamic field of interaction for economic, social, and political processes, (re)configures gender. Drawing on qualitative research carried out in M'Bour, Senegal, and through a case study of a form of urban cultivation called micro-gardening, this analysis explores gender as a socially and spatially contingent performance that produces, and is produced by, the city. The analysis brings together performativity studies with scholarship on place to fashion the analytical approach, and specifically draws attention to emplaced performances of well-being and power. Such an approach, because it draws attention to the contingent dimensions of gender, as well as the eff...