cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sardonic Atheists and Silly Evangelicals: the Relationship between Self-Concept and Humor Style

Humor is widely used as a means of supporting group solidarity, but what determines the direction that this humor takes (i.e. its quality and targets)? I suggest that the answer lies in an interaction between self-concept, perceptions of outgroups and micro group culture. Aspects of self-concept that are central for a group’s identity work, especially how the group imagines outsiders, open possibilities for certain types of humor while closing off others. Then micro-cultural processes, heavily dependent on the exact persons present in a given interaction, influence the humorous forms used. This process explains why groups in roughly similar structural positions often make use of humor to generate solidarity in strikingly different ways, as well as why styles of humor vary, within limits, within groups. I provide illustrations of this process in two religious minority groups with very different humorous styles: atheists in the Bible Belt and evangelical Christians in Chicago.
Nickel(ii) pincer complexes demonstrate that the remote substituent controls catalytic carbon dioxide reduction.

The first example of a CNC pincer ligand with a central pyridinol ligand is reported in a nickel(II) complex. This metal complex can be protonated or deprotonated reversibly in situ to switch on or off the photocatalytic performance towards CO2 reduction. The O− substituent appears essential for catalysis.
Central Limit Theorems for Exchangeable Random Variables When Limits Are Scale Mixtures of Normals

Central limit theorems for exchangeable random variables are studied when limits are scale mixtures of normals. First, necessary and sufficient conditions are given under the asymptotic tail probability condition for the mixands: $$nP^\omega \left\{ {\left| {\xi _1 } \right| >\varepsilon b_n } \right\}\xrightarrow{P}0.$$ Second, when the weak limits have a particular form, i.e., the mixing measure comes directly from de Finetti's Theorem, necessary and sufficient conditions are given. Finally, some applications are discussed.
Mothers Matter: Ethics and Research during Pregnancy.

If women are excluded from research, their only option may be to take a medication in an uncontrolled clinical environment without the data to inform dosing or safety considerations specific to pregnancy.
Definition of the Stomach and Esophagus

It is difficult to believe that the medical community has reached the twenty-first century without a clear and accurate understanding of what the stomach and esophagus are. As with anything that does not have a standard definition, papers on diseases of the esophagus vary considerably in the way the esophagus, stomach, and gastroesophageal junction are defined. The most common definition uses the proximal limit of the gastric rugal folds as defining the gastroesophageal junction [1]. Others use the squamocolumnar junction [2], the lower end of the lower esophageal sphnicter, or the peritoneal reflection [3] to define the junction. These definitions are accepted despite evidence that they are incorrect. For example, it is well known that the squamocolumnar junction moves proximally due to glandular metaplasia of the lower esophagus in patients who have reflux [4]. The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is commonly shortened in patients who have reflux [5]. Both the squamocolumnar junction and the LES are therefore variable points and cannot be used to define the lower end of the esophagus. The peritoneal reflection is clearly not an appropriate definition of the lower end of the esophagus. In normal patients the LES, which is approximately 5cm long, has an abdominal length that is usually about 2cm. The abdominal part of the LE5, which is part of the lower esophagus, is normally lined by peritoneum. Despite all these definitions, for most people the esophagus is usually defined as the tubal structure that changes abruptly at the gastroesophageal junction to become the saccular stomach.
Geometric isotropy indices for workspace analysis of parallel manipulators

Abstract This paper addresses the isotropy of a workspace in terms of its geometric shape. Workspace isotropy analysis plays a crucial role in improving the quality of workspace for parallel manipulators. When a parallel manipulator is installed on a moving platform (e.g., satellites, aircrafts, ships, etc.), the geometry of its workspace is critical to achieve the planned tasks. This paper proposes three novel workspace isotropy indices, namely, translational workspace isotropy index (TWII), rotational workspace isotropy index (RWII), and entire workspace isotropy index (EWII), for workspace isotropy analysis in terms of the geometric shape of the workspace. All three indices are mathematically defined. TWII and RWII can be applied to both planar and spatial parallel manipulators with movable bases while EWII can work for planar parallel manipulators with movable bases. Random rotational disturbances are applied to the movable bases of multiple parallel manipulators in simulation. Simulation results show that the proposed workspace isotropy indices are effective in evaluating how isotropic the geometric shape of a workspace is. They are good at reflecting the robustness of a parallel manipulator to rotational disturbances to its movable base. The proposed indices can also be used as guidelines for the optimal design of parallel manipulators.
Characterization of arid climates according to combined water balance parameters

Published water balance computations for stations in the arid realm reveal that locations having the same Thornthwaite aridity index vary widely in terms of water deficit and soil moisture storage. A supplementary water balance index is proposed, in which positive values make distinctions between climates permitting soil moisture storage and negative values differentiate between climates producing year-around moisture deficit. Graphic plots including the water balance index, potential evapotranspiration and Thornthwaite’s aridity index permit precise characterizations of the climates of different arid regions, and greatly facilitate the recognition of true climatic analogues within the arid zone.
What drives support for self-driving car technology in the United States?

Recent advances in automotive technology have made fully automated self-driving cars technologically feasible. Despite offering many benefits such as increased safety, improved fuel efficiency, and...
ACUTE EFFECTS OF MUSCLE ENERGY TECHNIQUE AND JOINT MOBILIZATION ON SHOULDER TIGHTNESS IN YOUTH THROWING ATHLETES: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL.

Background Posterior shoulder tightness (PST), defined as limited glenohumeral (GH) horizontal adduction and internal rotation motion, is a common occurrence in overhead athletes, particularly baseball and softball players, as a result of the extreme forces on the GH joint and the high number of throwing repetitions. Despite clinical evidence suggesting the use of joint mobilizations and muscle energy techniques (MET) for treating PST, there currently are no data examining the overall effectiveness of joint mobilizations and MET to determine optimal treatment for posterior shoulder tightness. Purpose To compare the acute effectiveness of MET and joint mobilizations for reducing posterior shoulder tightness, as measured by passive GH horizontal adduction and internal rotation ROM, among high school baseball and softball players. Study design Randomized controlled study. Methods Forty-two asymptomatic high school baseball and softball players were randomly assigned to one of three groups (14 MET, 14 joint mobilization, 14 control). Glenohumeral passive adduction and internal rotation ROM were measured in all participants in a pre-test post-test fashion. Between testing, the joint mobilization group received one application of GH posterior joint mobilizations. The MET group received one cycle of MET applied to the GH horizontal abductors. The control group received no intervention. Posttests measures were completed immediately following intervention or a similar amount of time resting for the control group and then again 15 minutes later. Results One-way analyses of covariance showed that the MET group had significantly more horizontal adduction ROM post-treatment compared to the control group (p = 0.04). No significant differences existed between groups in horizontal adduction (p > 0.16) or internal rotation (p>.28) or at the 15-minute posttests (p > 0.70). Conclusion The results of this study indicate the application of MET to the horizontal abductors provides acute improvements to GH horizontal adduction ROM in high school baseball and softball players, while joint mobilizations provide no improvements. Level of evidence 1.
It is time to learn from patients like mine.

Clinicians are often faced with situations where published treatment guidelines do not provide a clear recommendation. In such situations, evidence generated from similar patients’ data captured in electronic health records (EHRs) can aid decision making. However, challenges in generating and making such evidence available have prevented its on-demand use to inform patient care. We propose that a specialty consultation service staffed by a team of medical and informatics experts can rapidly summarize ‘what happened to patients like mine’ using data from the EHR and other health data sources. By emulating a familiar physician workflow, and keeping experts in the loop, such a service can translate physician inquiries about situations with evidence gaps into actionable reports. The demand for and benefits gained from such a consult service will naturally vary by practice type and data robustness. However, we cannot afford to miss the opportunity to use the patient data captured every day via EHR systems to close the evidence gap between available clinical guidelines and realities of clinical practice. We have begun offering such a service to physicians at our academic medical center and believe that such a service should be core offering by clinical informatics professional throughout the country. Only if we launch such efforts broadly can we systematically study the utility of learning from the record of routine clinical practice.
The acid-catalysed benzidine rearrangements may proceed via cation radicals formed by electron transfer to a proton from a hydrazyl nitrogen

The acid-catalysed benzidine rearrangements are proposed to proceed via cation radical intermediates which arise by rapid electron transfer from a neutral nitrogen of the hydrazyl moiety to a proto...
Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs and Opioids in Chronic Kidney Disease

Abstract Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) inhibit the synthesis of prostaglandins, which comprise an important compensatory mechanism for maintaining renal blood flow, glomerular filtration, and water and electrolyte homeostasis in the setting of a number of pathophysiologic states including chronic kidney disease (CKD). CKD patients are, therefore, at risk for adverse renal side effects of NSAIDs, including acutely worsened renal function, hyperkalemia, hyponatremia, sodium retention, and exacerbation of hypertension. Although these effects are generally reversible on discontinuation of the drugs, patients with CKD must be monitored closely while taking NSAIDs. Evidence suggests that heavy cumulative NSAID consumption is capable of causing chronic kidney injury with manifestations similar to those seen in classic analgesic nephropathy, including chronic interstitial nephritis and papillary necrosis. The pathogenesis of this disorder is probably renal medullary ischemia resulting from diversion of blood flow to the cortex that occurs with suppression of prostaglandin synthesis. CKD due to NSAIDs is probably rare. Extra caution is indicated when (1) committing patients to high-dose, long-term NSAID therapy or (2) recommending NSAID therapy of any duration to patients with CKD or other risk factors for adverse renal side effects including advanced age, use of diuretics, congestive heart failure, cirrhosis, and hypertension. As with NSAIDs, opioid analgesics must be considered from two standpoints: their ability to cause chronic kidney injury, which appears rare if it occurs at all, and the susceptibility of patients with chronically impaired renal function to the hemodynamic and neurotoxic effects of opioids, a problem commonly confronted in the clinic.
Abstract 136: The Ventromedial Hypothalamic BBSome is Required for Energy Homeostasis and Sympathetic Nerve Traffic Control

The BBSome, a protein complex of 8 Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS) protein including BBS1, has emerged as an important regulator of metabolic and cardiovascular function. We previously demonstrated tha...
Wheat exposure to cerium oxide nanoparticles over three generations reveals transmissible changes in nutrition, biochemical pools, and response to soil N.

Abstract This study investigated the effects of third generation exposure to cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2-NPs) on biomass, elemental and 15N uptake, and fatty acid contents of wheat (Triticum aestivum). At low or high nitrogen treatment (48 or 112 mg N), seeds exposed for two generations to 0 or 500 mg CeO2-NPs per kg soil treatment were cultivated for third year in soil amended with 0 or 500 mg CeO2-NPs per kg soil. The results showed that parental and current exposures to CeO2-NPs increased the root biomass in daughter plants with greater magnitude of increase at low N than high N. When wheat received CeO2-NPs in year 3, root elemental contents increased primarily at low N, suggesting an important role of soil N availability in altering root nutrient acquisition. The δ15N ratios, previously shown to be altered by CeO2-NPs, were only affected by current and not parental exposure, indicating effects on N uptake and/or metabolism are not transferred from one generation to the next. Seed fatty acid composition was also influenced both by prior and current exposure to CeO2-NPs. The results suggest that risk assessments of NP exposure may need to include longer-term, transgenerational effects on growth and grain quality of agronomic crops.
New Insights into the Reaction Mechanism of Sodium Vanadate for an Aqueous Zn Ion Battery

Sodium vanadate (Na1+xV3O8 or NVO) has recently attracted significant interest as a potential cathode material for an aqueous Zn ion battery for its unique pillared framework facilitating Zn ion migration. Here, we performed a detailed study on reaction mechanisms of hydrated Na2V6O16·2H2O slabs and nonhydrated Na1.25V3O8 nanorods using transmission electron microscopy. Our initial observation reveals that the thin (30–50 nm) Na2V6O16·2H2O system successfully undergoes discharge with Zn ion insertion into the structure while thick (120–170 nm) Na1.25V3O8 allows Zn ion insertion only at the surface, signifying the importance of both the presence of water and the nanostructure thickness in determining the reaction mechanism of NVO. More in-depth analysis of these two systems revealed the irreversible formation of the stable byproduct phase Zn3Nax(OH2)V2O7 (ZNVO), which likely evolved through a Zn-ion redox reaction, contributing to overall cell performance. Eventually, the entire discharge/charge process ap...
13 – Taylor Polynomials and Approximation

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the Taylor polynomials and approximation. It discusses how a function can be approximated as closely as desired by a polynomial, provided that the function possesses a sufficient number of derivatives. If Pn(x) be the nth degree Taylor polynomial of the function f. Then the remainder term, denoted Rn(x), is given by Rn(x) = f(x) − Pn(x). Taylor's formula can be used as a tool for making approximations. The chapter presents a theorem which states that if f has n + 1 continuous derivatives, then the Taylor polynomial Pn(x) is the only nth-degree polynomial whose remainder term satisfies.
The Lymphatic Cell Environment Promotes Kaposi Sarcoma Development by Prox1-Enhanced Productive Lytic Replication of Kaposi Sarcoma Herpes Virus

Kaposi sarcoma is the most common cancer in human immunodeficiency virus-positive individuals and is caused by Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). It is believed that a small number of latently infected Kaposi sarcoma tumor cells undergo spontaneous lytic reactivation to produce viral progeny for infection of new cells. Here, we use matched donor-derived human dermal blood and lymphatic endothelial cells (BEC and LEC, respectively) to show that KSHV-infected BECs progressively lose viral genome as they proliferate. In sharp contrast, KSHV-infected LECs predominantly entered lytic replication, underwent cell lysis, and released new virus. Continuous lytic cell lysis and de novo infection allowed LEC culture to remain infected for a prolonged time. Because of the strong propensity of LECs toward lytic replication, LECs maintained virus as a population, despite the death of individual host cells from lytic lysis. The master regulator of lymphatic development, Prox1, bound the promoter of the RTA gene to upregulate its expression and physically interacted with RTA protein to coregulate lytic genes. Thus, LECs may serve as a proficient viral reservoir that provides viral progeny for continuous de novo infection of tumor origin cells, and potentially BECs and mesenchymal stem cells, which give rise to Kaposi sarcoma tumors. Our study reveals drastically different host cell behaviors between BEC and LEC and defines the underlying mechanisms of the lymphatic cell environment supporting persistent infection in Kaposi sarcoma tumors. SIGNIFICANCE: This study defines the mechanism by which Kaposi's sarcoma could be maintained by virus constantly produced by lymphatic cells in HIV-positive individuals.
Enhanced Resistance to Irradiation Induced Ferritic Transformation in Nanostructured Austenitic Steels

Abstract Irradiation induced phase transformation of γ-austenite to α-ferrite has been observed in austenitic steels for the past several decades. This transformation can be detrimental to structural materials in a nuclear reactor environment as the increased fraction of the ferritic phase can increase corrosion and embrittlement and lead to stress corrosion cracking. This transformation is caused by both strain induced martensite transformation as well as radiation induced segregation and precipitation. In this study, two radiation tolerant nanostructured 304L austenitic steels (one ultrafine grained and one nanocrystalline) were manufactured using severe plastic deformation. These nanostructured 304L steels were compared to conventional coarse-grained 304L, after self-ion irradiation at 500°C up to a peak damage of 50 displacements per atom. Phase fraction after irradiation was analyzed using grazing incidence x-ray diffraction, precession electron diffraction, and electron backscatter diffraction. Nanostructured 304L steels showed significant resistance to irradiation induced austenite to ferrite transformation. This resistance was shown to be due to a decrease in defect formation, as well as a reduction in radiation induced segregation and precipitation.
Identifying and characterizing a novel Sindbis virus capsid and IRAK1 interaction

Alphaviruses are arthropod-borne positive-sense RNA viruses that have the capacity to cause large scale outbreaks of severe disease. As of now, there are no effective therapeutic strategies with which alphaviral disease may be treated. Thus, there is a need for research that defines the mechanism(s) by which the alphaviruses establish infection and cause pathogenesis. Our previous work identified non-assembly interactions between the SINV Capsid protein and the viral genomic RNA that were important for viral RNA stabilization early during infection. These efforts led us to evaluate the Protein:Protein interactions of the SINV Capsid protein using the BioID2 discovery approach to define the mechanism of action underlying the SINV Capsid-mediated genome stability. To our surprise, these efforts indicated that the SINV CP protein interacts with the host IRAK1 protein in tissue culture models of infection. To validate the interface we utilized a Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation approach to confirm the SINV Capsid-IRAK1 interaction. After confirming the novel Capsid Protein:Protein interaction we hypothesized that the SINV Capsid protein may interfere with IRAK1-dependent signaling during infection. To this end, we assessed the dose-responsiveness of several IRAK1-dependent signaling pathways, including TLRs 4 and 7 in the presence of the SINV Capsid protein. We found that the TLR-agonist response, was significantly decreased in the presence of the SINV Capsid protein. Collectively, these data are highly suggestive that the SINV Capsid protein interferes with TLR signaling during viral infection contributing to the evasion of the host innate immune response.
Exclusive or Efficient Pricing? The Big Deal Bundling of Academic Journals

Prices of academic journals have climbed enormously in the past two decades. This article explains the substantial barriers to entry that established journals enjoy. It points out that the Big Deal bundling that the large commercial publishers have adopted in the past few years creates a substantial additional strategic barrier to entry. We consider whether these bundling offers violate the antitrust laws and conclude that they may.
Discrete-time bond and option pricing for jump-diffusion processes

This paper provides a methodology for numerically pricing generalized interest rate contingent claims for jump-diffusion processes. The method enhances the standard finite-differencing approach to deal with partial differential-difference equations derived in a jump-diffusion setting. Numerical illustrations compare jump-diffusion and pure-diffusion models.
Anthraquinone repellent seed treatment on corn reduces feeding by wild pigs

Abstract Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are a destructive invasive species that cause extensive damage to agriculture throughout many regions of the world. In particular wild pigs damage corn more than any other crop, and most of that damage occurs immediately after planting when wild pigs excavate and consume planted seeds. We evaluated whether anthraquinone (AQ), a repellent, could be useful for protecting seed corn from consumption by wild pigs. Specifically, we conducted cafeteria-style tests at 16 bait sites for 6 nights using concentrations of: untreated, 0.5, 1.5, and 3.0% AQ by weight sprayed on whole-kernel corn in AL and TX, USA. We found that repellency for wild pigs was dependent on the AQ concentration, with the greatest repellencies of 95% (AL) and 59% (TX) observed using ~3% AQ. We also found that repellency decreased as the abundance of wild pigs increased at the bait sites. Raccoons (Procyon lotor) did not appear to be repelled by the AQ-coated corn, but white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and mule deer (O. hemionus) were. Overall, our results show promise for the development of a repellent for treating seeds to protect them from wild pigs. We recommend the next steps of testing of the 3% concentration of AQ on corn seeds that are planted underground to optimize the best potential protection against damage from wild pigs.
DENTATE GRANULE CELLS ARE HYPEREXCITABLE IN THE TGF344-AD RAT MODEL OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

Abstract The dentate gyrus is both a critical gatekeeper for hippocampal signal processing and one of the first regions to dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Accordingly, the appropriate balance of excitation and inhibition through the dentate is a compelling target for mechanistic investigation and therapeutic intervention of early AD. Previously, we reported increased LTP magnitude at medial perforant path-dentate granule cell (MPP-DGC) synapses in slices from TgF344-AD rats compared to Wt as early as 6 months. We next determined that the enhanced LTP magnitude was due to heightened function of β-ARs leading us to ask if dentate granule cells (DGCs) also have modified passive or active membrane properties which may also contribute to hyperexcitability or aberrant hippocampal processing. Although there was no detectable difference in spine density and presynaptic release probability, dentate granule cells (DGCs) themselves might have increased electrical response to synaptic input during LTP induction, which was measured as a significant increase in charge transfer during high-frequency stimulation. In this study, we found passive membrane properties and active membrane properties are altered, leading to increased TgF344-AD DGC excitability. Specifically, TgF344-AD DGCs have an increased input resistance and decreased rheobase, decreased sag, and increased action potential (AP) spike accommodation. Importantly, we find that the voltage response increased in DGCs from TgF344-AD compared to Wt accompanied by decreased delay to fire the first AP, indicating that for the same amount of depolarizing current injection TgF344-AD DGCs membranes are more excitable. Taken together, DGCs of TgF344-AD rats are more excitable, but due to heightened accommodation, may be unable to discharge at high frequency for longer durations of time, compared to their Wt littermates.
Getting what is needed, when it's needed: Sharing information, knowledge, and know-how in a Collaborative Learning Health System

Background Collaborative Learning Health Systems (CLHS) improve outcomes in part by facilitating collaboration among all stakeholders. One way to facilitate collaboration is by creating conditions for the production and sharing of medical and non-medical resources (information, knowledge, and knowhow [IKK]) so anybody can get "what is needed, when it's needed" (WINWIN) to act in ways that improve health and healthcare. Matching resources to needs can facilitate accurate diagnosis, appropriate prescribing, answered questions, provision of emotional and social support, and uptake of innovations. Objectives We describe efforts in ImproveCareNow, a CLHS improving outcomes in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), to increase the number of patients and families creating and accessing IKK, and the challenges faced in that process. Methods We applied tactics such as outreach through trusted messengers, community organizing, and digital outreach such as sharing resources on our website, via social media, and email to increase the number of people producing, able to access, and accessing IKK. We applied an existing measurement system to track our progress and supplemented this with community feedback. Results In August of 2017 we identified and began measuring specific actions to track community growth. The number of patients and families producing IKK has increased by a factor of 2.7, using resources has increased by a factor of 4.1 and aware of resources as increased by a factor of 4.0. We identified challenges to measurement and scaling. Conclusions It is possible to intentionally increase the number of patients and caregivers engaged with a CHLS to produce and share resources to improve their health.
The Effect of Real Options Training on Managers’ Risk Perceptions and Decision Models

Academic and practitioner literature has advocated the use of real options rather than traditional discounted cash flow valuation techniques, claiming that doing so results in better decisions about long-term investments. However, we know little about how managers perceive projects that include a portion of value from real options, or how training in real options valuation affects those perceptions. This paper investigates how managers perceive the riskiness of projects that are valued using real options valuation techniques. We conduct an experiment in which graduate students act as supervisors who evaluate proposals for long-term investment projects submitted by subordinates and decide how much funding to provide to each. We vary the extent of real options training provided before the task. We investigate perceived risk in two dimensions: the perceived risk of loss, and the perceived risk of high variance in project outcomes. We predict and find that supervisors’ perceptions of the relative risk of loss in projects differ depending on the extent of training provided. However, we find that supervisors’ perceptions of the relative risk of high variance in project outcomes do not differ across training types, contrary to expectations. We also predict and find that more extensive training prompts supervisors to weight risk perceptions more heavily in funding decisions, and provide evidence that such training also prompts supervisors to adopt more complex decision models. This study contributes to limited prior literature on how supervisors react to real options values when they are provided for decision-making and on individuals’ perceptions of different dimensions of risk, and to firms’ cost-benefit analyses of adopting real options valuation.
Successful treatment of prolonged refractory ventricular fibrillation in an anesthetized dog

Objective To describe a case of successful return of spontaneous circulation in an anesthetized dog that developed spontaneous ventricular fibrillation during CPR that was refractory to multiple defibrillation attempts by utilizing pharmacological antiarrhythmic therapy. Case summary Cardiopulmonary arrest occurred during surgical preparation in a 1-year-old German Shepherd Dog under general anesthesia for fluoroscopic implantation of an Amplatz canine duct occluder for treatment of a patent ductus arteriosus. Pulseless electrical activity was initially diagnosed, and resuscitative efforts were immediately initiated, including basic cardiac life support, discontinuation of anesthesia with administration of reversal agents, and low-dose epinephrine administration (0.01 mg/kg, IV). After 10 minutes of CPR, the patient developed ventricular fibrillation and single-dose monophasic defibrillation attempts of escalating energy were performed. Despite these efforts, return of spontaneous circulation was unable to be achieved. However, administration of magnesium sulfate (20 mg/kg, IV) along with an additional single monophasic defibrillation attempt was successful in achieving return of spontaneous circulation. New or unique information provided Under current advanced cardiac life support guidelines, the best resuscitation strategy for refractory ventricular fibrillation, in which the arrhythmia persists despite multiple defibrillation attempts, remains unclear. This is especially true for veterinary patients, where refractory ventricular fibrillation is an uncommon cardiac arrest rhythm. Although guidelines for the use of antiarrhythmic therapy during cardiac arrest are well established in human medicine, evidence-based guidelines to support best practices in companion animals do not exist due to sparse data gathered through experimental studies. Only a few case reports describe successful return of spontaneous circulation following prolonged ventricular fibrillation in clinical veterinary patients. Although the use of magnesium sulfate as an antiarrhythmic agent during refractory ventricular fibrillation has been previously reported in people, this is the first case to our knowledge of refractory ventricular fibrillation in a dog that responded to magnesium sulfate.
Functional Imaging Using Bioluminescent Reporter Genes in Living Subjects

Abstract In vivo bioluminescence imaging (BLI) is a cornerstone technology in the field of molecular imaging that advances drug discovery and disease monitoring in animal models of human biology and disease. Imaging of model systems offers new biological insights through temporal analysis of entire systems. The impact of BLI on biomedicine continues to increase as the toolbox of new reporter proteins expands, novel animal models with integrated optical reporter genes are developed, and new approaches for scientific discovery are developed. BLI is well suited for rodent models and is used to accelerate data acquisition, and through the power of repeated measures, improves the information that can be obtained from a given study. Optical imaging modalities tend to have lower instrument costs and higher throughput capacity than other imaging modalities, and for that reason BLI has had, and continues to have, a significant impact on drug development by enabling large scale studies in animal models. The significance of increasing and refining animals studies is that more variables can be tested within a cohort, internal controls can be built into the study and temporal changes can be tracked. The impact of BLI on multiple fields relates to reducing the numbers of animals required, refining the data that is obtained and lowering the costs of biomedical research. This will better inform clinical studies, remove some of the costs of drug discovery, and increase our understanding of mammalian biology.
"We Were Absolutely in the Dark": Latent Analysis of Developmental Disability Nurses' Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

People with developmental disabilities (DD) are devastatingly impacted by COVID-19, yet no studies have explored the experiences of developmental disability nurses during the pandemic. In April 202...
Analysis of Electrochemical Noise for Type 410 Stainless Steel in Chloride Solutions

The electrochemical noise resulting from the corrosion of Type 410 stainless steel under open circuit conditions in solutions of widely different corrosivity has been examined. Parameters derived from electrochemical noise measurements and conventional electrochemical measurements were correlated with one another and with post-test examination on the specimens. Both the noise resistance and the polarization resistance increased with decreases in solution corrosivity. In all of the solutions studied, the noise resistance was found to be consistently higher than the polarization resistance. In solutions in which pitting occurred, the open circuit potential of the electrode versus a true reference electrode was more sensitive to the transition to stable pitting than was the pitting index.
Adaptive Selection of Partition Size for Supercomputer Requests

In this paper, we show how application scheduling can be used to reduce the turn-around time of supercomputer jobs. Our approach focuses on the use of SA, an AppLeS application scheduler, to adaptively craft the request to be submitted to the supercomputer based on the current state of the system. We demonstrate that SA significantly improves a job's turn-around time in a variety of scenarios. We also identify how the state of the system, the characteristics of the job, and the quality of the information made available to SA influence its performance.
High‐Context Cultures

Cultural anthropologist Edward T. Hall referred to high-context cultural groups as those whose language system emphasizes how intention or meaning can best be conveyed through the context (e.g., social roles or positions) and the non-verbal channels (e.g., pauses, silence, tone of voice) of the verbal message. In high-context cultures, words are left unspoken in routine communication. Keywords: communication; non-verbal communication
First principles prediction of a morphotropic phase boundary in the Bi(Zn1/2Ti1/2)O3−(Bi1/2Sr1/2)(Zn1/2Nb1/2)O3 alloy

The magnitude and direction of polarization within alloys of the tetragonally distorted Bi(Zn1/2Ti1/2)O3 (BZT) and the rhombohedrally oriented (Bi1/2Sr1/2)(Zn1/2Nb1/2)O3 are explored using density functional theory. For compositions with ≥50% of BZT, we find that the polarization is mainly in the [001] direction. Conversely, for low concentrations of BZT the polarization is rhombohedrally oriented. Based on these results we propose a phase diagram with a monoclinic phase that appears when the BZT concentration is roughly 50%. At this concentration, the material may have a useful piezoelectric response.
Firm Ownership and Organizational Form

In contemporary market economies, firms typically adopt one or another of a small number of standard organizational forms, both in terms of ownership and in terms of commitments to contractual counterparties. This review essay, prepared as a chapter for the forthcoming Handbook of Organizational Economics, explores the basic elements of those forms and the economic forces that shape them. It begins by focusing on the firm as a contracting entity, and on the relationship between the two different boundaries of the firm: the control boundary and the asset boundary. It then turns to the ownership of the firm, viewing the choice of the ownership class as a tradeoff between costs of market contracting and costs of ownership. The essay addresses in these terms not just investor-owned firms but also the variety of other ownership types found in modern market economics, including nonprofit and governmental enterprise, and focuses particularly on recent efforts to explain the evolution of employee ownership in the service professions, such as investment banking, advertising, and law. The essay concludes with a brief discussion of the role of law in enterprise organization, and a look to the future.
Prognostic evaluation of intracranial metastasis in malignant melanoma.

Background: Malignant melanoma (MM) is often reported as the third most common cause of intracranial metastasis (IM) after carcinoma of the breast and lung. Most patients with advanced MM will have widespread extracranial disease, but the majority will die from intracerebral spread. Methods: A retrospective review of 117 patients with documented IM from MM over the past 25 years was undertaken. Various factors (including age, race, sex distribution, primary lesions with Clark's level, Breslow's thickness, primary sites and staging at initial presentation, diagnosis of IM and its various treatment methods, survival data, and autopsy findings) were analyzed. Prognostic indicators were clarified from this analysis as a predictor of central nervous system (CNS) metastasis. An ideal treatment plan was also analyzed in order to predict a better survival. Results: Fifty-eight percent of patients were male; 42% were female. Seventy-one percent of the primary lesions were of Clark's level IV and V, with mean Breslow's thickness of 3.5 mm. Median time interval between the initial diagnosis and development of IM was 3.5 years. Complete surgical resection of the intracranial lesion in the brain resulted in the longest mean survival of 10.3 months, whereas mean survival for the group with no treatment was only 3 weeks. Patients with primary lesions of the head and neck had the lowest mean survival of 3.3 months, whereas those whose primary sites were unknown had the longest mean survival of 7.5 months. One- and 2-year survival were 9% and 3%, respectively. All but one of the 30 patients at autopsy were found to have visceral metastasis, namely of the lung, liver, and bone. Conclusion: An aggressive search for metastasis should be undertaken in patients at high risk of developing CNS metastasis, e.g., male, head and neck primary, Clark's level IV and V, Breslow's thickness of >3 mm, and presence of visceral metastases, mainly lung. A complete surgical resection should be attempted whenever possible, with adjunctive use of whole-brain irradiation, along with systemic chemotherapy for further control of recurrence and to prolong survival.
Use of Peer Ratings to Evaluate Physician Performance

Objective. —To assess the feasibility and measurement characteristics of ratings completed by professional associates to evaluate the performance of practicing physicians. Design. —The clinical performance of physicians was evaluated using written questionnaires mailed to professional associates (physicians and nurses). Physician-associates were randomly selected from lists provided by both the subjects and medical supervisors, and detailed information was collected concerning the professional and social relationships between the associate and the subject. Responses were analyzed to determine factors that affect ratings and measurement characteristics of peer ratings. Setting and Participants. —Physician-subjects were selected from among practicing internists in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania who received American Board of Internal Medicine certification 5 to 15 years previously. Main Outcome Measure. —Physician performance as assessed by peers. Results. —Peer ratings are not biased substantially by the method of selection of the peers or the relationship between the rater and the subject. Factor analyses suggest a two-dimensional conceptualization of clinical skills: one factor represents cognitive and clinical management skills and the other factor represents humanistic qualities and management of psychosocial aspects of illness. Ratings from 11 peer physicians are needed to provide a reliable assessment in these two areas. Conclusions. —These findings suggest that it is feasible to obtain assessments from professional associates of practicing physicians in areas such as clinical skills, humanistic qualities, and communication skills. Using a shorter version of the questionnaire used in this study, peer ratings provide a practical method to assess clinical performance in areas such as humanistic qualities and communication skills that are difficult to assess with other measures. ( JAMA . 1993;269:1655-1660)
Phase dependence of the 2.7 cm wavelength radiation of Venus

Abstract Observations of Venus made during the period July 1968 to July 1970 at 2.7 cm wavelength show no evidence for variation of brightness temperature over a complete phase cycle greater than ±9°K measurement uncertainty. This result is not in agreement with measurements made in 1961 at the nearby wavelength of 3.15 cm over a smaller range of phase angle which showed a broad minimum of brightness temperature around inferior conjunction, but is in agreement with more recent measurements at other wavelengths. The brightness temperature measured for Venus was 612 ± 37°K and for Jupiter, which was observed along with Venus as a comparison source, it was 199 ± 12°K.
The distribution of local anesthetics into the CSF following intranasal administration

Abstract The distribution of therapeutic agents into the CNS following nasal administration has been found to be highly compound dependent (Kumar et al., 1979, Recent Advances in Reproduction and Regulation of Fertility, Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 49–56; Hussain et al., 1990, J. Pharm. Sci., 79, 771–772; Chou and Donovan, 1997, Biopharm. Drug Dispos., 18, 335–346). In order to gain additional insight into the chemical specificity of transport between the nasal cavity and the CNS, a series of local anesthetics with similar chemical structures were used as model compounds to investigate drug disposition following intranasal administration. The selected local anesthetics were administered to male, Sprague–Dawley rats either intranasally or intra-arterially. Drug concentrations were determined from CSF and plasma samples collected from the cisterna magna and femoral artery, respectively. The plasma levels achieved after intranasal administration were comparable to those measured after the intra-arterial administration of an equivalent dose for three of the four compounds studied. Procaine, the compound with the lowest distribution coefficient, showed much lower plasma concentrations following intranasal administration. The relative bioavailability of procaine obtained following nasal administration was approximately 43% compared to 100% for the other selected local anesthetics. The ratios of the AUC CSF values obtained after nasal administration to those obtained after parenteral administration were found to be: tetracaine>bupivacaine>lidocaine>procaine. This rank order was well correlated to the distribution coefficients of the local anesthetics. Also of note, the AUC CSF /AUC plasma ratios of local anesthetics containing ester functionalities were much higher than for those containing amide linkages regardless of the route of administration. While the distribution of these compounds into the CSF followed the expected pattern based on a partitioning model, the time courses of drug concentrations within the CSF differed significantly depending both on the compound and the route of administration.
The 1.9 A resolution crystal structure of phosphono-CheY, an analogue of the active form of the response regulator, CheY.

To structurally characterize the activated state of the transiently phosphorylated signal transduction protein CheY, we have constructed an α-thiophosphonate derivative of the CheY D57C point mutant and determined its three-dimensional structure at 1.85 A resolution. We have also characterized this analogue with high-resolution NMR and studied its binding to a peptide derived from FliM, CheY's target component of the flagellar motor. The chemically modified derivative, phosphono-CheY, exhibits many of the chemical properties of phosphorylated wild-type CheY, except that it is indefinitely stable. Electron density for the α-thiophosphonate substitution is clear and readily interpretable; omit refinement density at the phosphorus atom is greater than 10σ. The molecule shows a number of localized conformational changes that are believed to constitute the postphosphorylation activation events. The most obvious of these changes include movement of the side chain of the active site base, Lys 109, and a predomin...
Time-Dependent Impacts of Cattail Invasion in a Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Complex

The aggressive cattail species Typha X glauca and Typha angustifolia have established in wetlands across the Great Lakes region, decreasing native plant diversity and altering environmental conditions. We relied on a parallel study in which 80 years of historical aerial photographs from a large Lake Michigan wetland complex were used to map the spread and determine the age of invasive cattail stands. Floristic, edaphic, and environmental data were collected from plots across an invasion-age gradient. Compared with reference uninvaded sites, litter mass more than doubled within 10 years of invasion (P < 0.001), plant diversity declined by more than 50% within 25 years of invasion (P = 0.003), and soil organic depth was more than 29-cm deeper in areas invaded for more than 35 years compared with areas invaded for 10 years or less (P = 0.006). These time-dependent changes in plant communities, soil, and environmental conditions fundamentally alter the structure of invaded wetlands, likely influencing a range of ecosystem services.
Raman microscopy of chromate interactions with corroding aluminum alloy 2024-T3

Raman microspectroscopy was used to observe actively corroding aluminum alloy 2024-T3 directly in a solution containing NaCl and dilute K2Cr2O7. Raman spectra acquired in and near corrosion pits allowed identification of two products of CrVI interactions with the corroding alloy. If the alloy potential was fixed negative of the pitting potential, an AlIII–CrVI mixed oxide formed in formerly active or metastable pits. This mixed oxide is similar to a covalent compound which can be made synthetically by adding NaOH to solutions containing Al3+ and CrO42−. If the alloy potential was held positive of the pitting potential, the corrosion product was primarily a CrIII–CrVI mixed oxide, formed by partial reduction of CrVI to CrIII by exposed Al metal or by H2. At the pitting potential, a mixture of AlIII and CrIII mixed oxides was observed, with the AlIII species located primarily within pits. A model for the formation mechanism of the mixed oxides is proposed, and the consequences of the findings to corrosion inhibition by CrVI are considered. In particular, the concentration of CrVI in and near pits driven by mixed oxide formation may serve to direct the inhibitor from the solution to sites of corrosion.