cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
About ‘Distinguishable Particles’

I present the context in which Hagedorn withdrew his first work on limiting temperature, show his withdrawal note, and discuss what was lost from view for 50 years while the manuscript shown in Chap. 19 lingered in the archives. I close describing the contemporary meaning of Hagedorn temperature.
Does Corporate Governance Converge? The A-Contextual Logic to the Japanese Keiretsu

By standard economic logic, the governance systems that successful firms adopt should (on the more substantial aspects) tend to converge over time. In this paper, I investigate one of the ways in which Japanese corporate governance is said not to converge with U.S. governance: cross-shareholding arrangements. I find evidence for four propositions, all of which suggest that standard economic principles -- independent of any differences in social context -- largely explain Japanese shareholding patterns. First, the pre-war zaibatsu functioned largely as venture capital firms. Second, the cross-shareholding among the non-functional firms in the keiretsu is trivial. Third, the cross-shareholding among the financial firms in the keiretsu is an artifact of insider trading. Last, the cross-shareholding among firms in the automobile industry is a means of controlling opportunism in the presence of relationship-specific investments (as predicted by Klein, Crawford & Alchian and Gilson and Roe).
Energy expenditure during carbohydrate overfeeding in obese and nonobese adolescents

Basal metabolic rate (BMR), thermic effect of food (TEF), and total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) were measured in six nonobese and seven obese adolescents during periods of weight maintenance and 2 wk of carbohydrate overfeeding. BMR and TEF were measured by indirect calorimetry and TDEE by the doubly labeled water method. Fasting blood levels of insulin, thyroid, and norepinephrine (NE) and urinary excretion of NE and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymandelic acid (VMA) were measured before and after overfeeding. Energy intake was 1.61 X BMR during maintenance and 2.45 X BMR during overfeeding. BMR increased comparably in both groups during overfeeding (obese, 7.9 +/- 1.2%, nonobese, 8.6 +/- 1.9%). TEF was similar and did not change significantly during overfeeding (maintenance: obese, 9.4 +/- 0.6%; nonobese, 9.8 +/- 0.4% vs. overfeeding: obese, 8.6 +/- 0.3%; nonobese, 9.2 +/- 0.7%). TDEE did not differ significantly between obese and nonobese. Increases in insulin and 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine levels were significant but did not differ between the two groups. Plasma NE and urinary excretion of VMA and NE did not increase during overfeeding. The thermogenic response to food or to overfeeding does not appear reduced in obese adolescents, nor does facultative thermogenesis appear to be a significant factor in weight maintenance in adolescents.
Human Activity Recognition Using Multinomial Logistic Regression

Activity monitoring is one of the predominant concerns of the elderly living at home. For example, serious complications or even death can be avoided if the elder is helped shortly after a serious fall. Several methods have been proposed to recognize human activity. Most of them can be categorized in three general groups: (1) vision-based methods; (2) wearable sensors; and (3) vibration-based methods. Despite the advantages of vision-based methods and wearable sensors, privacy concerns in the first type, and compliance challenges in the second group motivate the health care industry to pay attention to other types of environmental monitoring techniques such as vibration-based methods. Vibration-based methods use accelerometers placed at the floor of the patient’s dwelling. These methods are appealing because accelerometers are not expensive and installation is easy. The classification of events is critical in vibration-based methods. This paper proposes a classification algorithm using Multinomial Logistic Regression (MLR). A data set of different human activities is experimentally obtained. Some signals are used to train the classification algorithm while the remaining records are used to test the proposed technique. The signal “peak” and a “proposed time index” are used for classification. Principal component analysis is used to reduce the number of parameters considered for MLR given that each event was captured by four sensors. The main advantage of this classification algorithm is its probabilistic nature. Results show that in most cases, the event was correctly identified by the group having the highest probability. However, other signal characteristics should be explored to improve the performance of the proposed technique.
Neural control of limb coordination. II. Hatching and walking motor output patterns in the absence of input from the brain.

This study examines the effect of removing input descending from the brain on the production of the distinctive leg motor patterns of walking and hatching by spinal circuitry of 0- to 3-day old posthatching chicks. Transection of the cervical spinal cord was performed and chicks were tested between 2 and 28 h after surgery. Walking with good weight support could be elicited from many spinal chicks when placed on a moving treadmill belt. In some cases, sensory stimulation resulting from tail and/or wing pinch was also used. Placing spinal chicks in the hatching position in glass eggs was sufficient to elicit hatching-like leg movements in some animals. Wing pinch was used to elicit more or longer episodes of leg movements. Quantitative analyses of EMG recordings from 6 leg muscles were used to evaluate the changes in motor patterns after cervical spinal transection. Most of the characteristic features of walking and hatching are maintained after descending input from the brain is eliminated. Each muscle is activated in the double or single bursting pattern typical of the normal behavior. Characteristic phase relationships are also preserved. In addition, burst duration versus cycle period relationships seen during the normal behaviors are maintained in the spinal animals. This shows that circuitry located in the spinal cord can produce these distinctive aspects of the hatching and walking motor patterns in the absence of brain input. While many features of walking and hatching patterns were maintained in spinal animals, some changes were noted. For example, although interlimb patterns of coordination are unchanged during spinal hatching and in many sequences of spinal walking, they do become more variable during some sequences of spinal walking. This suggests that descending input from the brain normally plays a role in stabilizing interlimb alternation during walking. An increase in cycle period is seen during walking in spinal chicks. In addition, the relative durations of hip and ankle flexor bursts (expressed as percent of cycle period) increase in both behaviors. Because these changes are also seen in chicks with lumbosacral deafferentations, they may represent the response of the pattern generating circuitry to any reduction in input. In some animals, cervical spinal transection was combined with lumbosacral deafferentation so that both brain input and sensory input from the legs were removed from the spinal cord. Results from these animals were similar to those from animals with deafferentation alone in that the walking and hatching patterns converged, but did not become identical (Bekoff et al. 1987). The remaining differences may be due to the use of some unique elements of pattern generating circuitry in each behavior, or to differences in the remaining input to the same pattern generating circuitry. A possible source for such differences in input is the undeafferented neck region.
TC21 and Ras share indistinguishable transforming and differentiating activities

Constitutively activated mutants of the Ras-related protein TC21/R-Ras2 cause tumorigenic transformation of NIH3T3 cells. However, unlike Ras, TC21 fails to bind to and activate the Raf-1 serine-threonine kinase. Thus, whereas Ras transformation is critically dependent on Raf-1 TC21 activity is promoted by activation of Raf-independent signaling pathways. In the present study, we have further compared the functions of Ras and TC21. First we determined the basis for the inability of TC21 to activate Raf-1. Whereas Ras can interact with the two distinct Ras-binding sequences in NH2-terminus of Raf-1, designated RBS1 and Raf-Cys, TC21 could only bind Raf-Cys. Thus, the inability of TC21 to bind to RBS1 may prevent it from promoting the translocation of Raf-1 to the plasma membrane. Second, we found that TC21 is an activator of the JNK and p38, but not ERK, mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades and that TC21 transforming activity was dependent on Rac function. Thus, like Ras, TC21 may activate a Rac/JNK pathway. Third, we determined if TC21 could cause the same biological consequences as Ras in three distinct cell types. Like Ras, activated TC21 caused transformation of RIE-1 rat intestinal epithelial cells and terminal differentiation of PC12 pheochromocytoma cells. Finally, activated TC21 blocked serum starvation-induced differentiation of C2 myoblasts, whereas dominant negative TC21 greatly accelerated this differentiation process. Therefore, TC21 and Ras share indistinguishable biological activities in all cell types that we have evaluated. These results support the importance of Raf-independent pathways in mediating the actions of Ras and TC21.
Dietary Phosphorus Requirements of Force-Molted Leghorn Hens

Abstract Two studies were conducted to determine the phosphorus requirements of force-molted Leghorn hens. In the first study, diets containing .8, .6, or .4% total phosphorus and 4% calcium were fed. In the second study diets with levels of .7, .6, .5, or .4% total phosphorus and 3.8% calcium were fed. Decreasing the phosphorus level improved shell quality as measured by specific gravity and shell thickness. However, egg production and egg weight decreased as phosphorus level decreased. Thus, in these studies a total phosphorus level of >.5% and
Regulation of food intake during long-term loss of food from the intestines of the rat.

SummaryFour pairs of parabiotic rats had a thirty cm segment of each rat's distal duodenum and proximal jejunum exchanged for the same segment of the partner's intestines. The food eaten by one rat of each pair was absorbed in nearly equal amounts into both rats. When the liquid diet was diluted with an equal volume of water, the rats adjusted by nearly doubling their food intake in 1 day. When the rats lost a substantial portion of their ingested food from their intestines, they failed to increase their food intake during 5 days. The amount of food eaten was unaffected by a considerable decrease in the amount of absorbed nutrient and a 6% decrease in body weight.
Practice and Thinking of Developing Forest Tourism in New Period —— Taking the Thousand-isle Lake national forest park as example

Forest tourism is a new type of operation for tourism,which has entered the new stage of the popular tourism.Based on excavating economic potential and culture connotation of forest resources,Thousand-isle lake National Forest Park considered in a planning aspect,optimized management,operated characteristically,developed innovatively in the forest tourism practice.This article carried through deeper thinking on ideas such as development and utilization of the good ecological resources is also new productive forces.Put forward countermeasures for developing forest tourism in new period,such as establishing ecological concepts,increasing the project investment,paying attention to the talents training and so on.
Evaluation of Weaving Sections with Respect to Traffic Safety Based on Traffic Conflict Technique

To compare weaving segments and their alternative project designs on the basis of traffic safety,a method to evaluate weaving segments with respect to traffic safety was presented based on the traffic conflict technique.First,VISSIM was used to predict the performance of new weaving segments and export vehicle trajectory data.Then SSAM was employed to implement conflict analysis of vehicle trajectory data.Finally,the ratios of the number of traffic conflicts to total traffic volume and the length of the weaving segments were adopted as the evaluation index of traffic safety.The application shows that ratio of traffic conflict increases as level of service decays,and that ratio of traffic conflict increases with an increase in traffic volume and decreases with an increase in weaving length and number of lanes.
A prospective study of caffeine and coffee intake and premenstrual syndrome

Background: Clinically significant premenstrual syndrome (PMS) affects 15–20% of premenopausal women, substantially reducing quality of life. Women with PMS often are counseled to minimize caffeine intake, although only limited evidence supports this recommendation. Objective: We evaluated the association between total caffeine, coffee, and tea intake and the development of PMS in a case-control study nested within the prospective Nurses’ Health Study II. Design: All participants were free from PMS at baseline (1991). PMS cases reported a new clinician-made diagnosis of PMS on biennial questionnaires between 1993 and 2005, and then confirmed symptom timing and moderate-to-severe impact and severity of symptoms with the use of a retrospective questionnaire (n = 1234). Controls did not report PMS and confirmed experiencing no symptoms or few mild symptoms with limited personal impact (n = 2426). Caffeine, coffee, and tea intake was measured by food-frequency questionnaires every 4 y, and data on smoking, body weight, and other factors were updated every 2–4 y. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the associations of total caffeine intake and frequency of coffee and tea consumption with PMS. Results: After adjustment for age, smoking, and other factors, total caffeine intake was not associated with PMS. The OR comparing women with the highest (quintile median = 543 mg/d) to the lowest (quintile median = 18 mg/d) caffeine intake was 0.79 (95% CI: 0.61, 1.04; P-trend = 0.31). High caffeinated coffee intake also was not associated with risk of PMS or specific symptoms, including breast tenderness (OR for ≥4 cups/d compared with <1/mo: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.48, 1.12; P-trend = 0.44). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that caffeine intake is not associated with PMS, and that current recommendations for women to reduce caffeine intake may not help prevent the development of PMS.
High-power monolithic tapered semiconductor oscillators

Tapered semiconductor optical amplifiers were reported1,2 recently with several watts of cw power near 980 nm in predominantly single-lobed and nearly diffraction-limited radiation patterns. The first demonstrations used Ti:sapphire master oscillators; subsequently, powers exceeding 1 W with good beam quality were demonstrated using all-semiconductor monolithic3 and hybrid4 master-oscillator/power-amplifier configurations. Similar tapered semiconductor devices can also be operated as lasers,5 offering greater simplicity of fabrication and use for some applications.
Rediscovering Abundance: Interdisciplinary Essays on Wealth, Income, and Their Distribution in the Catholic Social Tradition

(2007). Rediscovering Abundance: Interdisciplinary Essays on Wealth, Income, and Their Distribution in the Catholic Social Tradition. Journal of Economic Issues: Vol. 41, No. 4, pp. 1169-1171.
Benefit of feeding tube placement for refractory malnutrition after bariatric surgery

Background Bariatric surgery provides durable weight loss and decreases the incidence of co-morbid conditions for people with obesity. Most patients benefit from resultant weight loss, but some are at risk for postoperative refractory malnutrition, a serious but poorly understood complication. Objective To evaluate differences in bariatric surgery patients who received a feeding tube postoperatively for malnutrition compared with other indications. Setting Retrospective cohort study at an academic bariatric surgery center (1985-2015). Methods All bariatric surgery patients that received a feeding tube postoperatively over a 30-year period were identified. Data abstraction from the medical record was performed to assess demographic characteristics, operative details, tube indication, and resultant body mass index (BMI) changes. Results From a total of 3487 patients who underwent bariatric surgery during the study period, 139 (3.9%) required placement of a feeding tube postoperatively. Refractory malnutrition was the indication in 24 patients, all after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. There were no significant differences between these patients and other bariatric surgery patients in terms of mean age (40.6±9.9 versus 43.1±13.4 years, P = .4) and preoperative BMI (47.5±10.5 versus 51.0±9.6 kg/m2, P = .1). The median time from surgery to tube placement for malnutrition patients was 4 years. Compared with other feeding tube indications, malnutrition patients had higher percent excess BMI lost after surgery (126.2±31.9 versus 52.5±44.3%, P Conclusion Patients with refractory malnutrition benefit from feeding tube placement, which results in a significant increase in BMI.
Cutaneous Vasodilation during Local Heating: Role of Local Cutaneous Thermosensation.

We tested the hypothesis that cutaneous vasodilation during local skin heating in humans could be manipulated based upon the ability to desensitize TRPV4 ion channels by applying the thermal stimuli in a series of pulses. Each subject was instrumented with intradermal microdialysis probes in the dorsal forearm skin and perfused with 0.9% saline at 1.5 µl/min with local skin temperature controlled with a Peltier unit (9 cm2) at 34°C. Local skin temperature was manipulated for 50 min in two classic ways: a step increase to 38°C (0.1 °C/sec, n=10), and a step increase to 42°C (n=10). To desensitize TRPV4 ion channels local skin temperature was manipulated in the following way: pulsed increase to 38°C (1 pulse per min, 30 sec duration, 1.0°C/sec, n=10), and 4) pulsed increase to 42°C (1.0°C/sec, n=9). Skin blood flow (SkBF, laser Doppler) was recorded directly over the middle microdialysis probe and the dialysate from all three probes were collected during baseline (34°C) and each skin heating period. The overall cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) response to local heating was estimated from the area under the % CVCmax-time curve. The appearance of the neuropeptide calciton gene related peptide (CGRP) in dialysate did not change with skin heating in any protocol. For the skin temperature challenge of 34 to 38°C, the area under the % CVCmax-time curve averaged 1196 ± 295 (SD) % CVCmax•min seen during the step change in skin temperature, which was larger than the 656 ± 282 % CVCmax•min during pulsed heating (p< 0.05). For the skin temperature challenge of 34 to 42°C, the area under the % CVCmax-time curve averaged 2678 ± 458 % CVCmax•min during the step change in skin temperature, which was larger than the 1954 ± 533 % CVCmax•min during pulsed heating (p< 0.05). The area under the % CVCmax•min curve, was directly proportional to the accumulated local skin thermal stress (in °C•min) (r2 = 0.67, p<0.05, n = 39). This association indicates a critical role of local integration of thermosensitive receptors in mediating the cutaneous vasodilator response to local skin heating. Given that we saw no differences in the levels
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF INTIMACY AND INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS IN ASSISTED LIVING

AbstractIntimate relationships are rarely studied in the context of older adults’ care arrangements, particularly in long-term care settings. Consequently, little is known about the availability and effects of intimacy in the lives of long-term care residents. Addressing this gap, this paper focuses on the intimacy experiences of older adults residing in 8 diverse assisted living (AL) communities. We analyze data drawn from a five-year NIA-funded qualitative study (R01AG044368) guided by the “Convoys of Care” model. Previous analysis of study data shows that most residents experience some form of intimacy in their day-to-day lives. Yet, a range of multilevel factors influences intimacy and many have unmet intimacy needs in these settings. Building on this work, our aim is to understand how the presence and absence of intimacy influences residents’ lives, relationships, and care experiences in AL. Findings show that some AL residents sought out, created, and maintained intimacy through a variety of interaction and relationships and with other residents, family, and care staff. Residents who had companionship, particularly involving physical interactions, felt it enhanced their quality of life and care. In some instances, such companionship created conflict within care networks. Mostly, however, formal and informal caregivers experienced relief and satisfaction when residents established intimate connections, including friendships. Many residents desired, but lacked outlets for intimacy, which frequently led to feelings of loneliness, isolation, and sadness. This outcomes was particularly prevalent among men. Our findings imply the need for a holistic model of care that takes into account and addresses intimacy needs.
Role of epigenetics in tumor induction by non-genotoxic carcinogens

Abstract Non-genotoxic carcinogens are chemicals that cause the development of tumors through the indirect induction of neoplastic transformation without altering the DNA sequence. The mechanisms of non-genotoxic carcinogenesis are very complex and there is no common mode-of-action that characterizes all non-genotoxic carcinogens making detection of these carcinogens difficult. Recently, epigenetic alterations have been suggested as key cancer-related events induced by non-genotoxic carcinogens. The goal of this minireview is to summarize current knowledge on the similarities and differences in epigenetic changes induced by known non-genotoxic carcinogens, such as phenobarbital, WY-14,643, arsenic, methapyrilene, nickel and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, and estimate a potential of using these findings to establish assays for carcinogens detection with non-genotoxic characteristics. This minireview highlights alterations in DNA methylation, histone modifications, and changes in microRNAs as the promising epigenetic mechanisms with respect to carcinogenic potential assessment of non-genotoxic chemicals. The understanding of epigenetic mechanisms during carcinogenesis induced by non-genotoxic carcinogens may help identify new biomarkers for the evaluation of carcinogenic potential of non-genotoxic carcinogens and may contribute to human health risk assessment.
An interventional Soylent diet increases the Bacteroidetes to Firmicutes ratio in human gut microbiome communities: a randomized controlled trial

Our knowledge of the relationship between the gut microbiome and health has rapidly expanded in recent years. Diet has been shown to have causative effects on microbiome composition, which can have subsequent implications on health. Soylent 2.0 is a liquid meal replacement drink that satisfies nearly 20% of all recommended daily intakes per serving. This study aims to characterize the changes in gut microbiota composition resulting from a short-term Soylent diet. Fourteen participants were separated into two groups: 5 in the regular diet group and 9 in the Soylent diet group. The regular diet group maintained a diet closely resembling self-reported regular diets. The Soylent diet group underwent three dietary phases: A) a regular diet for 2 days, B) a Soylent-only diet (five servings of Soylent daily and water as needed) for 4 days, and C) a regular diet for 4 days. Daily logs self-reporting diet, Bristol stool ratings, and any abdominal discomfort were electronically submitted. Eight fecal samples per participant were collected using fecal sampling kits, which were subsequently sent to uBiome, Inc. for sample processing and V4 16S rDNA sequencing. Reads were clustered into operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and taxonomically identified against the GreenGenes 16S database. We find that an individual′s alpha-diversity is not significantly altered during a Soylent-only diet. In addition, principal coordinate analysis using the unweighted UniFrac distance metric shows samples cluster strongly by individual and not by dietary phase. Among Soylent dieters, we find a significant increase in the ratio of Bacteroidetes to Firmicutes abundance, which is associated with several positive health outcomes, including reduced risks of obesity and intestinal inflammation. Clinical trial registration ID #NCT03203044.
Examining a novel performance validity task for the detection of feigned attentional problems.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a diagnosis of particular significance for college students, as when present it can significantly compromise academic achievement. However, becaus...
Effect of Gabapentin on Sleep and Event-Related Oscillations (EROs) in Rats Exposed to Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor and Protracted Withdrawal.

BACKGROUND Disturbances in sleep architecture, especially reductions in slow-wave sleep (SWS), are symptoms commonly observed in individuals with alcohol use disorders. Recent clinical trials have demonstrated that the anticonvulsant and analgesic drug gabapentin may have therapeutic value in normalizing sleep quality in recovering alcoholics. However, the brain mechanisms underlying this improvement in sleep following gabapentin treatment remain unknown. METHODS In this study, adult Wistar rats were exposed to 8 weeks of chronic intermittent ethanol [EtOH] vapor (blood EtOH concentrations averaged 128.2 ± 17.4 mg/dl) or control conditions and then withdrawn. Sleep electroencephalograms [EEGs] and event-related oscillations (EROs) were evaluated at baseline prior to EtOH exposure and 24 hours following EtOH withdrawal. Four weeks following EtOH withdrawal the effects of saline and 2 doses of gabapentin (30, 120 mg/kg), on EROs and sleep EEGs, were evaluated. RESULTS As compared to baseline, 24 hours following alcohol withdrawal SWS became fragmented as indexed by a significant increase in the number and a decrease in the duration of SWS episodes. Compared to controls, the EtOH-exposed group had more ERO energy in the beta frequency band in the parietal cortex. Gabapentin induced a dose-dependent decrease in the latency to the first SWS episode, and a reduction in sleep fragmentation. Gabapentin also produced a dose-dependent increase in ERO energy in the control group that was significantly attenuated in the EtOH-exposed group in the theta, and beta frequency bands. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, these studies suggest that gabapentin can reverse some of the alcohol-induced sleep and EEG deficits but does not eliminate all of the enduring brain effects of EtOH exposure.
Declaration as Disavowal: The Politics of Race and Empire in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

This article argues that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), by claiming certain inheritances from eighteenth-century American and French rights declarations, simultaneously disavowed...
Spin-Spin Cross-Relaxation of Optically-Excited Rare-Earth Ions in Crystals

A laser saturation grating experiment is applied for the measurement of electron hyperfine state spin orientation diffusion among Tm+2 impurity ion hyperfine ground states in SrF2. A strong laser pulse at λ1 produces a spatial grating of excited spin states followed by a probe at λ2. The probe transmission intensity is to assess diffusion of non-equilibrium spin population into regions not excited by the pulse at λ1. In a second experiment, a field sweep laser hole burning method enables measurement of Pr+3 optical ion hyperfine coupling of optical ground states to the reservoir of F nuclear moments in LaF3 by level crossing. A related procedure with external rf resonance sweep excitation maps out the nuclear Zeeman-electric quadrupole coupled spectrum of Pr+3 over a wide range by monitoring laser beam transmission absorption.
Radioimmunochemical analysis of human erythrocyte adenosine deaminase.

Adenosine deaminase (adenosine aminohydrolase, EC 3.5.4.4.) catalyzes the irreversible hydrolytic deamination of adenosine to produce inosine and ammonia. Markedly reduced or absent adenosine deaminase activity in man is associated with an autosomal recessive form of severe combined immunodeficiency disease and the relationship appears to be causal.1,2,3,4 Affected patients present a defect of both cellular and humoral immunity characterized clinically by severe recurrent infections with a uniformly fatal outcome if untreated.
Updates in Concussion Consensus Statement Offer Symptom-Limited Physical Activity

This article discusses the Concussion in Sport Group's (CISG) new consensus statement from 2017 pertaining to symptom-limited physical activity and issues relating to return to play (RTP) and return to school (RTS) for coaches and physical education teachers.
Laparoscopic sterilization in the supine position using the Ramathibodi uterine manipulator.

Objective To investigate the usefulness of the Ramathibodi uterine manipulator (AMZURA Enterprises, Freeport, NY) in performing laparoscopic sterilization procedures in the supine position under local anesthesia. Design Descriptive prospective study. Setting Ambulatory surgical unit of university-affiliated hospital. Patients Women presenting for elective sterilization and weighing Intervention The Ramathibodi uterine manipulator was used to provide uterine manipulation in 85 cases of laparoscopic sterilization, all performed in the supine position as local anesthesia-sedation sterilization operations. Because such procedures are becoming more common worldwide, we propose the acronym "LASSO" (Local Anesthesia-Sedation Sterilization Operation) for this class of operations. Although commonly used in minilaparotomy procedures, use of this uterine manipulation device in laparoscopic procedures has not been published previously. Main Outcome Measure Successful tubal occlusion. Results Among the 85 cases reported here there were no failures to manipulate the uterus successfully, to identify the tubes, and to occlude them. Conclusions The simplicity of the Ramathibodi uterine manipulator provided several advantages over other means of uterine manipulation, notably [1] constant easy-to-learn maneuvers, [2] no tenaculum or balloon requirement, [3] the procedure could be performed in the supine position, and [4] there are no working parts, screws, or springs that could be lost or broken by operating room staff. Our experience with this device leads us to recommend it to colleagues as an inexpensive, safe, and effective alternative to currently available instruments for providing uterine elevation during laparoscopic sterilization procedures.
Mate Selection and Mating Systems in Seabirds

This chapter examines the evolutionary and ecological factors that have influenced courtship and mating patterns of marine birds. The literature on the reproductive behavior of seabirds is vast, and it is not my purpose to review it here. Rather, I focus attention on several questions and seek patterns that may help us understand aspects of variation in reproductive biology. In particular, I will be concerned with the assessment of mate quality and how these qualities affect reproductive success and mating systems.
Great Powers and US Foreign Policy towards Africa

This chapter undertakes a recap of the issues covered in the previous chapters. It relitigates the proposition that between the United States and the other countries that have been labeled Great Powers, there is a singular absence of foreign policy preferences and/or policy towards Africa. This is especially pronounced even towards the Horn of Africa, a region that is strategically crucial to the United States and other powers due to its proximity to the Gulf, and global shipping, and especially due to the lack of a central government. Given their rising status, BRICs have appeared to engage more with Africa, perhaps due to their own experiences with imperialism from Europe/United States, but the hegemon appears to shun the region, despite its population, and the potential for challenges emanating from Africa.
Implementation of a Central Sensorimotor Integration Test for Characterization of Human Balance Control During Stance

Balance during stance is regulated by active control mechanisms that continuously estimate body motion, via a "sensory integration" mechanism, and generate corrective actions, via a "sensory-to-motor transformation" mechanism. The balance control system can be modeled as a closed-loop feedback control system for which appropriate system identification methods are available to separately quantify the sensory integration and sensory-to-motor components of the system. A detailed, functionally meaningful characterization of balance control mechanisms has potential to improve clinical assessment and to provide useful tools for answering clinical research questions. However, many researchers and clinicians do not have the background to develop systems and methods appropriate for performing identification of balance control mechanisms. The purpose of this report is to provide detailed information on how to perform what we refer to as "central sensorimotor integration" (CSMI) tests on a commercially available balance test device (SMART EquiTest CRS, Natus Medical Inc, Seattle WA) and then to appropriately analyze and interpret results obtained from these tests. We describe methods to (1) generate pseudorandom stimuli that apply cyclically-repeated rotations of the stance surface and/or visual surround (2) measure and calibrate center-of-mass (CoM) body sway, (3) calculate frequency response functions (FRFs) that quantify the dynamic characteristics of stimulus-evoked CoM sway, (4) estimate balance control parameters that quantify sensory integration by measuring the relative contribution of different sensory systems to balance control (i.e., sensory weights), and (5) estimate balance control parameters that quantify sensory-to-motor transformation properties (i.e., feedback time delay and neural controller stiffness and damping parameters). Additionally, we present CSMI test results from 40 subjects (age range 21-59 years) with normal sensory function, 2 subjects with results illustrating deviations from normal balance function, and we summarize results from previous studies in subjects with vestibular deficits. A bootstrap analysis was used to characterize confidence limits on parameters from CSMI tests and to determine how test duration affected the confidence with which parameters can be measured. Finally, example results are presented that illustrate how various sensory and central balance deficits are revealed by CSMI testing.
On Distinct Distances Between a Variety and a Point Set

We consider the problem of determining the number of distinct distances between two point sets in $\mathbb{R}^2$ where one point set $\mathcal{P}_1$ of size $m$ lies on a real algebraic curve of fixed degree $r$, and the other point set $\mathcal{P}_2$ of size $n$ is arbitrary. We prove that the number of distinct distances between the point sets, $D(\mathcal{P}_1,\mathcal{P}_2)$, satisfies $D(\mathcal{P}_1,\mathcal{P}_2) = \Omega(m^{1/2}n^{1/2}\log^{-1/2}n)$ when $m = \Omega(n^{1/2}\log^{-1/3}n)$ and $D(\mathcal{P}_1,\mathcal{P}_2) = \Omega(n^{1/2} m^{1/3})$ when $m=O(n^{1/2}\log^{-1/3}n)$ This generalizes work of Pohoata and Sheffer, and complements work of Pach and de Zeeuw.
Sphärische intratubuläre Körperchen im präpuberalen Hoden und Nebenhoden

105 lagemasig normale Hoden und Nebenhoden von Fruhgeburten, Neugeborenen, Sauglingen und Kindern bis zu 9 Jahren wurden histologisch auf intratubulare spharische Korper untersucht. In 54 Fallen konnten im Hoden, in 6 Fallen in Rete testis und Nebenhoden derartige Korper gefunden werden. Sie lassen sich in zwei grose Gruppen einteilen, namlich in eine Gruppe homogen gebauter Korper, sogenannter Hyalospharen, und in eine Gruppe schalig strukturierter Gebilde, sogenannter Lepospharen. Hyalospharen waren in 39% aller Falle nachweisbar, und zwar meist solitar. Lepospharen sind seltener. Sie liegen bei multiplem Auftreten in erweiterten und mit zweireihigem Epithel ausgelegten Tubulusanschnitten. Hyalospharen und Lepospharen bestehen vorwiegend aus Eiweismassen, die reichlich saure Mucopolysaccharide, dagegen keine farbbaren Eisenmengen oder Kalk enthalten. Wahrscheinlich handelt es sich um Sekretionsprodukte der Sertolizellen. Allerdings kann auch eine Bildung spharischer Korpuskeln aus Zelldesquamaten beobachtet werden. Anhaltspunkte fur Beziehungen zu Oocyten fehlen. Wahrend die pathologische Bedeutung von solitaren oder multiplen Hyalospharen gering sein durfte, deuten Lepospharen in erweiterten Tubuli mit zweireihiger Keimepithelanordnung auf eine Entwicklungsstorung hin.
From marketing to public value: towards a theory of public service ecosystems

ABSTRACTThis paper applies a service ecosystems perspective on the public service logic to evaluate the benefits and challenges this view brings to the management of public services. First, the art...
Strain stabilization of far from equilibrium GaAsBi films

Abstract GaAs1−xBix was grown on GaAs and InGaAs underlayers to determine the effect of global strain on bismuth (Bi) incorporation. Reducing compressive strain aids in Bi incorporation and results in higher Bi content films by preventing Ga-Bi surface droplet formation. A maximum Bi fraction of x = 0.088 was achieved in a 100 nm film on an In0.105GaAs buffer layer, a 24% relative improvement compared to layers grown on GaAs. Increasing Bi flux further did not result in incorporations past x = 0.088 on In0.105GaAs and strain could not be manipulated to incorporate more bismuth. Strain stabilization is thought to lessen Bi rejection and segregation, which increases the overall Bi content and yields homogenous films. The use of strain compensating layers can enable x = 0.06–0.09 content pseudomorphic GaAs1−xBix films with uniform composition at thicknesses relevant for optoelectronic devices.
Residual stress–driven test technique for freestanding ultrathin films: Elastic behavior and residual strain

Elastic modulus and residual stress in freestanding ultrathin films (<100 nm) are characterized using bilayer cantilevers. The cantilevers comprise a test film and a well-characterized reference material (SU-8). When released from the substrate, residual stresses in the bilayer cantilever cause it to deflect with measurable curvatures, allowing the determination of both stiffness and residual stress of the test film. The technique does not require sophisticated mechanical test equipment and serves as a useful metrology tool for characterizing coatings immediately after fabrication in a clean room assembly line. The measured biaxial modulus and residual strain of 75 nm copper films are 211 ± 19 GPa and (7.05 ± 0.22) × 10−3, respectively. Additional experiments on the freestanding structures yield a mean Young’s modulus of 115 GPa. These properties are in close agreement with those measured from additional residual stress–driven structures developed on the same coatings by the authors.
Lamellar architectures in stiff biomaterials may not always be templates for enhancing toughness in composites.

The layered architecture of stiff biological materials often endows them with surprisingly high fracture toughness in spite of their brittle ceramic constituents. Understanding the link between organic–inorganic layered architectures and toughness could help to identify new ways to improve the toughness of biomimetic engineering composites. We study the cylindrically layered architecture found in the spicules of the marine sponge Euplectella aspergillum. We cut micrometer-size notches in the spicules and measure their initiation toughness and average crack growth resistance using flexural tests. We find that while the spicule’s architecture provides toughness enhancements, these enhancements are relatively small compared to prototypically tough biological materials, like nacre. We investigate these modest toughness enhancements using computational fracture mechanics simulations. Nacre is a biological composite whose architecture greatly enhances its toughness. Here, the authors report on the toughness enhancement in the spicules of a marine sponge. The spicules display similar architecture to nacre; however, their architecture does not lead to similar toughness enhancement.
Androgen signaling connects short isoform production to breakpoint formation at Ewing sarcoma breakpoint region 1 via an R-loop-dependent mechanism

Ewing sarcoma is most prevalent in adolescent males and is almost always the result of a chromosomal rearrangement that creases a fusion gene with EWSR1 as the 5 prime fusion partner. Why EWSR1 is more commonly rearranged than other, similar genes and why Ewing sarcoma is predisposed to adolescent males is not known. We found that in prostate cancer, androgen signaling upregulated a 5 prime EWSR1 isoform by promoting usage of an intronic polyadenylation site proximal to the Ewing sarcoma breakpoint hotspot. An intronic Androgen Receptor (AR) binding site was necessary for this upregulation. Strikingly, androgen signaling drove high levels of breakpoint formation in EWSR1. Androgen signaling also promoted R-loop formation and R-loops were necessary for breakpoint formation. These data suggest that aberrant androgen signaling leads to R-loop-mediated DNA damage at the EWSR1 breakpoint hotspot and subsequent misrepair could promote EWSR1 gene fusions in Ewing sarcoma.
Noise on RV Lead

A 73-year-old man presents to device clinic after receiving a shock from his defibrillator. He has a past medical history of an ischemic cardiomyopathy with LVEF of 20–25% and symptomatic bradycardia. He had recently undergone implantation of a dual chamber ICD with a CPI™ 0154 active fixation defibrillator lead. On questioning, the patient denies any lightheadedness, chest pain, or palpitations around the time of the shock. Interrogation of his ICD reveals two episodes detected by the device in the VT zone with therapy delivered for the second episode but not the first.
An Ultra-Wideband Capacitive Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducer (CMUT) Array for Acoustic Angiography: Preliminary Results

Acoustic angiography (AA) has traditionally been limited by the lack of transducer arrays that are able to transmit at low (1–5 MHz) frequencies and also receive at high (>10 MHz) frequencies. We have designed and fabricated a 1D CMUT array capable of operating with a broad bandwidth, covering the desired frequency range. This array has been tested in preparation for integration into a hand-held probe for AA. A 32-element subsection of this array was wire bonded to a chip carrier which was then placed in an oil tank for analysis. Our initial measurements show that the array is suitable for AA. The characterized array exhibits 130% fractional bandwidth (FBW) at a center frequency of 8.5 MHz enabling a target transmit frequency of 3.5 MHz, a target receive frequency to receive the higher harmonics including the fourth harmonic (14 MHz), and a mechanical index (MI) of 0.33.
Agitation in schizophrenia: origins and evidence-based treatment

Purpose of review Agitation associated with schizophrenia remains an important clinical concern and if not managed effectively, can escalate into aggressive behavior. This is a review of the recent biomedical literature on agitation in individuals with schizophrenia. Recent findings Themes in the recent literature include consideration of comorbidities such as cigarette smoking and cannabis use. Surveys reveal that pharmacological approaches to manage agitation have changed little, with haloperidol remaining in common use and intramuscular administration of antipsychotics and/or benzodiazepines being frequently administered to more severely agitated/aggressive individuals. Of note, ketamine has been recently adopted for use in severe agitation in medical emergency departments, but the risk of this medication for people with schizophrenia is unclear. At present, inhaled loxapine remains the only rapidly acting noninjectable FDA-approved treatment for agitation associated with schizophrenia. In development is an intranasal formulation for olanzapine (a well characterized atypical antipsychotic already approved to treat agitation) and a sublingual film for dexmedetomidine (an α2-adrenergic agonist used as an anesthetic and now being repurposed). Summary Comorbidities can contribute to agitation and can make an accurate differential diagnosis challenging. The ongoing development of rapidly acting novel formulations of antiagitation medications, if successful, may facilitate clinical treatment by providing additional options.
Critical angle reflection imaging for quantification of molecular interactions on glass surface.

Quantification of molecular interactions on a surface is typically achieved via label-free techniques such as surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The sensitivity of SPR originates from the characteristic that the SPR angle is sensitive to the surface refractive index change. Analogously, in another interfacial optical phenomenon, total internal reflection, the critical angle is also refractive index dependent. Therefore, surface refractive index change can also be quantified by measuring the reflectivity near the critical angle. Based on this concept, we develop a method called critical angle reflection (CAR) imaging to quantify molecular interactions on glass surface. CAR imaging can be performed on SPR imaging setups. Through a side-by-side comparison, we show that CAR is capable of most molecular interaction measurements that SPR performs, including proteins, nucleic acids and cell-based detections. In addition, we show that CAR can detect small molecule bindings and intracellular signals beyond SPR sensing range. CAR exhibits several distinct characteristics, including tunable sensitivity and dynamic range, deeper vertical sensing range, fluorescence compatibility, broader wavelength and polarization of light selection, and glass surface chemistry. We anticipate CAR can expand SPR′s capability in small molecule detection, whole cell-based detection, simultaneous fluorescence imaging, and broader conjugation chemistry. Here, the authors present a method for quantifying molecular interactions on a glass surface, based on measuring surface refractive index changes via the reflectivity near the critical angle. They demonstrate tunable sensitivity and dynamic range, deep vertical sensing range, also for intracellular signals.