cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Residual Disease After Preoperative Systemic Therapy on Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Inflammatory Breast Cancer

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare and aggressive disease treated with multimodality therapy: preoperative systemic therapy (PST) followed by modified radical mastectomy (MRM), chest wall and regional nodal radiotherapy, and adjuvant biologic therapy and/or endocrine therapy when appropriate. In non-IBC, the degree of pathologic response to PST has been shown to correlate with time to recurrence (TTR) and overall survival (OS). We sought to determine if pathologic response correlates with oncologic outcomes of IBC patients. Following review of IBC patients’ records (1997–2014), we identified 258 stage III IBC patients; 181 received PST followed by MRM and radiotherapy and were subsequently analyzed. Pathologic complete response (pCR) to PST, hormone receptor and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status, grade, and histology were evaluated as predictors of TTR and OS by Cox model. Overall, 95/181 (52%) patients experienced recurrence; 93/95 (98%) were distant metastases (median TTR 3.2 years). Seventy-three patients (40%) died (median OS 6.9 years). pCR was associated with improved TTR (hazard ratio [HR] 0.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.09–0.46, p < 0.01, univariate; HR 0.17, 95% CI 0.07–0.41, p < 0.0001, multivariate) and improved OS (HR 0.26, 95% CI 0.11–0.65, p < 0.01, univariate). In patients with pCR, grade III (HR 1.91, 95% CI 1.16–3.13, p = 0.01), and triple-negative phenotype (HR 3.54, 95% CI 1.79–6.98, p = 0.0003) were associated with shorter TTR, while residual ductal carcinoma in situ was not (HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.53–1.35, p = 0.48, multivariate). In stage III IBC, pCR was associated with prognosis, further influenced by grade, hormone receptor, and HER2 status. Investigating mechanisms that contribute to better response to PST could help improve oncologic outcomes in IBC.
Behavioral Capabilities of Seals and Sea Lions: A Review of Their Hearing, Visual, Learning and Diving Skills

Behavioral capabilities of seals and sea lions (the pinnipeds) are described and summarized in tabular form. Major features of sound detection, pitch perception, sound localization, visual spectral sensitivity, visual acuity, learning potential and constraints on learning and memory, and maximum diving depths are presented for these large-brained amphibious marine mammals. Among those species tested, phocids hear higher frequencies under water than do otariids and the opposite is true for airborne sounds. All pinnipeds are more sensitive to underwater sounds than they are to airborne sounds. There is little evidence to support the notion that most pinnipeds have evolved an echolocation capability. Scotopic sensitivity of several species is correlated with radiant energy in the marine environment. Visual acuity is equally sharp in air and under water, but deteriorates more rapidly in air than in water when the ambient light is decreased. Sea lions generally behave optimally when confronted with ambiguous cues signaling food reward. Although visual form discrimination and generalization is highly developed, thus far abstraction abilities have not been demonstrated easily in pinnipeds. Although many pinnipeds dive to 200–250 m, only the Weddell seal has been observed to dive to 600 m.
Impact of road-surface condition on rural highway safety: A multivariate random parameters negative binomial approach

Abstract Recent studies have begun to shed more light on the crashes experienced on rural roads by examining the influence of a road’s pavement surface condition. In a bid to contribute to this growing body of knowledge and to facilitate comprehensive evaluation of pavement maintenance projects, this paper explores the safety effects of the pavement condition of rural roads. The paper tests the hypotheses that pavement roughness generally has a non-trivial residual impact on safety outcomes and that the magnitude and direction of these impacts differ across road segments. To explore these hypotheses, the paper presents crash frequency models for three levels of crash severity and also across five levels of road surface condition. The developed models use the multivariate random parameters negative binomial specification to account for the unobserved heterogeneity and correlation among the different levels of crash severity. The model results suggest that for pavements in fair or good condition, the surface condition parameter has fixed effects on the crash frequency, irrespective of the crash severity level. However, for pavements in poor condition, the surface condition variable in the crash model has a significant random parameter that is normally distributed. The positive portions of the parameter density function suggest that higher roughness (poorer condition) generally increases the expected crash frequency, likely because drivers may lose control of their vehicles. The negative portions suggest that within that condition range, higher surface roughness is generally associated with a lower expected crash frequency, likely because drivers are generally likely to drive more carefully on pavements in very poor condition (a manifestation of risk-compensation behavior). The developed models can help highway engineers quantify not only the safety benefits of road resurfacing projects but also the safety consequences of worsening road surface conditions arising from delay of pavement maintenance.
Comparison of Bone Tunnel and Cortical Surface Tendon-to-Bone Healing in a Rabbit Model of Biceps Tenodesis.

Background Many orthopaedic surgical procedures involve reattachment of a single tendon to bone. Whether tendon-to-bone healing is better facilitated by tendon fixation within a bone tunnel or on a cortical surface is unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate tendon-healing within a bone tunnel compared with that on the cortical surface in a rabbit model of biceps tenodesis. Methods Thirty-two rabbits (24 weeks of age) underwent unilateral proximal biceps tenodesis with tendon fixation within a bone tunnel (BT group) or on the cortical surface (SA [surface attachment] group). Postoperatively, rabbits were allowed free-cage activity without immobilization. All rabbits were killed 8 weeks after surgery. Healing was assessed by biomechanical testing, microcomputed tomography (micro-CT), and histomorphometric analysis. Results Biomechanical testing demonstrated no significant difference between the groups in mean failure loads (BT: 56.8 ± 28.8 N, SA: 55.8 ± 14.9 N; p = 0.92) or stiffness (BT: 26.3 ± 16.6 N/mm, SA: 32.3 ± 9.6 N/mm; p = 0.34). Micro-CT analysis demonstrated no significant difference between the groups in mean volume of newly formed bone (BT: 69.3 ± 13.9 mm, SA: 65.5 ± 21.9 mm; p = 0.70) or tissue mineral density of newly formed bone (BT: 721.4 ± 10.9 mg/cm, SA: 698.6 ± 26.2 mg/cm; p = 0.07). On average, newly formed bone within the tunnel represented only 5% of the total new bone formed in the BT specimens. Histological analysis demonstrated tendon-bone interdigitation and early fibrocartilaginous zone formation on the outer cortical surface in both groups. In contrast, minimal tendon-bone bonding was observed within the tunnel in the BT specimens. Conclusions Tendon fixation in a bone tunnel and on the cortical surface resulted in similar healing profiles. For tendons placed within a bone tunnel, intratunnel healing was minimal compared with the healing outside the tunnel on the cortical surface. Clinical relevance The creation of large bone tunnels, which can lead to stress risers and increase the risk of fracture, may not be necessary for biceps tenodesis procedures.
IPMC flow sensor exploiting self-generated vortices

Ionic polymer-metal composites (IPMCs) have inherent sensing properties, one application of which is flow sensing. However, the transduction physics and mechanics of IPMC pose challenges in deciphering the sensor output for DC flows. In this work we propose a novel IPMC flow sensor that exploits self-generated von Karman vortices to produce vibration of the sensor, the frequency and amplitude of which are correlated with the stream flow. The sensor consists of a 3D-printed soft cylindrical sheath housing an IPMC beam, and one end of the sheath takes the shape of a sphere. In the sensing configuration, the sheath is placed parallel to the stream flow direction, with the sphere end fixed. Experiments are conducted in a flow channel to measure the IPMC sensor output and free-end displacement of the sheath under different flow speeds. The results indicate that the proposed sensor structure can produce significant oscillatory signals for effectively decoding the flow speed.
Intercultural Communication Scholarship in the U.S. Heartland

This essay works to debunk the myth that the Central States region is a less-than-ideal location for intercultural communication scholarship. The essay also explores how co-cultural theorizing scho...
Effect of specific muscarinic M2 receptor antagonist on carbachol induced long-term REM sleep

Six cats were chronically implanted with a standard set of sleep-scoring electrodes and bilateral stainless-steel guide tubes for microinjection of drugs in the peribrachial area (PBL). Pretreatment of drug injection sites in the PBL with the M2 antagonist methoctramine blocks both the immediate triggering of ponto-geniculo-occipital (PGO) waves and the later prolonged enhancement of REM sleep that is induced by carbachol. These results support the hypothesis that the carbachol effects are mediated via the M2 muscarinic receptor that is known to be present in the PBL.
Getting Computer Systems to Function as Team Players (Abstract)

As a result of the ubiquity of computer networks, computer systems are increasingly acting as elements in a complex, distributed community of people and systems, rather than operating as solitary devices employed by a single person. Individuals in such communities may interact in various ways—competing, coordinating, collaborating. This talk will focus on those multi-agent scenarios and applications in which groups of agents work together to accomplish a joint activity or to achieve a common goal, that is, on situations in which agents collaborate. Many applications require such collaborative ecdeavors, and a major challenge for computer science is to determine ways to construct computer systems that are able to act effectively as collaborative team members.
Automata on Guarded Strings and Applications

Guarded strings are like ordinary strings over a finite alphabet P, except that atoms of the free Boolean algebra on a set of atomic tests B alternate with the symbols of P. The regular sets of guarded strings play the same role in Kleene algebra with tests as the regular sets of ordinary strings do in Kleene algebra. In this paper we develop the elementary theory of finite automata on guarded strings, a generalization of the theory of finite automata on ordinary strings. We give several basic constructions, including determinization, state minimization, and an analog of Kleene''s theorem. We then use these results to verify a conjecture on the complexity of a complete Gentzen-style sequent calculus for \partial correctness. We also show that a basic result of the theory of Boolean decision diagrams (BDDs), namely that minimal ordered BDDs are unique, is a special case of the Myhill-Nerode theorem for a class of automata on guarded strings.
Increased Plasma-Free Hemoglobin Levels Identify Hemolysis in Patients With Cardiogenic Shock and a Trans valvular Micro-Axial Flow Pump.

Hemolysis is a potential limitation of percutaneously delivered left-sided mechanical circulatory support pumps, including trans valvular micro-axial flow pumps (TVP). Hemolytic biomarkers among durable left ventricular assist devices include lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) >2.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) and plasma-free hemoglobin (pf-Hb) >20 mg/dL. We examined the predictive value of these markers among patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) receiving a TVP. We retrospectively studied records of 116 consecutive patients receiving an Impella TVP at our institution between 2012 and 2017 for CS. Twenty-three met inclusion/exclusion criteria, and had sufficient pf-Hb data for analysis. Area under receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curve for diagnosing hemolysis were calculated. Mean age was 62 ± 14 years and ejection fraction was 15 ± 5%. Mean duration of support was 5.4 ± 3.5 days. Pre-device LDH levels were >2.5x ULN in 71% (n = 5/7) of 5.0 and 29% of CP patients, while pre-device pf-Hb levels were >20 mg/dL in 14% (n = 1/7) of 5.0 and 25% (n = 4/16) of CP patients. Given elevated baseline LDH and pf-Hb levels, we defined hemolysis as a pf-Hb level >40 mg/dL within 72 h post-implant plus clinical evidence of device-related hemolysis. We identified that 30% (n = 7/23) had device-related hemolysis. Using ROC curve-derived cut-points, an increase in delta pf-Hb by >27mg/dL, not delta LDH, within 24 h after TVP implant (delta pf-Hb: C-statistic = 0.79, sensitivity: 57%, specificity: 93%, p <0.05) was highly predictive of hemolysis. In conclusion, we identified a change in pf-Hb, not LDH, levels is highly sensitive and specific for hemolysis in patients treated with a TVP for CS.
Dry eye after whole brain radiation: Analysis from a prospective study.

198Background: Lacrimal glands (LGs) receive incidental dose of unknown significance in patients undergoing whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT). Median survival following diagnosis of brain metast...
Weaponizing collective energy: Dragon Ball Z in the anti-neoliberal Chilean protest movement

By examining textually referential performance and evocation during the 2011 student-led protests in Chile, this article looks at how one particular protest event structured as an elaborate recreat...
Dupuytren's contracture: Concise approach to an enigmatic disease

Dupuytren's disease (DD) is a debilitating fibroproliferative disorder of the palmar fascia. The clinical approach and management of DD is often challenging for clinicians. The purpose of this image in academic medicine is to review the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of DD. The following core competencies are addressed in this article: Patient care, Medical knowledge.
Weighted average of shared trajectory: A new estimator for dynamic functional connectivity efficiently estimates both rapid and slow changes over time.

Abstract Background Dynamic functional network connectivity (dFNC) of the brain has attracted considerable attention recently. Many approaches have been suggested to study dFNC with sliding window Pearson correlation (SWPC) being the most well-known. SWPC needs a relatively large sample size to reach a robust estimation but using large window sizes prevents us to detect rapid changes in dFNC. New method Here we first calculate the gradients of each time series pair and use the magnitude of these gradients to calculate weighted average of shared trajectory (WAST) as a new estimator for dFNC. Results Using WAST to compare healthy control and schizophrenia patients using a large dataset, we show disconnectivity between different regions associated with schizophrenia. In addition, WAST results reveals patients with schizophrenia stay longer in a connectivity state with negative connectivity between motor and sensory regions than do healthy controls. Comparison with existing methods We compare WAST with SWPC and multiplication of temporal derivatives (MTD) using different simulation scenarios. We show that WAST enables us to detect very rapid changes in dFNC (undetected by SWPC) while MTD performance is generally lower. Conclusions As large window sizes are unable to detect short states, using shorter window size is desirable if the estimator is robust enough. We provide evidence that WAST requires fewer samples (compared to SWPC) to reach a robust estimation. As a result, we were able to identify rapidly varying dFNC patterns undetected by SWPC while still being able to robustly estimate slower dFNC patterns.
BETA-BLOCKERS AND ANGIOTENSIN CONVERSION ENZYME INHIBITORS FOR THE PREVENTION OF ANTHRACYCLINE-INDUCED CARDIOMYOPATHY: SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND NETWORK META-ANALYSIS

Anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy is a significant complication in anthracycline-treated cancer patients. There are emerging data that beta-blockers (BB) or angiotensin conversion enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) could be effective in preventing this complication. Medline and Embase were searched
A Taxonomic Revision of Nearctic Conostigmus (Hymenoptera: Ceraphronoidea: Megaspilidae).

We revise the species of Conostigmus Dahlbom, 1858 (Hymenoptera: Ceraphronoidea: Megaspilidae) found in North America, north of Mexico. We describe the following 12 new species: Conostigmus dessarti Trietsch & Miko sp. nov.; C. duncani Trietsch sp. nov.; C. franzinii Trietsch & Miko sp. nov.; C. johnsoni Trietsch & Miko sp. nov.; C. lepus Trietsch sp. nov.; C. longiharpes Trietsch sp. nov.; C. michaeli Trietsch sp. nov.; C. minimus Trietsch & Miko sp. nov.; C. muratorei Trietsch sp. nov.; C. musettiae Trietsch & Miko sp. nov.; C. rosemaryae Trietsch sp. nov.; and C. washburni Trietsch sp. nov. We also redescribe the following 12 species: Conostigmus abdominalis (Boheman, 1832); C. bipunctatus Kieffer, 1907; C. dimidiatus (Thomson, 1858); C. erythrothorax (Ashmead, 1893); C. laeviceps (Ashmead, 1893); C. muesebecki Dessart & Masner, 1965; C. nigrorufus Dessart, 1997; C. obscurus (Thomson, 1858); C. orcasensis (Brues, 1909); C. pulchellus Whittaker, 1930; C. quadratogenalis Dessart & Cooper, 1975; and C. triangularis (Thomson, 1858). We report specimens of C. abdominalis (Boheman, 1832) and C. bipunctatus Kieffer, 1907 from the Nearctic for the first time, expanding the range from Palearctic to Holarctic for both species. We regard the following 19 species as having uncertain status due to reasons such as missing type specimens: Conostigmus ambiguus (Ashmead, 1893); C. bacilliger (Kieffer, 1906); C. bakeri Kieffer, 1908; C. californicus (Ashmead, 1893); C. canadensis (Ashmead,1888); C. crawfordi (Mann, 1920); C. harringtoni (Ashmead, 1888); C. hyalinipennis (Ashmead, 1887); C. inermis (Kieffer, 1906); C. integriceps (Kieffer, 1906); C. marylandicus (Ashmead, 1893); C. nevadensis (Kieffer, 1906); C. nigripes (Kieffer, 1906); C. ottawensis (Ashmead, 1888); C. pergandei (Ashmead, 1893); C. popenoei (Ashmead, 1893); C. rufoniger (Provancher, 1888); C. schwarzi (Ashmead, 1893); and C. trapezoidus Kieffer, 1908. We transfer Conostigmus arietinus (Provancher, 1887) to Dendrocerus Ratzeburg, 1852, and consider Conostigmus subinermis (Kieffer, 1907) to be absent from the Nearctic and limited to the Palearctic. The Nearctic species C. timberlakei Kamal, 1926 remains incertae sedis. We provide the name Conostigmus fulgidus Mikό and Trietsch to replace the junior homonym Conostigmus lucidus Mikό and Trietsch 2016. We provide a key for the identification of Nearctic Conostigmus species, and provide comments on their natural history. Finally, we infer evolutionary relationships within Megaspilinae using male genitalia and other morphological characters. This work represents the first in-depth study and revision of Conostigmus in North America, and contributes the first annotated identification key to Nearctic Conostigmus species.
Social cohesion and quality of life among survivors of a natural disaster

The purpose of the current study was to examine the association between social cohesion and two domains of quality of life (QOL) among individuals affected by Hurricane Ike, which made landfall on September 13, 2008. Psychosocial and physical QOL were measured using the Short form of the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q-SF; Endicottn et al. in Psychopharmacol Bull 29: 321–326, 1993). The participants were 658 survivors who participated in the Galveston Bay Recovery Study (GBRS; National Center for Disaster Mental Health Research, Galea, and Norris in Galveston Bay Recovery Study, 2008–2010, Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], Ann Arbor, MI, https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR34801.v1 , 2016). Assessments were conducted at approximately 3, 6, and 15 months after the disaster. Longitudinal structural equation modeling was conducted to examine the association between social cohesion and both psychosocial and physical QOL at 6 and 15 months after the hurricane. The results revealed no significant association between social cohesion and physical QOL at either 6 or 15 months. Furthermore, no association was found between social cohesion and psychosocial QOL at 6 months. However, there was a significant positive association between social cohesion and psychosocial QOL at 15 months, even after controlling for the previous levels of posttraumatic stress and demographic variables. The current study highlights a potential effect of social cohesion on QOL, specifically the psychosocial domain, which may manifest after 6 months among survivors of a hurricane. The current results also suggest the importance of long-term programs and interventions to help survivors adjust after experiences of disaster.
Perceptions of provider's epistemic authority in response to variant of uncertain significance-related recommendations.

Uncertain genetic information such as variants of uncertain significance (VUS) is often encountered by patients in clinical cancer genetic testing. Although healthcare providers facilitate patient's understanding of VUS-associated empirical risk and its medical implications, patients' understanding and perceptions of risk often differ and may be based on subjective evaluations such as their perception of provider's epistemic authority (EA). This study examines the hypothesis that individuals attribute greater EA to genetic counselors (GCs) (compared to gastrointestinal oncologists) and to providers who recommend more active VUS-related recommendations (compared to inactive). In a factorial experiment, 652 adult participants recruited on Amazon Mechanical Turk were block-randomized to read one of 10 different types of VUS-related scenarios in the context of colon cancer (5 recommendation types × 2 provider types). GCs were attributed higher EA than gastrointestinal oncologists (p = <.001). Active recommendations (comprehensive, check back, wrong) were attributed lower EA (M = 3.67, SD = 0.79) compared to the inactive (stand by, disregard) (M = 3.89, SD = 0.67) (p-value = <.001). The wrong recommendation was attributed lowest EA compared to the four correct recommendations (mean difference = -0.34, -0.45, -0.35, and -0.44, respectively; p = .002), which, when dropped from the analysis, showed no difference between the correct active and inactive recommendations (3.78 vs. 3.89, p = .095). The higher EA attributed to GCs is encouraging and possibly explained by increased public awareness of the genetic counseling profession. The lack of difference in EA attributed to various correct, yet incomplete forms of VUS-related recommendation indicates that individuals may be unaware of and thus completely rely on providers for complex medical topics like VUS. Communicating VUS-related uncertainty warrants caution and further research to elucidate best practices and outcomes.
The Impact of Artificial Sweeteners on Insects

Artificial sweeteners are sweet-tasting additives found in consumable products as substitutes for naturally occurring sugars. They are derived from plant extracts or manufactured by chemical synthesis. Ingestion of sweeteners by insects can lead to significant physiological effects, such as mortality, decreased fecundity, and behavioral change. Due to their low toxicity toward humans and the issues associated with conventional insecticide usage, artificial sweeteners have recently gained attention for their potential use as biorational insecticides. Here, we review their impact on insects and potential as novel insecticides.
Staff Emotional Support at Montefiore Medical Center During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Context During the COVID-19 pandemic, frontline workers have experienced high levels of stress and anxiety. Montefiore Medical Center recognized the urgent need for mental health support to mitigate and treat psychological distress among staff. Various mental health support services were implemented. This report provides an overview of the interventions implemented at Montefiore and provides preliminary insights on the utilization and value of these ongoing services. Outcomes The interventions instituted at Montefiore included psychoeducational resources, a phone support line, Staff Support Centers (SSCs), a clinical treatment program, team support sessions, peer support outreach, mental health and wellness programs, and clergy support. The most heavily used service during the pandemic were the SSCs, and the least used service was the clergy support. Insights With institutional encouragement and the collective efforts of more than 150 mental health professionals and other staff, it was possible to set up durable mental health supports with multiple points of access. Although many services were available to both clinical and nonclinical staff, outreach was primarily to clinical staff. Additional efforts in the future are needed to more fully reach nonclinical frontline workers. Next Steps The organization's next steps include evaluation of emotional health and distress among clinical and nonclinical staff using validated self-report measures administered over multiple time intervals. Lessons learned about staff support during COVID-19 will also be integrated into future efforts to support staff well-being more broadly.
Alcohol induces mitochondrial derangements in alveolar macrophages by upregulating NADPH oxidase 4.

Abstract Excessive alcohol users have increased risk of developing respiratory infections in part due to oxidative stress-induced alveolar macrophage (AM) phagocytic dysfunction. Chronic ethanol exposure increases cellular oxidative stress in AMs via upregulation of NADPH oxidase (Nox) 4, and treatment with the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) ligand, rosiglitazone, decreases ethanol-induced Nox4. However, the mechanism by which ethanol induces Nox4 expression and the PPARγ ligand reverses this defect has not been elucidated. Since microRNA (miR)-92a has been predicted to target Nox4 for destabilization, we hypothesized that ethanol exposure decreases miR-92a expression and leads to Nox4 upregulation. Previous studies have implicated mitochondrial-derived oxidative stress in AM dysfunction. We further hypothesized that ethanol increases mitochondrial-derived AM oxidative stress and dysfunction via miR-92a, and that treatment with the PPARγ ligand, pioglitazone, could reverse these derangements. To test these hypotheses, a mouse AM cell line, MH-S cells, was exposed to ethanol in vitro, and primary AMs were isolated from a mouse model of chronic ethanol consumption to measure Nox4, mitochondrial target mRNA (qRT-PCR) and protein levels (confocal microscopy), mitochondria-derived reactive oxygen species (confocal immunofluorescence), mitochondrial fission (electron microscopy), and mitochondrial bioenergetics (extracellular flux analyzer). Ethanol exposure increased Nox4, enhanced mitochondria-derived oxidative stress, augmented mitochondrial fission, and impaired mitochondrial bioenergetics. Transfection with a miR-92a mimic in vitro or pioglitazone treatment in vivo diminished Nox4 levels, resulting in improvements in these ethanol-mediated derangements. These findings demonstrate that pioglitazone may provide a novel therapeutic approach to mitigate ethanol-induced AM mitochondrial derangements.
Analysis of the number of size parameters that can be reliably estimated from cell scattering

Angular scattering can be used to obtain morphological information from biological specimen, such as the mean size of organelles. We will investigate the limitations that arise when fitting cell scattering to a Mie theory model and extracting organelle size estimates. Using simulation studies of the scattering of two organelle populations in a cell (mitochondria and lysosomes), we will determine under what conditions multiple size distribution parameters can be estimated. Additionally, the analysis method that will allow for the most accurate and smallest organelle size changes to be measured will be investigated computationally.
Characterization and Inequalities Based on the Third Moment

Numerous investigations have been carried out in the past for the first two moments of a distribution along with its skewness and kurtosis. The interrelationship between the empirical versions of these is hardly explored beyond that between the first two. We present a new characterization of the normal distribution based on the regression function of the sample third central moment on the sample mean. The correlation between the two is further explored yielding new insights. These investigations result in certain interesting inequalities pertaining to skewness and kurtosis that are distinct from the commonly known ones.
Effect of prenatal marijuana exposure on sleep wake cycles and amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram (aEEG).

OBJECTIVE To assess whether prenatal exposure to marijuana (THC) results in abnormal amplitude integrated encephalograms (aEEG). DESIGN This was a (2018-2020) prospective cohort study of prenatally THC-exposed newborns. Maternal and Infant demographics, urine (UDS) and umbilical cord drug screening (UCDS) were recorded. A limited channel continuous aEEG was obtained within 48 h of birth. Statistical analysis included univariate, multivariate, and logistical regression. RESULTS A total of 30 mother/infant dyads were enrolled. 60% (18/30) of neonates had abnormal aEEGs with sleep wake cycle (SWC) disturbances (p < 0.001). UCDS Carboxy-THC pg/g levels were similar in infants with abnormal [1758 (296,2838)] and normal aEEG [1589 (332,2794)], p = 0.82. CONCLUSIONS Absence of SWCs on aEEG is associated with prenatal THC exposure. While THC UCDS levels did not correlate to aEEG results future longitudinal studies are necessary to obtain detailed history of THC use and to evaluate its association with abnormal aEEG and the neurodevelopmental outcomes.
A Review of Calcineurin Biophysics with Implications for Cardiac Physiology

Calcineurin, also known as protein phosphatase 2B, is a heterodimeric serine threonine phosphatase involved in numerous signaling pathways. During the past 50 years, calcineurin has been the subject of extensive investigation. Many of its cellular and physiological functions have been described, and the underlying biophysical mechanisms are the subject of active investigation. With the abundance of techniques and experimental designs utilized to study calcineurin and its numerous substrates, it is difficult to reconcile the available information. There have been a plethora of reports describing the role of calcineurin in cardiac disease. However, a physiological role of calcineurin in healthy cardiomyocyte function requires clarification. Here, we review the seminal biophysical and structural details that are responsible for the molecular function and inhibition of calcineurin. We then focus on literature describing the roles of calcineurin in cardiomyocyte physiology and disease.
Displacement Fields and Self-Energies of Circular and Polygonal Dislocation Loops in Homogeneous and Layered Anisotropic Solids

Abstract There are large classes of materials problems that involve the solutions of stress, displacement, and strain energy of dislocation loops in elastically anisotropic solids, including increasingly detailed investigations of the generation and evolution of irradiation induced defect clusters ranging in sizes from the micro- to meso-scopic length scales. Based on a two-dimensional Fourier transform and Stroh formalism that are ideal for homogeneous and layered anisotropic solids, we have developed robust and computationally efficient methods to calculate the displacement fields for circular and polygonal dislocation loops. Using the homogeneous nature of the Green tensor of order −1, we have shown that the displacement and stress fields of dislocation loops can be obtained by numerical quadrature of a line integral. In addition, it is shown that the sextuple integrals associated with the strain energy of loops can be represented by the product of a pre-factor containing elastic anisotropy effects and a universal term that is singular and equal to that for elastic isotropic case. Furthermore, we have found that the self-energy pre-factor of prismatic loops is identical to the effective modulus of normal contact, and the pre-factor of shear loops differs from the effective indentation modulus in shear by only a few percent. These results provide a convenient method for examining dislocation reaction energetic and efficient procedures for numerical computation of local displacements and stresses of dislocation loops, both of which play integral roles in quantitative defect analyses within combined experimental–theoretical investigations.
Relations between intracellular ions and energy metabolism: a study with monensin in synaptosomes, neurons, and C6 glioma cells

Treatment of rat brain synaptosomes with 10 microM monensin stimulated activity of the Na/K pump, which enhanced oxygen consumption and lactate production. Glycolytic flux was also increased independently of the pump activation by a fall in [H+]i. Under such conditions, glycolysis provided 26% of ATP for the ouabain-sensitive ATPase, a value substantially greater than the 4% obtained in veratridine-treated preparations (Erecinska and Dagani, 1990). In C6 glioma cells, a glia-derived line endowed with high rates of aerobic lactate synthesis, the cytosolic and mitochondrial ATP generation contributed 50% each for the support of the pump in the presence of 10 microM monensin. The fraction of energy utilized by the pump was greater in synaptosomes than in C6 cells. Enhancement of ion movements was accompanied by changes in the levels of high-energy phosphate compounds. Measurements with ion-sensitive microelectrodes in C6 cells and cultured neurons showed that monensin caused an increase in pHi by 0.4-0.5 unit and a parallel rise in [Na+]i. The increases in [Na+]i were about twofold in both types of cells, but the absolute values attained were much higher in neurons (40-50 mM) than in C6 cells (10-12 mM). Membrane potentials transiently declined by less than 10 mV and returned to their original values after 20 min of treatment. Rises in [Ca2+]i were small in neurons as well as in C6 cells. These changes could be explained by the known mechanism and/or consequences of monensin action. In contrast, in synaptosomes monensin caused an internal alkalinization of 0.1-0.15 pH unit, a large depolarization of the plasma membrane, and massive leakage of potassium into the external medium. The decrease in plasma membrane potential was accompanied by an increase in [Ca/+]i and release of the neurotransmitter amino acids GABA, aspartate, and glutamate. The depolarization and loss of K+ were unaffected by calcium withdrawal, replacement of chloride with gluconate, and addition of 1 mM 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanostilebene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (SITS), but was markedly attenuated by elimination of Na+. It is proposed that in synaptosomes monensin and/or the consequences of its action open a nonspecific cation channel that allows Na+ entry and K+ exit, with a consequent decrease in membrane potential.
Active memory: Micron's Yukon

With Micron's capability in integrating logic and DRAM in a single die, it has become possible at last to build a chip which has a large amount of DRAM and a substantial processing resource connected to it. This paper discusses Micron's current work in building a chip containing a large embedded DRAM, alongside a programmable processing resource in our active memory prototype, Yukon.
Executive Compensation Reform and the Limits of Tax Policy

The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 includes a major attempt to reform the tax rules for deferred compensation arrangements covering corporate managers. This paper examines the tax policy and corporate-governance policy objectives of the reform effort, explores the shortcomings of the legislation, and outlines a different approach for future executive compensation reform.
Visualizing trees with a hyperbolic projection in one dimension

There has been great progress in detail-in-context visualization techniques for large trees relying on hyperbolic projections. The benefit of this viewing paradigm is the ability to view the entire structure of an arbitrarily large tree while simultaneously viewing local detail in context. However, current techniques require a circular drawing area, which wastes screen space and is often inconvenient for embedding within interfaces. It is possible to use a modified technique, which projects a tree's structure onto a surface which is hyperbolic in one dimension, rather than two as is normally the case. This allows the tree visualization component to be embedded within a rectangular area, while still showing an arbitrary amount of structure in one dimension. This is particularly useful for navigating large filesystems and the like with limited screen real estate. Using this projection, it is possible to view a directory structure with no need for a vertical scrollbar and little vertical screen space. Two techniques are presented, where perspective may or may not be utilized, depending upon the intended application.
Modeling Polymer Vapor Deposition: PMDA-ODA Poly(Amic Acid)

Vapor deposited PMDA-ODA poly(amic acid) and polyimide capsules have been produced with desirable material properties (high tensile strength, permeability, and elastic modulus), but the contributions of the process steps and their dependence on external control variables has not been investigated. We have combined numerical simulations with experimental measurements to model the steps of the vapor deposition process including monomer sublimation, vapor transport to the bounce pan, and poly-condensation on the substrate surfaces. The measured sublimation rates of PMDA and ODA monomer at temperatures that yielded stoichiometric poly(amic acid) (10 -6 Torr deposition) are 1.2 x 10 -7 gm/s PMDA (at 153° C) and 6.3 x 10 -10 gm/s ODA (at 126° C)-a 180:1 PMDA:ODA molar ratio. These provide initial boundary conditions to simulate the thermal environment and vapor transport inside the deposition chamber at 1 x 10 -2 Torr. A disproportionate loss of PMDA gas during transport to a stationary mandrel is shown by the numerical model to reduce the monomer stoichiometry to 9:1 PMDA:ODA. The transport-based loss depends strongly on the geometry of the substrate support, as is shown by modifying the substrate to change the flow pattern, which reduces this ratio to 1:1 PMDA:ODA above the mandrel. A separate model of the kinetics of monomer deposition and polymerization reactions was developed to correlate the gas concentrations above the substrate with the elemental concentrations comprising the film. This basic model was tested with rate constants based on reaction probabilities of one and equal deposition rates for two monomers in the absence of measured values and is sensitive to changes in vapor stoichiometry.
8. Outliers, Leverage Observations, and Influential Cases in Factor Analysis: Using Robust Procedures to Minimize Their Effect

Parallel to the development in regression diagnosis, this paper defines good and bad leverage observations in factor analysis. Outliers are observations that deviate from the factor model, not from the center of the data cloud. The effects of each kind of outlying observations on the normal distribution-based maximum likelihood estimator and the associated likelihood ratio statistic are studied through analysis. The distinction between outliers and leverage observations also clarifies the roles of three robust procedures based on different Mahalanobis distances. All the robust procedures are designed to minimize the effect of certain outlying observations. Only the robust procedure with a residual-based distance properly controls the effect of outliers. Empirical results illustrate the strength or weakness of each procedure and support those obtained in analysis. The relevance of the results to general structural equation models is discussed and formulas are provided.
Self-reported Reading Problems in Parents of Twins with Reading Difficulties

Parents of 323 twin pairs with reading disability (RD) reported significantly more problems learning to read (16% of mothers and 33% of fathers) than parents of 309 twin pairs without reading difficulties (6% of mothers and 9% of fathers). These rates of self-reported reading problems in parents of twins are highly similar to those previously obtained in parents of non-twin children with RD and controls, suggesting that the etiology of reading deficits in twin and non-twin children may also be highly similar. Moreover, within both the RD and control samples, twins whose parents self-reported a positive history of reading problems had lower reading performance test scores, on average, than those whose parents reported no reading problems. Therefore, results of the present twin study support those of previous studies with non-twin children in which parental self-reports have been found to provide a valid index of family history status for reading difficulties.
Electrostatic shielding in plasmas and the physical meaning of the Debye length

This paper examines the electrostatic shielding in plasmas, and resolves inconsistencies about what the Debye length really is. Two different interpretations of the Debye length are currently used: (1) The potential energy approximately equals the thermal energy, and (2) the ratio of the shielded to the unshielded potential drops to 1/e. We examine these two interpretations of the Debye length for equilibrium plasmas described by the Boltzmann distribution, and non-equilibrium plasmas (e.g. space plasmas) described by kappa distributions. We study three dimensionalities of the electrostatic potential: 1-D potential of linear symmetry for planar charge density, 2-D potential of cylindrical symmetry for linear charge density, and 3-D potential of spherical symmetry for a point charge. We resolve critical inconsistencies of the two interpretations, including: independence of the Debye length on the dimensionality; requirement for small charge perturbations that is equivalent to weakly coupled plasmas; correlations between ions and electrons; existence of temperature for non-equilibrium plasmas; and isotropic Debye shielding. We introduce a third Debye length interpretation that naturally emerges from the second statistical moment of the particle position distribution; this is analogous to the kinetic definition of temperature, which is the second statistical moment of the velocity distribution. Finally, we compare the three interpretations, identifying what information is required for theoretical/experimental plasma-physics research: Interpretation 1 applies only to kappa distributions; Interpretation 2 is not restricted to any specific form of the ion/electron distributions, but these forms have to be known; Interpretation 3 needs only the second statistical moment of the positional distribution.
The Seattle Longitudinal Study: Relationship Between Personality and Cognition

This article reviews the history, measures and principal findings of the Seattle Longitudinal Study. This study began in 1956 focusing upon age differences and age changes in cognitive abilities. Its sampling frame is a large HMO in the Pacific Northwest. The study has been expanded to investigate various influences on cognitive aging including, cognitive styles, personality traits, life styles, and family environment. Current interest is also in the early detection of risk for dementia. In addition, this article reports original analyses of the relation of personality dimensions to cognitive abilities (both concurrent and longitudinal). While personality remains relatively stable over the adult life span, modest proportions of variance are shared between various personality traits and the cognitive abilities.
Nucleon-antinucleon interaction from the Skyrme model

We calculate the nucleon-antinucleon static potential in the Skyrme model using the product ansatz and including some finite ${\mathit{N}}_{\mathit{C}}$ (number of colors) corrections. The mid- and long-range part of the spin-spin and tensor force are mostly correctly given in both isospin channels while the central interaction has insufficient midrange attraction. This is a well-known problem of the product ansatz that should be repaired with better Skyrme dynamics. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Reliability of Regional Cerebral Blood Flow Activation to Cognitive Tasks in Elderly Normal Subjects

The assessment of cerebral blood flow (CBF) using noninvasive 133Xe techniques provides an indirect measurement of cortical metabolic activity. The utility of this method in longitudinal clinical studies depends on the stability and reproducibility of resting and activated flow measures. We evaluated CBF in a sample of 16 elderly normal subjects (aged 54-73 years) at rest and during task performance in two sessions separated by an average of 9 weeks. Resting global CBF was lower in the second session, a finding consistent with the known effects of habituation previously reported. Regionally specific activated CBF did not change with repeated measurements. The results provide evidence that the 133Xe technique is reliable and of potential utility in evaluating the effect of the natural course of brain disease, as well as the effects of therapeutic interventions on brain activity.
Water-Soluble Ag Nanoclusters Exhibit Strong Two-Photon-Induced Fluorescence

Water-soluble ssDNA-encapsulated Ag clusters exhibit large two-photon cross sections reaching 50 000 GM, with high quantum yields in the red and near-IR. Three distinct, spectrally pure, several atom clusters emitting at 660, 680, or 710 nm have been created with two-photon cross sections rivaling those of much larger water-soluble semiconductor quantum dots. Their stability, biocompatibility, and small size offer the promise of nontoxic, sensitive high-resolution biological imaging.
Terahertz-frequency electronic transport in graphene

We calculate the room-temperature complex conductivity $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\omega})$ of suspended and supported graphene at terahertz frequencies $(100\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{GHz}--10\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{THz})$ by employing a self-consistent coupled simulation of carrier transport and electrodynamics. We consider a wide range of electron $(n={10}^{12}--{10}^{13}\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}2})$ and impurity $({N}_{\mathrm{i}}=8\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{10}--2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{12}\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}2})$ densities. For graphene supported on ${\mathrm{SiO}}_{2}$, there is excellent agreement between the calculation with clustered impurities and the experimentally measured $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\omega})$. The choice of substrate $({\mathrm{SiO}}_{2}$ or $h$-BN) is important at frequencies below 4 THz. We show that carrier scattering with substrate phonons governs transport in supported graphene for ${N}_{\mathrm{i}}/nl0.1$. Electron-impurity interactions dominate for ${N}_{\mathrm{i}}/ng0.1$, and transport enters the electron-hole puddle regime for ${N}_{\mathrm{i}}/ng0.5$. The simple Drude model, with an effective scattering rate $\ensuremath{\Gamma}$ and Drude weight $D$ as parameters, fits the calculated $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\omega})$ for supported graphene very well, owing to electron-impurity scattering. $\ensuremath{\Gamma}$ decreases with increasing $n$ faster than ${n}^{\ensuremath{-}1/2}$ and is insensitive to electron-electron interaction. Both electron-electron and electron-impurity interactions reduce the Drude weight $D$, and its dependence on $n$ is sublinear.