cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vitamin K Deficiency From Long-Term Warfarin Anticoagulation Does Not Alter Skeletal Status in Male Rhesus Monkeys†‡

Vitamin K (K) inadequacy may cause bone loss. Thus, K deficiency induced by anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin) may be an osteoporosis risk factor. The skeletal impact of long-term warfarin anticoagulation was evaluated in male monkeys. No effect on BMD or bone markers of skeletal turnover was observed. This study suggests that warfarin-induced K deficiency does not have skeletal effects. Introduction: The skeletal role of vitamin K (K) remains unclear. It is reasonable that a potential role of vitamin K in bone health could be elucidated by study of patients receiving oral anticoagulants that act to produce vitamin K deficiency. However, some, but not all, reports find K deficiency induced by warfarin (W) anticoagulation to be associated with low bone mass. Additionally, epidemiologic studies have found W use to be associated with either increased or no change in fracture risk. Such divergent results may imply that human studies are compromised by the physical illnesses for which W was prescribed. Materials and Methods: To remove this potential confounder, we prospectively assessed skeletal status during long-term W anticoagulation of healthy nonhuman primates. Twenty adult (age, 7.4-17.9 yr, mean, 11.7 yr) male rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were randomized to daily W treatment or control groups. Bone mass of the total body, lumbar spine, and distal and central radius was determined by DXA at baseline and after 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, and 30 mo of W treatment. Serum chemistries, urinary calcium excretion, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, and total and percent unbound osteocalcin were measured at the same time-points. Prothrombin time and international normalized ratio (INR) were monitored monthly. Serum 25- hydroxyvitamin D was measured at the time of study conclusion. Results: W treatment produced skeletal K deficiency documented by elevation of circulating undercarboxyl- ated osteocalcin (8.3% W versus 0.4% control, p < 0.0001) but did not alter serum markers of skeletal turnover, urinary calcium excretion, or BMD. Conclusions: In male rhesus monkeys, long-term W anticoagulation does not alter serum markers of bone turnover or BMD. Long-term W therapy does not have adverse skeletal consequences in primates with high intakes of calcium and vitamin D. J Bone Miner Res 2007;22:695-700. Published online on February 12, 2007; doi: 10.1359/JBMR.070208
How to Make Sense of the Claim “True Knowledge is What Constitutes Action”: A New Interpretation of Wang Yangming’s Doctrine of Unity of Knowledge and Action

No one denies the importance of applying knowledge to actions. But claiming identity (unity) of knowledge and action is quite another thing. There seem to be two problems with the claim: (1) the identity claim implies that the sole cause for one to fail to act on what one judges to be right is ignorance, but it is obviously false that the sole cause of failure in moral actions is ignorance. (2) The identity statement implies non-separation of knowledge and action. But knowledge does not necessarily lead to action. However, the identity of knowledge and action is what a famous Ming Confucian scholar, Wang Yang-ming, proposed and the concept became the central doctrine of his teaching. Though there are several major interpretations of Wang’s doctrine in contemporary literature, it is not clear to me how they deal with the above mentioned difficulties. In this article, I will discuss these interpretations of the doctrine and propose a new interpretation. My purpose is to give an interpretation of Wang’s doctrine that has the capacity of dealing with these challenges to the doctrine and also captures the essence of his teaching.
A Field Study of Host Tree Associations of an Exotic Species, the Asiatic Oak Weevil [Cyrtepistomus castaneus (Roelofs 1873), Coleoptera: Curculionidae]

Abstract The Asiatic oak weevil [Cyrtepistomus castaneus (Roelofs 1873), Coleoptera: Curculionidae] was detected in New Jersey in 1933 and is now abundant throughout deciduous forests in the Eastern and Midwestern United States. Laboratory feeding trials had suggested a broad range of acceptable hosts for C. castaneus, but field studies were needed to corroborate these findings. We quantified host tree associations of C. castaneus by comparing its abundance among crowns of 66 trees (representing six species) in forests of Ohio and Indiana. The 1827 individuals collected during the study were not equally distributed across tree species; mean proportional abundance was significantly higher on Quercus alba (white oak), Q. rubra (northern red oak) and Acer rubrum (red maple). The high abundance of C. castaneus on Quercus spp. is consistent with laboratory studies and natural history information. However, its presence on A. rubrum and Liriodendron tulipifera (tulip poplar) – a Magnoliaceae – had not been docum...
Influence of Three Resistance Sources in Winter Wheat Derived from TAM 107 on Yield Response to Russian Wheat Aphid

Abstract A study to determine yield response to the Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia (Mordvilko), was conducted during the 1997–1998 and 1998–1999 growing seasons at three eastern Colorado locations, Akron, Fort Collins, and Lamar, with three wheat lines containing either Russian wheat aphid-resistant Dn4 gene, Dn6 gene, or resistance derived from PI 222668, and TAM 107 as the susceptible control. Russian wheat aphids per tiller were greater on TAM 107 than the resistant wheat lines at the 10× infestation level at Fort Collins and Akron in 1999. Yield, seed weight, and number of seeds per spike for each wheat line were somewhat affected by Russian wheat aphid per tiller mainly at Fort Collins. The infested resistant wheat lines harbored fewer Russian wheat aphids and yielded more than the infested susceptible wheat lines. Wheat lines containing the Dn4, Dn6, and PI 222668 genes contain different levels of antibiosis or antixenosis and tolerance. Although differences existed among sites and resistance,...
Data Sharing to Support the Cancer Journey in the Digital Era

The journey from initial detection of malignancy to treatment plan for a new oncology patient is perilous at best. Clinicians are required to collate data from several disparate sources before treatment can be established; the time required is stressfulforthepatient,andthehandlingof patient data multiple times can lead to
Understanding Adolescent Gifted Girls with ADHD: Motivated and Achieving.

The manifestation of ADHD in girls who are gifted can place strains on motivation and academic performance as they enter their middle school years. The purpose of this collective case study research was to examine the lived experiences of five girls who are gifted with ADHD in order to gain an understanding of the array of coping mechanisms used by this population as they navigate the academic pressures of their secondary school years. The girls in this study participated in a variety of educational settings including public, private, and charter schools. Using the experience sampling method, findings were drawn from the analysis of multiple data sources including experience sampling, document analysis, surveys, and interviews, in areas related to motivation as a result of their feelings toward school, relationships with teachers and family, and strategies used to center and refocus during times of stress.
The mechanics of pressed-pellet separators in molten salt batteries

We present a phenomenological constitutive model that describes the macroscopic behavior of pressed-pellet materials used in molten salt batteries. Such materials include separators, cathodes, and anodes. The purpose of this model is to describe the inelastic deformation associated with the melting of a key constituent, the electrolyte. At room temperature, all constituents of these materials are solid and do not transport cations so that the battery is inert. As the battery is heated, the electrolyte, a constituent typically present in the separator and cathode, melts and conducts charge by flowing through the solid skeletons of the anode, cathode, and separator. The electrochemical circuit is closed in this hot state of the battery. The focus of this report is on the thermal-mechanical behavior of the separator, which typically exhibits the most deformation of the three pellets during the process of activating a molten salt battery. Separator materials are composed of a compressed mixture of a powdered electrolyte, an inert binder phase, and void space. When the electrolyte melts, macroscopically one observes both a change in volume and shape of the separator that depends on the applied boundary conditions during the melt transition. Although porous flow plays a critical role in themore » battery mechanics and electrochemistry, the focus of this report is on separator behavior under flow-free conditions in which the total mass of electrolyte is static within the pellet. Specific poromechanics effects such as capillary pressure, pressure-saturation, and electrolyte transport between layers are not considered. Instead, a phenomenological model is presented to describe all such behaviors including the melting transition of the electrolyte, loss of void space, and isochoric plasticity associated with the binder phase rearrangement. The model is appropriate for use finite element analysis under finite deformation and finite temperature change conditions. The model reasonably describes the stress dependent volume and shape change associated with dead load compression and spring-type boundary conditions; the latter is relevant in molten salt batteries. Future work will transition the model towards describing the solid skeleton of the separator in the traditional poromechanics context.« less
Determination of the efficiency of methanol oxidation in a direct methanol fuel cell

Abstract The energy efficiency of a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is dependent on the cell potential, crossover of methanol and oxygen, and the average number of electrons released per methanol molecule (nav) at the anode. The nav value is determined by the product distribution (CO2:formic acid:formaldehyde), and in the absence of methanol loss due to crossover can be determined from the dependence of the cell current on the flow rate of the methanol solution. The effects of crossover have been assessed here by analysis of methanol in the cell exhaust, and a method to correct for crossover is presented. Under mass transport limited conditions, the effect of crossover is shown to be negligible, and accurate nav values are obtained from the flow rate dependence of the current alone. However, analysis of methanol in the cell exhaust is essential for determining nav under mixed kinetic and mass transport control. The exhaust concentration, combined with the flow rate dependence of the current, also provides a measure of efficiency losses due to crossover.
A novel aneurysm clip design for atheromatous, thrombotic, or previously coiled lesions: preliminary experience with the "compression clip" in 6 cases.

BACKGROUND: Large and giant lesions often have thicker, atheromatous walls as well as intra-aneurysmal thrombus that combine to prevent traditional clips from closing properly in some cases. OBJECTIVE: To report the development and use of a novel clip design specifically tailored to treat atheromatous, thrombotic, or previously coiled aneurysms. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 6 patients with complex aneurysms not amenable to simple neck clipping and not considered appropriate for endovascular therapy who were treated using a novel "compression" clip design. We describe the development and use of a novel aneurysm clip design with blades that are not opposed at rest to allow direct clipping of atheromatous, thrombotic, and previously coiled aneurysms. RESULTS: Four patients had recurrent, previously coiled aneurysms; one of these also had a large thrombotic component. Two patients had complex lesions with heavy atheroma involving a portion of their aneurysms. There were no complications related to the use of the clip, and all patients did well without neurological complications. In every case, the clip allowed straightforward obliteration of the aneurysm without the need for temporary vascular occlusion, aneurysmorrhaphy, or removal of an intra-aneurysmal coil mass. All patients underwent intraoperative angiography to confirm obliteration of the aneurysm with preservation of the normal vasculature. CONCLUSION: Atheromatous, thrombotic, and previously coiled aneurysms may not be treatable with simple neck clipping and may not be curable with endovascular therapy. For such cases, we designed a novel "compression" clip that has been used safely and successfully in our experience with good short-term follow-up.
Preparation and processing of monodisperse colloidal silica-cadmium sulfide nanocomposites

A novel synthetic methodology has been developed for preparing monodisperse colloidal silica-cadmium sulfide nanocomposite spheres in the 50 - 300 nm size regime. This methodology uses water-in-oil microemulsions as the reaction medium. Monosize silica colloids are first produced by the controlled hydrolysis of tetraethyl orthosilicate in the micro water droplets of the microemulsion. Cadmium sulfide quantum dots are incorporated into the silica colloids during synthesis by the introductions of Cd2+ and S2- microemulsions. Various morphologies of the nanocomposite are fabricated by controlling the heterogeneous coagulation of CdS and SiO2. Unique high surface area silica particles can be prepared when nitric acid etches out the CdS and leaves behind topologically defined voids. The CdS nanocomposites are new materials useful for non-linear optics, while the high surface area silica particles should have novel applications in areas such as catalysis.
Cytochemical Reactions in Resting and Activated T-lymphocytes

Peripheral blood Tlymphocytes from normal persons were studied before and after incubation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) for the presence of beta-glucuronidase, alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase, alpha-naphthyl butyrate esterase, acid phosphatase, and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)-positive material. The number of T-lymphocytes containing beta-glucuronidase, alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase, and alpha-naphthyl butyrate esterase was reduced ( P < 0.005) after incubation with PHA. No significant change in the number of T-lymphocytes positive for acid phosphatase was observed. PAS-positive material was markedly increased ( P < 0.005) in activated T-lymphocytes. The data suggest that the cytochemical profile of resting T cells differs markedly from that of activated T-lymphocytes.
Source Apportionment of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in the Sediments of the Delaware River

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are toxic, persistent, bioaccumulative compounds that threaten water quality in many areas, including the Delaware River. In 2003, total maximum daily loads for PCBs were promulgated for the tidal portion of the river, requiring the collection of a massive and unprecedented data set on PCBs in an urban estuary using state of the art, high-resolution high mass spectrometry (EPA method 1668 revision A). In previous publications, this data set has been examined using positive matrix factorization (PMF) to apportion PCB sources in the air, water, and permitted discharges to the river. Here, the same technique is used to apportion PCB sources in the sediment. This holistic approach allows the comparison of source types and magnitudes to the air, water, and sediment, and allows conclusions to be drawn about the cycling of PCBs in a typical urbanized estuary. A data set containing 87 chromatographic peaks representing 132 PCB congeners in 81 samples and 6 duplicated samples was analyzed. Seven factors were resolved. Three represent relatively unweathered Aroclors. Two were related to the non-Aroclor sources of diarylide yellow pigments and titanium tetrachloride production. The two remaining factors were probably originally related to Aroclors, but they are so highly weathered as to be unrecognizable as Aroclors, and thus have probably resided in the river for a long time. Comparing the abundance of the resolved PCB factors in the air, water, discharges, and sediment demonstrates that high molecular weight formulations, such as Aroclor 1260 and PCBs 206, 208, and 209 produced during titanium tetrachloride synthesis accumulate preferentially in the sediment, in keeping with their greater hydrophobicity. In contrast, lower molecular weight formulations, including the products of PCB dechlorination occurring in sewers, do not accumulate appreciably. PCB 11 from pigment use does accumulate in sediments and also seems to be distributed throughout the estuary via the atmosphere.
Dose-Response Relationships between Glucocorticoids and Growth Inhibition in Rat Glioma Monolayer Cultures

SummaryCell proliferation is inhibited in rat glioma (strain C6) monolayer cultures treated with cortisol (>1. μM) or dexameth-asone (>0.001 μM). Transient growth-inhibitory responses occur at 3 μM cortisol and 0.01-0.03 μM dexamethasone. At higher glucocorticoid concentrations, non-transient inhibitory responses persist for 5 days. Dose-response curves show that dexamethasone is 250 to 300 times more potent than cortisol in suppressing C6 growth.
Pharmacogenomics in the Preclinical Development of Vaccines

The development of vaccines, conventional protein based as well as nucleic acid based vaccines, and their delivery systems has been largely empirical and ineffective. This is partly due to a lack of methodology, since traditionally only a few markers are studied. By introducing gene expression analysis and bioinformatics into the design of vaccines and their delivery systems, vaccine development can be improved and accelerated considerably. Each vaccine antigen and delivery system combination is characterized by a unique genomic profile, a "fingerprint" that will give information of not only immunological and toxicological responses but also other related cellular responses e.g. cell cycle, apoptosis and carcinogenic effects. The resulting unique genomic fingerprint facilitates the establishment of molecular structure--pharmacological activity relationships and therefore leads to optimization of vaccine development.
Hypocholesterolemic effect of methyltestosterone in rats

In rats fed a stock diet, the oral administration of 17α-methyltestosterone (0.05% of the diet) produced a 46% average reduction of serum total cholesterol concentration. The ratio between the cholesterol content of the α- and β-lipoprotein fractions remained unchanged. In rats made mildly hypercholesterolemic by the addition of 1% cholesterol to the stock diet, the oral administration of 0.1% methyltestosterone prevented the rise in serum cholesterol concentration. This effect resulted primarily from a reduction of the cholesterol content of the α-lipoprotein fraction. The production of a more intense hypercholesterolemia by the administration of 1% cholesterol plus 0.5% cholic acid abolished the hypocholesterolemic action of 0.1% methyltestosterone. Analyses of the cholesterol content of the liver and intestinal wall indicated, in animals on both low and high cholesterol diets, that methyltestosterone did not exert its effect by producing a redistribution of the cholesterol between the serum and the tissues examined.
Seasonal Timing of Infant Bronchiolitis, Apnea and Sudden Unexplained Infant Death

Rates of Sudden Unexplained Infant Death (SUID), bronchiolitis, and central apnea increase in winter in temperate climates. Though associations between these three conditions are suggested, more work is required to establish if there is a causal pathway linking bronchiolitis to SUID through inducing central apnea. Utilizing a large population-based cohort of infants studied over a 20-year period (n = 834,595, from birth years 1989–2009)), we analyzed ecological associations between timing of SUID cases, bronchiolitis, and apnea healthcare visits. Data were analyzed between 2013 and 2015. We used a Cox Proportional Hazards model to analyze possible interactions between maternal smoking and maternal asthma with infant bronchiolitis on time to SUID. SUID and bronchiolitis both occurred more frequently in winter. An increase in bronchiolitis clinical visits occurred within a few days prior to apnea visits. We found a temporal relationship between infant bronchiolitis and apnea. In contrast, no peak in SUID cases was seen during peaks of bronchiolitis. Among those without any bronchiolitis visits, maternal smoking was associated with an increased risk of SUID: Hazard Ratio (HR) of 2.38 (95% CI: 2.11, 2.67, p-value <0.001). Maternal asthma was associated with an increased risk of SUID among infants with at least one bronchiolitis visit: HR of 2.40 (95% CI: 1.04, 5.54, p-value = 0.04). Consistent trends between bronchiolitis, apnea, and SUID were not established due to small numbers of SUID cases. However, interaction analysis revealed potential differential associations of bronchiolitis and SUID by maternal smoking, maternal asthma status.
Dynamic Learning Augmented Production Planning Models

A dynamic constraint elasticity of substitution (CES) framework is presented for modeling cost in made-to-order production. The criterion is cost minimization subject to production function constraints. The time paths of the state variables are consistent with those that are generated by actual production programs. In addition to providing an alternative explanation of the learning curve, this model also demonstrates that knowledge brought into the production process affects the rate of learning. This explains why learning is a more important cost determinant for made-to-order as opposed to assembly-line programs.
What Are the “True” Statistics of the Environment?

A widespread assumption in the contemporary discussion of probabilistic models of cognition, often attributed to the Bayesian program, is that inference is optimal when the observer's priors match the true priors in the world-the actual "statistics of the environment." But in fact the idea of a "true" prior plays no role in traditional Bayesian philosophy, which regards probability as a quantification of belief, not an objective characteristic of the world. In this paper I discuss the significance of the traditional Bayesian epistemic view of probability and its mismatch with the more objectivist assumptions about probability that are widely held in contemporary cognitive science. I then introduce a novel mathematical framework, the observer lattice, that aims to clarify this issue while avoiding philosophically tendentious assumptions. The mathematical argument shows that even if we assume that "ground truth" probabilities actually do exist, there is no objective way to tell what they are. Different observers, conditioning on different information, will inevitably have different probability estimates, and there is no general procedure to determine which one is right. The argument sheds light on the use of probabilistic models in cognitive science, and in particular on what exactly it means for the mind to be "tuned" to its environment.
Generalizability and Dependability of a Multi-Item Direct Behavior Rating Scale in a Kindergarten Classroom Setting.

ABSTRACTAccurate and rapid identification of students displaying behavioral problems requires instrumentation that is user friendly and reliable. The purpose of the study was to evaluate a multi-item direct behavior rating scale called the Direct Behavior Rating-Multiple Item Scale (DBR–MIS) for disruptive behavior to determine the number of administrations necessary to achieve a dependable result. In addition, a study was conducted to determine to what degree the DBR-MIS correlated with a brief rating scale of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder behaviors. Participants were Kindergarten students (n = 18) who were observed and rated over nine 5-min observation periods by 2 raters with minimal training. Results indicated that the DBR-MIS provided reliable estimates of disruptive behavior by the seventh or eighth rating occasion. Correlations between the DBR-MIS and the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder rating scale were weak to moderate. Overall, the DBR-MIS for disruptive behavior efficiently ...
Ethics of research for patients in pain.

Purpose of review This review describes advances in rising and continuing ethical issues in research in patients in pain. Although some of the issues focus directly on pain research, such as research in neonatal pain management, others focus on widespread ethical issues that are relevant to pain research, such as scientific misconduct, deception, placebo use and genomics. Recent findings Scientific misconduct is more widespread than realized and requires greater awareness of the markers of misconduct like irreproducibility. More education about what qualifies as misconduct, such as consent violations, plagiarism and inappropriate patient recruitment along with data falsification needs to be implemented. Wayward researchers may attend a rehabilitation conference to improve their practices. Studies in neonatal pain management do not require comparing an intervention with the inadequate analgesia of a placebo; comparing with a standard approach is sufficient. Deception of research patients may be acceptable under narrow circumstances. The legitimacy of using broad informed consent for biobanking and genomic studies are being challenged as changes to the Common Rule are being considered. Summary Increasing complexity and the desire to further medical knowledge complicates research methods and informed consent. The ethical issues surrounding these and offshoot areas will continue to develop.
Does a Public Service Ethic motivate Ethical Behavior

This article aims to advance our understanding of and confidence in the relationship between employee public service motivation (PSM) and ethical behavior by testing the degree to which PSM predict...
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms and Problematic Overeating Behaviors in Young Men and Women

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a risk factor for obesity, but the range of behaviors that contribute to this association are not known. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between self-reported PTSD symptoms in 2007, with and without comorbid depression symptoms, and three problematic overeating behaviors in 2010, and to estimate the associations of PTSD-related overeating behaviors with obesity. Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses included 7438 male (n = 2478) and female (n = 4960) participants from the Growing Up Today Study (mean age 22–29 years in 2010). Three eating behavior outcomes were assessed: binge eating (eating a large amount of food in a short period of time with loss of control), top quartile of coping-motivated eating (from the Motivations to Eat scale), and top quartile of disinhibited eating (from the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire). PTSD symptoms were associated with two- to threefold increases in binge eating and top-quartile coping-motivated eating; having ≥4 PTSD symptoms, relative to no PTSD symptoms, was associated with covariate-adjusted RRs of 2.7 (95% CI 2.1, 3.4) for binge eating, 2.1 (95% CI 1.9, 2.4) for the top quartile of coping-motivated eating, and 1.5 (95% CI 1.3, 1.7) for the top quartile of disinhibited eating. There was a trend toward PTSD symptoms in 2007 predicting new onset binge eating in 2010. Having depression symptoms comorbid with PTSD symptoms further increased risk of binge eating and coping-motivated eating. All eating behaviors were associated with obesity. Clinicians treating patients with PTSD should know of potential comorbid problematic eating behaviors that may contribute to obesity.
Inhibition of MMP-2 and MMP-9 decreases cellular migration, and angiogenesis in in vitro models of retinoblastoma

Retinoblastoma (Rb) is the most common primary intraocular tumor in children. Local treatment of the intraocular disease is usually effective if diagnosed early; however advanced Rb can metastasize through routes that involve invasion of the choroid, sclera and optic nerve or more broadly via the ocular vasculature. Metastatic Rb patients have very high mortality rates. While current therapy for Rb is directed toward blocking tumor cell division and tumor growth, there are no specific treatments targeted to block Rb metastasis. Two such targets are matrix metalloproteinases-2 and -9 (MMP-2, −9), which degrade extracellular matrix as a prerequisite for cellular invasion and have been shown to be involved in other types of cancer metastasis. Cancer Clinical Trials with an anti-MMP-9 therapeutic antibody were recently initiated, prompting us to investigate the role of MMP-2, −9 in Rb metastasis. We compare MMP-2, −9 activity in two well-studied Rb cell lines: Y79, which exhibits high metastatic potential and Weri-1, which has low metastatic potential. The effects of inhibitors of MMP-2 (ARP100) and MMP-9 (AG-L-66085) on migration, angiogenesis, and production of immunomodulatory cytokines were determined in both cell lines using qPCR, and ELISA. Cellular migration and potential for invasion were evaluated by the classic wound-healing assay and a Boyden Chamber assay. Our results showed that both inhibitors had differential effects on the two cell lines, significantly reducing migration in the metastatic Y79 cell line and greatly affecting the viability of Weri-1 cells. The MMP-9 inhibitor (MMP9I) AG-L-66085, diminished the Y79 angiogenic response. In Weri-1 cells, VEGF was significantly reduced and cell viability was decreased by both MMP-2 and MMP-9 inhibitors. Furthermore, inhibition of MMP-2 significantly reduced secretion of TGF-β1 in both Rb models. Collectively, our data indicates MMP-2 and MMP-9 drive metastatic pathways, including migration, viability and secretion of angiogenic factors in Rb cells. These two subtypes of matrix metalloproteinases represent new potential candidates for targeted anti-metastatic therapy for Rb.
Management of Mastocytosis in Pregnancy: A Review.

In this article, the authors present a case of pregnancy complicated by the need for management of indolent systemic mastocytosis. The diagnosis of mastocytosis is reviewed, as well as subtypes of mastocytosis and management options particularly in pregnancy. A table of pregnancy/lactaction categories for common medications used in mastocytosis is presented.
Power Laws, Transients, Attractors, and Entropy: Possible Implications for Cardiovascular Dynamics

Considerable work has been done to demonstrate that the dynamics of the cardiovascular system is nonlinear. What has not been well recognized is that the system is essentially governed by transients. Conversely, then, if a system component’s dynamics become dominated by basins of attraction, pathology may ensue. It is heuristically demonstrated that a critical feature of possible pathology is the relation of the system entropy to component entropy: if a component’s (sub) basin of attraction is accompanied by a decrease in entropy, it may become informationally isolated. A method, originally suggested by Eckmann, et al., is proposed which may be able to detect such changes without the need to reconstruct a global attractor.
Conformality lost in Efimov physics

A general mechanism for the loss of conformal invariance is the merger and disappearance of an infrared fixed point and an ultraviolet fixed point of a renormalization group flow. We show explicitly how this mechanism works in the case of identical bosons at unitarity as the spatial dimension $d$ is varied. For $d$ between the critical dimensions ${d}_{1}=2.30$ and ${d}_{2}=3.76$, there is loss of conformality as evidenced by the Efimov effect in the three-body sector. The $\ensuremath{\beta}$ function for an appropriate three-body coupling is a quadratic polynomial in that coupling. For $dl{d}_{1}$ and for $dg{d}_{2}$, the $\ensuremath{\beta}$ function has two real roots that correspond to infrared and ultraviolet fixed points. As $d$ approaches ${d}_{1}$ from below and as $d$ approaches ${d}_{2}$ from above, the fixed points merge and disappear into the complex plane. For ${d}_{1}ldl{d}_{2}$, the $\ensuremath{\beta}$ function has complex roots and the renormalization group flow for the three-body coupling is a limit cycle.
Form, Function, and Functioning

Polyhedra are objects worthy of study and admiration in their own right. They have been inspirations for mathematicians, artists, and architects, and have also served as models for abstract notions about the biological and physical world. The sophistication of such modeling has evolved over the centuries, influencing both physical and mathematical theories. In studying polyhedra we see over and over again ways in which theory is inspired by nature, and ways in which science is inspired by theory.
Congenital colonic varices in the adult : report of a case

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to report a rare cause of colonic bleeding. METHODS: Case report. CONCLUSION: Surgical resection of congenital colonic varices is associated with a low incidence of morbidity and mortality, and a favorable long-term prognosis can be expected when there is no evidence of hepatocellular disease (portal hypertension).
Incidental Finding of Adventitial Cystic Disease of the Common Femoral Vein: Case Report and Review of the Literature:

Adventitial cystic disease of the venous system is an uncommon pathology. The diagnostic workup, therapeutic options, and long-term outcomes are not well delineated. We present a case of a 37-year-...
Dynamic Mechanical Properties of Physarum Cytoplasm

Many theoretical models of cell deformation include estimates of cytoplasmic elasticity and viscosity. These mechanical properties are included as parameters because they describe how stiffness, or resistance to deformation, depends on the magnitude and the rate of the deformation. While measurements of elasticity and viscosity have been reported, (eg. Yoshimoto and Kamiya 1978; Achenbach and Wohlfarth- Bottermann 1980; Matsumura et al., 1980), they have commonly been made using techniques that do not measure the time dependence of those properties. Any time dependent variation in mechanical properties is likely to be important for an actively deforming cell which experiences a range of loading conditions. Calcium is also believed to affect cytoplasmic stiffness via its effect on both actin-myosin interaction and calcium-activated actin-associated proteins, (Yoshimoto et al. 1981; Oster and Odell 1984); however, the exact nature of that effect is unknown.
Timelines as summaries of popular scheduled events

Known events that are scheduled in advance, such as popular sports games, usually get a lot of attention from the public. Communications media like TV, radio, and newspapers will report the salient aspects of such events live or post-hoc for general consumption. However, certain actions, facts, and opinions would likely be omitted from those objective summaries. Our approach is to construct a particular game's timeline in such a way that it can be used as a quick summary of the main events that happened along with popular subjective and opinionated items that the public inject. Peaks in the volume of posts discussing the event reflect both objectively recognizable events in the game - in the sports example, a change in score - and subjective events such as a referee making a call fans disagree with. In this work, we introduce a novel timeline design that captures a more complete story of the event by placing the volume of Twitter posts alongside keywords that are driving the additional traffic. We demonstrate our approach using events of major international social impact from the World Cup 2010 and evaluate against professional liveblog coverage of the same events.
Community Health Workers Are Effective but How to Scale-Up?

The author discusses the effectiveness and cost efficiency of community health workers (CHW).
Vape shop location and marketing in the context of the Food and Drug Administration regulation.

Abstract Objectives A range of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDSs; e.g. e-cigarettes, e-hookahs) have emerged in the US market, with rapid increases in use. While ENDSs may facilitate harm reduction in smokers, they may represent risks to health and addiction in the nicotine naive. Vape shops account for a substantial proportion of ENDS sales/distribution. Study design Brief summary of the relevant literature. Methods This communication provides a brief summary of relevant literature derived from traditional tobacco retail and point-of-sale marketing and synthesizes issues regarding how the Food and Drug Administration regulation might impact the ENDS market, specifically the vape shop industry, a nuanced tobacco retail environment. Results This literature indicates that tobacco retailers are disproportionately located near vulnerable populations (e.g. the socio-economically disadvantaged, racial/ethnic minorities, and young adults) and may use stronger promotional activities to target these populations. Research extending this literature to ENDSs and ENDS retailers, such as vape shops, is limited. Regulatory efforts, spatial access, and exposure to marketing and advertising are macrolevel factors that have a significant impact on the individual-level tobacco use. Conclusions Future research should examine multilevel factors (e.g. policies, community context, and marketing) and extend this literature to the ENDS market, particularly vape shops, which is especially relevant during the rapidly changing regulatory environment.
Critical theory, authoritarianism, and the politics of lipstick from the Weimar Republic to the contemporary Middle East:

In 2012–13, we signed up for Facebook in seven Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries and used Facebook advertisements to encourage young people to participate in our survey. Nearly 18,000 i...
Information Theory Approach to Crystallographic Symmetry Classifications of Noisy 2D Periodic Images

An information theory inspired approach, i.e. utilization of Geometric Akaike Information Criteria (G-AICs), individual Akaike weights, and products of Akaike weights, allows for objective crystallographic symmetry classification of images that are more or less periodic in two dimensions (2D). The combined usage of G-AICs for Bravais lattice types and plane symmetry groups should enable successful classifications even in the presence of severe pseudo-symmetry challenges.
Spinal Cord Ependymomas

Spinal cord ependymomas are a rare type of tumor that is most often low-grade. In this chapter, an overview of ependymomas of the spine is provided. The prevalence, biology, molecular genetics, presentation, diagnosis, and treatment are discussed.
Error message: Creation of a revised codebook for analysis of newspaper corrections:

The codebook for analyzing newspaper corrections has remained nearly unchanged since 1936. This project sought to create and validate a new codebook. Study 1 analyzed a previous application of the ...
Diagnosis and Management of the Unligated Vertical Vein in Repaired Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection

During initial repair of supracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC), the vertical vein (VV) is sometimes left patent (not ligated or divided) in the hope that this strategy may reduce the likelihood or severity of postoperative pulmonary hypertensive crises. We report a case of a 35-year-old pregnant patient with previously repaired supracardiac TAPVC who presented with atrial arrhythmia and right heart dilation. A cardiac magnetic resonance imaging study confirmed the diagnosis of patency of the vertical vein and right heart dilation. The VV was occluded with a catheter-delivered vascular occlusion device through a percutaneous approach, resulting in resolution of right heart dilation and arrhythmia. This case highlights the role of cross-sectional imaging as an adjunct to echocardiography in adults with repaired congenital heart disease.
Competing concepts in electronic control of face selection

The addition of reagents to trigonal carbon to give tetrahedral centers and its reverse involve the stereogenetic aspect known as face selection, which has ramifications throughout organic chemistry. Some of the root factors of face selection (e.g., steric and conformational) have long been understood in principle, but the electronic contribution of substituents and skeletal changes is controversial. The principal models for the electronic basis of face selection are those of Felkin, Anh and Cieplak. It is argued that none of the three are either right or wrong, but that the contribution each can make, varies from case to case. Each of them may become dominant depending on the reaction at issue.
Consumer Inertia and Market Power

We study the pricing decision of firms in the presence of consumer inertia. Inertia, which can arise from habit formation, brand loyalty, and switching costs, generates dynamic pricing incentives. These incentives mediate the impact of competition on market power. For example, dynamic incentives can limit the equilibrium price effects of a horizontal merger. We develop an empirical model to estimate consumer inertia and dynamic pricing incentives using market-level data. We apply the model to a hypothetical merger of retail gasoline companies, and we find that a static model predicts greater price increases than those obtained while accounting for dynamics.
Self-reinforcing nanoscalar polycaprolactone-polyethylene terephthalate electrospun fiber blends

Abstract Blends of polycaprolactone (PCL) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) - both widely used biocompatible polymers – could have applications in long-term drug delivery. To avoid PCL degradation characteristic of hot extrusion of this blend, we utilize phase separation of PET during electrospinning of PCL-PET blends followed by heating to 120 °C during which the PCL component eliminates porosity. The resulting crystallized PET nanofiber follows the spatial arrangement of the initially deposited electrospun PCL-PET fibers. This increased the modulus of the PCL by 38% while elongation to break and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) remain unaffected. These sintered 25:75 PET-PCL blends maintained their mechanical properties at least three months in 37 °C PBS and >3 months in 37 °C DMSO. Differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction confirm that increased brittleness is caused by increases in PCL crystallinity. Controlled phase separation to achieve directed composite formation could utilize other polymers and optimized fiber deposition to catalyze further mechanical property improvements.
|ΔI| = 3/2 decays of the Ω- in chiral perturbation theory

Abstract We study the decays Ω − →Ξπ using heavy-baryon chiral perturbation theory to quantify the |Δ I |=1/2 rule in these decay modes. The ratio of |Δ I |=3/2 to |Δ I |=1/2 amplitudes is somewhat larger in these decays than it is in other hyperon decays. At leading order there are two operators responsible for the |Δ I |=3/2 parts of the Ω − decays which also contribute at one loop to other hyperon decays. These one-loop contributions are sufficiently large to indicate (albeit not definitely) that the measured ratio Γ(Ω − →Ξ 0 π − )/Γ(Ω − →Ξ − π 0 )≈2.7 may be too large.
Photothermal effects and functional neuroimaging using large field two-photon microscopy in mice

By paying careful attention to optical and mechanical design, a two-photon microscope (TPM) can image a large field of view (FOV) with high spatial and temporal resolution. Successfully applying such a TPM for functional neuroimaging requires careful consideration of the signal properties, physiological limitations, and image processing techniques. We present our thermal imaging results as well as functional imaging results in awake mice using a fast, large FOV TPM, and discuss how the system expands the spatial bandwidth available for studying functional connectivity.
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Breast Reconstruction Practices in the United States.

BACKGROUND/AIM: We employed a survey to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) to investigate the management of breast reconstruction across the US during the COVID-19 pandemic. PATIENTS AND METHODS: An electronic survey on breast reconstruction practice demographics, COVID-19-related restrictions on breast reconstruction, and pertinent dates of restrictions was employed. RESULTS: A total of 228 responses were obtained. Demographics were balanced for geography with most respondents located in either urban or suburban settings (91.2%). The majority proceeded with mastectomy/reconstruction as originally planned (39.0%), followed by hormonal/chemotherapy only (22.6%). The most common reconstructive option was tissue expander/implant-based reconstruction (47.7%). Most institutions implemented restrictions between March 11-20th (59%). Almost all respondents (91.8%) reported mandatory pre-operative SARS-Cov-2 testing once cases resumed. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 has forced the breast surgical team to adapt to new conditions to the detriment of women with breast cancer requiring reconstruction. Varying restrictions have limited access to breast reconstruction, carrying consequences yet to be determined.
Intra-Project Externality and Layout Variables in Residential Condominium Appraisals

This study examines the impact of intra-project externalities and layout variables on the selling prices of 897 condominium units in the cities of Irvine and Santa Ana in Orange County, California. It documents that, at a micro-level, proximity to intra-project externalities such as greenspace, swimming pools, recreational areas, traffic noise, and the like, and project layout variables representing the location of individual condominium units within multiunit structures, have significant effects on the property values of units within a condominium project. The results indicate that, when cost is not prohibitive, both appraisers and underwriters should take intra-project externalities and layout variables into consideration when estimating property values or underwriting residential mortgages for condominium properties.
Computer Studies of the Baxter-Wu Model: Algorithms, Corrections to Scaling, and Regular Impurities

We present preliminary results of our recent Monte Carlo and numerical transfer matrix calculations of the Baxter-Wu model. We describe a new cluster algorithm for the model which alleviates critical slowing down. The study of the pure Baxter-Wu model is motivated by the desire to use Monte Carlo as a tool to obtain the correction to scaling exponents for a non-trivial model where these exponents are known, and we report on our preliminary results. We also report on calculations of the Baxter-Wu model with regular bond impurities, and find that depending on the locations of the impurities the finite-temperature critical behavior can vanish while the critical exponents do or do not change.