cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Are Small Reimbursement Changes Enough to Change Cancer Care? Reimbursement Variation in Prostate Cancer Treatment.

Purpose:The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently initiated small reimbursement adjustments to improve the value of care delivered under fee-for-service. To estimate the degree to which reimbursement influences physician decision making, we examined utilization of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists among urologists as Part B drug reimbursement varied in a fee-for-service environment.Methods:We analyzed treatment patterns of urologists treating 15,128 men included in SEER-linked Medicare claims who were diagnosed with localized prostate cancer between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2003. We calculated a reimbursement generosity index to measure differences in GnRH agonist reimbursement among regional Medicare carriers and over time. We used multilevel analysis to control for patient and provider characteristics.Results:Among urologists treating early-stage and lower grade prostate cancer, variation in reimbursement was not associated with overuse of GnRH agonists from 2000 to 2...
Forearm circulation in man at high altitude.

1. Several phenomena observed in man during acute exposure to high altitude could be explained in part by a decrease in compliance of systemic capacitance vessels. 2. Serial measurements of forearm venous compliance were made with a water-filled plethysmograph in healthy men during a 24 h stay at 4300 m. 3. A decrease in venous compliance (increase in venous tone) occurred in all subjects and averaged 17·0 ± 6·2% (SEM). 4. In seven normal men during 1 week at 4300 m, a decrease in venous compliance again occurred in all subjects and was sustained throughout the 1 week period. There was also a rise in forearm blood flow and a fall in forearm vascular resistance. Increases in urinary excretion of noradrenaline and vanilmandelic acid suggested that these responses are mediated by the sympathetic nervous system. 5. Acute laboratory studies suggest that the response is primarily triggered by hypocapnia and potentiated by hypoxia; it cannot be duplicated by hyperventilation or by mild hypoxia in the absence of hypocapnia. 6. This decrease in systemic venous compliance may play an important role in the increased central blood volume and cardiac output which are seen acutely following ascent to high altitude.
Ecological Distribution of the Mammals of Clark Canyon, Charleston Mountains, Nevada

A total of 8,660 trap nights and 23 mist net hours were expended in a study of the distribution of small mammals in Clark Canyon, Charleston Mountains (Spring Mountain Range), during June of 1961 and 1962. The mammals are regarded as components of biotic communities which are described in detail. The numbers of species increase with an increase in environmental heterogeneity which is often correlated with a decrease in elevation. Data are presented which indicate that a later reproductive season in 1962 is correlated with the more severe climatic conditions in the winter and the delayed spring of that year.
A Myxomycete Isolated from Discolored Wood of Living Red Maple

1. Allen, M. F., T. S. Moore, Jr., and M. Christensen. 1979. Growth of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal Bouteloua gracilis in a defined medium. Mycologia 71: 666-669. 2. Anderson, W. C. 1978. Tissue culture propagation of rhododendrons. In Vitro 14: 334. (Abstract) 3. Pearson, V., and D. J. Read. 1973. The biology of mycorrhiza in the Ericaceae. I. The isolation of the endophyte and synthesis of mycorrhizas in aseptic culture. New Phytol. 72: 371-379. 4. Peterson, T. A., W. C. Mueller, and L. Englander. 1980. Anatomy and ultrastructure of a Rhododendron root-fungus association. Canad. J. Bot. 58: 2421-2433. 5. Read, D. J. 1974. Pezizella ericae sp. nov., the perfect state of a typical mycorrhizal endophyte of Ericaceae. Trans. Brit. Mycol. Soc. 63: 381-419. 6. -, and D. P. Stribley. 1974. Some mycological aspects of the biology of mycorrihiza in the Ericaceae. Pp. 105-117. In: Endomycorrhizas. Eds., F. E. Sanders, B. Mosse, and P. B. Tinker. Academic Press, London. 7. Stribley, D. P., and D. J. Read. 1974. Some nutritional aspects of the biology of ericaceous mycorrhizas. Pp. 195-207. In: Endomycorrhizas. Eds., F. E. Sanders, B. Mosse, and P. B. Tinker. Academic Press, London. 8. , -, and R. Hunt. 1975. The biology of mycorrhiza in the Ericaceae. V. The effects of mycorrhizal infection, soil type, and partial soil-sterilization (by gamma-irradiation) on growth of cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon ait.). New Phytol. 75: 119-130. 9. Vegh, I., E. Fabre, and V. Gianinazzi-Pearson. 1979. Presence en France de Pezizella de Pezizella ericae Read, champignon endomycorhizogene de Ericacees horticoles. Phytopathol Z. 96: 231-243. 10. Webster, J. 1976. Pezizella ericae is homothallic. Trans. Brit. Mycol. Soc. 66: 173.
The clinical effect of sclerotherapy in the treatment of venous malformations of the head and neck in children

Objective:To summarize the treatment experiences of sclerotherapy in venous malformations of head and neck in children.Methods:The clinical data of 72 cases of venous malformation of head and neck in children were retrospectively analyzed.Multiple sclerosis agents and fractionized sclerotherapy were combined according to the size of the lesion.Small single venous malformations were given only ethanol treatment,while large or multiple venous malformations were given combined application with lauromacrogol treatment.Results:From 72 patients who received 2~6times of treatment,42 cases were cured,in 21 cases the treatment was markedly effective,and in 9cases the treatment was effective.72 cases were followed up for 3months to 2years(mean 8months),no recurrence of venous malformation was observed.Adverse reactions:2cases had skin ulceration or necrosis,4cases had superficial skin ulceration(no scar after healing)and 3patients had temporary peripheral nerve paralysis.Conclusion:The advantages of percutaneous sclerotherapy in the treatment for venous malformation of head and neck in children are its safety and efficacy.Combining multiple sclerosis agent and fractionized sclerotherapy is helpful in reducing complications and improving the outcome.
Application of free space optics technology in electric power system

The basic structure and characteristics of free space optics system are briefly introduced in this paper.The system design scheme and test results of Shandong free space optics experimental network are further illustrated.The system factors which influence free space optics communication are also discussed,and the performance improvement measures are presented.
The Kazakh Model for the Legal Regulation of FDI

This chapter deals with the Kazakh legislation on FDI. The purpose of this examination is to consider the evolution of the post-independence legislation in order to identify the existing model of legal regulation. It will be argued that since independence, the overall aim of Kazakh legislation has been to promote the free entry model. However, much of this was a result of the momentum carried forward from the period of perestroika, and the challenge of setting up a free entry model has not been achieved. The chapter will also demonstrate that after the collapse of the USSR the evolution of post-independence legislation in Kazakhstan has gradually shifted towards the negotiation model of legal regulation — that is, the less optimal model. The 1997 Law on State Support of Direct Investmentl will be analysed as embodying the culmination of this shift to the present model. By stressing the fact that the shift occurred for other than economic reasons, this chapter will establish the framework for the discussion in subsequent chapters.
Bioelectric Signals and Calcium Waves Coordinate Skin Progenitor Cell Movement Patterns during the Polarization of Feather Buds

A crucial challenge for tissue engineering is how to guide stem cells and their progeny to assemble into the unique organ shapes and structures. Currently known organizers for organogenesis include biochemical molecules, physical forces and bioelectric signals. One manifestation of bioelectric signaling in developing embryos is a relatively steady and long-lasting direct current (DC) and associated electric field. Using a vibrating probe, we detected the endogenous DC currents at different developmental stages of chicken feather buds. Interestingly, reversion of the direction of DC currents was observed at embryonic day 9 in anterior regions of feather buds. Perturbation of the endogenous DC currents by applying pulsed electric fields in the developing feather buds led to reorientation of the feather buds. Molecular studies revealed that T-type voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) were expressed in anterior bud epithelial cells and mesenchymal cells, but rarely in posterior regions. Perfusion of high KCl solution induced cytoplasmic calcium elevations in epithelial and mesenchymal cells. The epithelial cells showed mosaic patterns of calcium fluctuations, while the mesenchymal cells had synchronized calcium fluctuations. Long-term calcium imaging demonstrated brief calcium transients in epithelial cells but systematic calcium waves in mesenchymal cells during feather polarization. Moreover, cell nucleus imaging revealed the movement of anterior bud epithelial cells toward posterior regions and the upward movement of mesenchymal cells during feather polarization. Functional perturbation of T-type VGCCs disrupted the patterns of cell movement and feather polarity, confirming the importance of bioelectric signals and calcium waves in feather polarity establishment.
Lewin’s Wilde: Aestheticism, Moralism, and Hollywood

“Lewin’s Wilde: Aestheticism, Moralism, and Hollywood,” surveys a series of adaptations of Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, some strictly faithful and some wildly free to the point of becoming pornographic, before focusing on the most financially successful and aesthetically fascinating, Albert Lewin’s 1945 version. This film was the product of the studio system at its height and of an odd anomaly within it—Albert Lewin, an academic who had long served as Irving Thalberg’s right-hand man at MGM, and thus began his career as a director late in his life and with firm scholarly convictions about the history, artistry, and purposes of film. The result is a curious blend that predictably suppresses Wilde’s scandalous homosexual themes and moralizes in typical Hollywood fashion, and yet, in its own way and in very successful filmic terms, comes very close to Wilde’s subtle purposes in balancing between fairy-tale teachings and art-for-art’s-sake amorality. Lewin even captures some of Wilde’s exquisite aesthetic tension between the temporal narrative and the spatial portrait in his film’s deliberate poising of the high art of black-and-white silent film against the vulgarities of the Technicolor talkie. In short, Lewin’s film is an endlessly surprising and determined effort to explore, in a successful and big-budget studio-era film, idiosyncratic and controversial academic theories such as those set forth by the German scholar Rudolf Arnheim.
An Examination of the Fundamental Reasons Why Frank Ramsey Failed in His Reviews of J M Keynes's a Treatise on Probability

Frank P Ramsey did not consider the possibility of representing the concept of probability by an interval valued approach in his lifetime. Ramsey considered probability to be either ordinal or numerical. There was absolutely no room for interval estimates and interval probability in his approach. It is mentioned nowhere in any of his published or unpublished work. Ramsey was not familiar with the applied work done by George Boole on interval valued probability. Ramsey believed only in the standard mathematical theory of probability. The crucial assumption for Ramsey was additivity. Of course, Keynes rejected additivity except as a special case. This is the major difference between Ramsey and Keynes. Keynes believed it obvious that there is missing relevant evidence or knowledge in many decisions made by human beings. Non addiitvity immediately leads to uncertainty. Uncertainty requires the existence of non additivity. Keynes made it explicit in Part II of the A Treatise on Probability that additivity was a special case and not the general case. Unfortunately, Ramsey could not follow Keynes’s analysis in Part II of the TP. This, for instance, was a severe problem also for both F Y Edgeworth and E B Wilson. However, Edgeworth figured out that Keynes’s “non numerical” probabilities were interval valued by means of a very careful reading of Chapter III of the TP. It is very probable that Edgeworth also had the benefit of many private discussions with Keynes between 1909 and 1920 when both men were co-editors of the Economic Journal. Unfortunately, Ramsey’s conclusion was that Keynes’s “non numerical probabilities” were ordinal probabilities. Economists have mistakenly followed Ramsey’s assessment and ignored Edgeworth’s vastly superior assessment of the interval valued nature of Keynesian probability. The major defect in the CWJMK version of the A Treatise on Probability is that the editorial foreword was written by a rabid proponent of Ramsey’s belief in additivity, Richard Braithwaite. Anyone reading this editorial foreword before he/she reads the A Treatise on Probability will be completely biased against Keynes’s technical analysis in the A Treatise on Probability. The only existing antidote to Braithwaite’s “review” is the two combined reviews of Edgeworth, who provided, overall, the best reviews ever written of the A Treatise on Probability and Bertrand Russell’s review. In fact, I had to use Edgeworth’s two reviews to buttress my case in support of my dissertation with one of my dissertation committee members.
Intergroup Contact: Using Storytelling to Increase Awareness of Lesbian and Gay Older Adults in Long-Term Care Settings

ABSTRACTDue to societally imposed stigmatization, lesbian and gay (LG) older adults fear and prolong accessing long-term care (LTC) even though they need LTC at higher rates. Interventions that decrease negative attitudes toward LG older adults among LTC staff are a first step in addressing this problem. In this study, the influence of intergroup contact (IGC) on LTC staff members’ attitudes toward LG was explored through the use of storytelling as a training mechanism. An embedded mixed-method approach was employed to collect and analyze responses of 60 LTC staff who participated in a storytelling event. Participants completed pretests, posttests, and participated in audio-recorded group discussions. The findings showed that storytelling had a significant (p =0.001) and positive effect (d =0.57) on participants attitudes toward LG. Qualitative analysis revealed 90 codes, 13 process codes, and 4 themes: making meaning of stories, seeking understanding, application to LTC setting, and debating. When guided...
A Poetic for Sociology: Toward a Logic of Discovery for the Human Sciences

psychological language that conceptualized the study of man, his second legacy. Another legacy was his questioning the use of the restrictive methods of the physical sciences and his suggestion of the need for interdisciplinary contributions. He felt psychology, in its search for truth, should draw from anthropology, history and the arts by using each field as a testing ground for the validity of psychological ideas. This could be done without destroying the identity of psychology by using psychoanalytic methods of observation and personal involvement in data collection. Throughout his life, Freud was aware of the criticism of psychoanalysis, and he wrestled to find answers. Because he could not resolve all the issues, a final aspect of his legacy is that he has left a set of challenges to be surmounted, not a definitive set of answers. The value of this book to the arts is its potential contribution to art therapy, for inevitably therapists must ask the questions Freud asked about psychoanalysis and psychology. Foremost is the issue of validity. Do art therapists, indeed, infer from a scientific mechanism called the unconscious, or impose their own unique meaning when interpreting and using one of the arts in therapy? To check the latter tendency, Freud suggests using tests of internal, converging validity-specifically observing whether the interpretations make sense and are elaborated into further associations by clients, followed by new material which 'fits' into the emerging pattern of the 'jig-saw puzzle'. But it should also be remembered by art therapists that Freud saw his work as both inference and imposition. It is through inference that art therapists can develop a scientific method and by imposition that art exercises can enlarge the scope of treatment.
Linear and nonlinear optics of switchable terahertz metasurfaces

We present experimental studies of the linear and nonlinear optical response of switchable terahertz metasurfaces, using terahertz ellipsometry and nonlinear transmission spectroscopy with intense THz pulses.
An introduction to the United States legal system : cases and comments

This casebook introduces non-U.S trained lawyers, law students, and college undergraduates to the intricacies and nuances of our legal system. The world is becoming a smaller place and as a consequence of this globalization, the need for lawyers who are international in perspective and competence is increasing. Whatever one's opinion about globalization, there is no doubt that the U.S. legal system is at the forefront of these changes. This book attempts to compress three years of U.S. legal education into one casebook. The following materials in this chapter, and throughout this book, will help non-United States law students and pre-law students gain a better understanding of the legal system and the overall legal culture at work in the United States. Particularly, within this chapter is information on the infamous Socratic Method employed, to some extent, at most law schools throughout the country. Also, within this chapter is information that draws specific contrasts between the United States legal system and others. As the reader continues through the text, he will begin to understand that in the United States legal culture, the way one arrives at the answer is just as important as answering the question. Given its intended audience, this book is an introduction to comparative legal studies, under the theory that, in establishing what the law is in each jurisdiction under study, comparative law (and for that matter, studies of foreign law, as well) should (a) be concerned to describe the normal conceptual world of the lawyer, (b) take into consideration all the sources upon which a lawyer in that legal system might base her opinion as to what the law is, and (c) take into consideration the gap between the law on the books and law in action, as well as (d) important gaps in available knowledge about either the law on the books or the law in action.
Fabrication and Testing of Smart Refractory for Energy System Monitoring in Harsh-Environments

To achieve better process control and efficiency for high-temperature energy systems, it is essential to monitor the conditions (temperature, pressure) and structural health (mechanical integrity) of refractory materials used in the reactors, such as within coal slagging gasifiers. Therefore, there is a need for advanced sensors capable of operating under harsh environments reliably for extended time without degrading at high temperatures. The objective of this work was to investigate embedded temperature and spallation sensors within refractory ceramic brick to operate at temperatures >1200 °C. The key aspect of the proposed technology is that the solid-state sensors used for these applications are incorporated and interconnected within the volume of the refractory and would not result in extrinsic defects through the refractory. The current paper describes the testing of the electrical performance and chemical stability of the electroceramic composite composition at the application temperatures. The paper also discusses the performance of the embedded ceramic thermistor within the “smart bricks” at temperatures up to 1400 °C, with and without the presence of molten slag.
Crowdsourcing Versus Delphi Method

We studied the feasibility of using crowdsourcing and the Delphi method for obtaining unbiased, anonymous comments. The goal was to determine if either method might be feasible for estimating effort, time, and challenges from brief descriptions of technical projects for embedded systems. In two separate case studies, both methods estimated low for effort and time. The Delphi method converged to estimates and forecasts in both projects. The wide variance in the survey's results indicated that it was not useful for estimating effort, time, or challenges.
Molecular origins and outcomes of status and stress in primates.

Social dominance hierarchies are common in human and nonhuman animals and profoundly affect the behavior, health, and well-being of every member of a community. Research on diverse species has expanded our understanding of how ecological and social forces shape interactions influencing social status, behavior, and the underlying biology (1, 2). Across vertebrates, repeated social subordination (equivalent to low status) has been shown to result in depression-like phenotypes (3⇓⇓–6). It has also been suggested that the gene modules controlling responses to repeated social defeat are evolutionarily conserved (7, 8). The use of a comparative framework combined with genome-scale approaches provides an unparalleled opportunity to examine the effects of social status on behavior and health. In PNAS, two new studies (9, 10) use advanced genomic methods to investigate the effects of social status on immunity and stress physiology by examining gene regulation in blood cells of two different primate species. To uncover the molecular mechanisms involved in social status and stress, Snyder-Mackler et al. (9) examine social interactions in 45 captive, unrelated female rhesus macaques. Female rhesus macaques exhibit stable, linear social hierarchies (based on kin-directed nepotism). Low-ranking females receive increased harassment and decreased social support (e.g., grooming) and exhibit elevated levels of circulating glucocorticoids (GCs) (e.g., cortisol). Previous research by Snyder-Mackler et al. (11) demonstrated that low-ranking females exhibit a proinflammatory profile in their blood cells compared with high-ranking females (Fig. 1 A ). Importantly, when these animals received an immune challenge in the form of the bacterial stimulant of infection [lipopolysaccharide (LPS)], rank differences in gene expression were amplified (Fig. 1 B ). In their new study, Snyder-Mackler et al. (9) evaluate GC signaling using in vitro treatment with the synthetic GC dexamethasone (Dex). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells collected from individual rhesus macaques were incubated with or … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: hans{at}utexas.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
The Effectiveness of Urban Irrigation Day Restrictions in California

We analyze the impact of restricting outdoor irrigation using monthly data from 408 urban water suppliers in California during the final years of the 2012–2017 drought. Our estimates suggest that a...
Integrating case studies into graduate teaching assistant training to improve instruction in biology laboratory courses

Abstract Today’s biology laboratory courses are primarily instructed by graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) working toward their own graduate degrees in a science field. Even though GTAs are the driving instructional force in biology laboratories, they receive little to no training in pedagogical principles and applications. Here, we present the GTAs’ self-reported unmet training needs with respect to teaching biology laboratory courses. To address these needs, we developed three training cases along with instructions for implementation in online and in-person GTA trainings. We piloted our training materials for GTA training in person at Iowa State University and in a Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning three-part online workshop. Upon completion of these training sessions, GTAs reported an increase in both their confidence and knowledge of student-centered instructional approaches. Furthermore, examination of the online workshop participants’ lesson plans demonstrated that GTAs were able to implement effective teaching practices in their own lesson plans. For brief training sessions, these are positive outcomes suggesting these cases are effective tools that could be incorporated into a variety of GTA training programs to improve instruction in biology laboratory courses.
Outcomes of natalizumab treatment within 3 years of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis diagnosis: a prespecified 2-year interim analysis of STRIVE

STRIVE is a multicenter, observational, open-label, single-arm study of natalizumab in anti–JC virus (JCV) seronegative patients with early relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The objective of this prespecified 2-year interim analysis was to determine the effectiveness of natalizumab in establishing and maintaining no evidence of disease activity (NEDA) in early RRMS. Patients aged 18–65 years had an RRMS diagnosis < 3 years prior to screening, an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score ≤ 4.0, and anti-JCV antibody negative status. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed at baseline and yearly thereafter. Cumulative probabilities of 24-week–confirmed EDSS worsening and improvement were evaluated at 2 years. NEDA (no 24-week–confirmed EDSS worsening, no relapses, no gadolinium-enhancing lesions, and no new/newly enlarging T2-hyperintense lesions) was evaluated over 2 years. The Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) and Multiple Sclerosis Impact Score (MSIS-29) were assessed at baseline and 1 and 2 years. Statistical analysis used summary statistics and frequency distributions. The study population (N = 222) had early RRMS, with mean (standard deviation [SD]) time since diagnosis of 1.6 (0.77) years and mean (SD) baseline EDSS score of 2.0 (1.13). NEDA was achieved in 105 of 187 patients (56.1%) during year 1 and 120 of 163 (73.6%) during year 2. Over 2 years, 76 of 171 patients (44.4%) attained overall NEDA. Probabilities of 24-week–confirmed EDSS worsening and improvement were 14.1% and 28.4%, respectively. After 2 years, patients exhibited significant improvements from baseline in SDMT (n = 158; mean [SD]: 4.3 [11.8]; p < 0.001) and MSIS-29 physical (n = 153; mean [SD]: − 3.9 [14.7]; p = 0.001), psychological (n = 152; mean [SD]: − 2.0 [7.9]; p < 0.001), and quality-of-life (n = 153; mean [SD]: − 6.0 [21.3]; p < 0.001) scores. These results support natalizumab’s effectiveness over 2 years, during which nearly half of early RRMS patients achieved NEDA. During year 2, nearly 75% of patients exhibited NEDA. Over 2 years, patients continued to experience significant cognitive and quality-of-life benefits. These results are limited by the lack of a comparator group to determine the extent of a placebo effect. clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01485003 , registered 5 December 2011.
Fitness in Older African American Population

With the rapid growth of the number of Americans aged 65 or older resulting in expectations of doubling the number of the population in that age bracket, health professionals and fitness experts will be called upon to develop and implement methods for keeping this population as healthy as possible for as long as possible, and to aid these individuals with retaining their quality of life. This study examined whether incorporating a low-cost, community-based strength and flexibility program would improve performancebased measures of strength, flexibility, and endurance in older (57 to 82 yr.; M = 68 yr., SD = 5 yr.) African-American adults. Evaluated components were upper body strength (maximal amount of weighted arm curls), lower body strength (maximal amount of chair-ups), upper body flexibility (backscratch), lower body flexibility (modified sit-and-reach), and aerobic endurance (maximal distance covered in 6 minutes). Twenty African-American adults (5 male and 15 female) volunteered to participate in five weeks of strength and flexibility training (twice per week, 60 min. per session). Posttest results showed performance improvements for all five measured parameters, with significant improvements found for upper- and lower- body strength and lower body flexibility. Additionally, the structure of this exercise program resulted in adherence rates of more than 80%. In light of these findings, it is important that the design of strength and flexibility programs for older adults be implemented through the collaboration of health professionals and fitness experts; it is with this multifaceted approach to aging that an improvement in quality of life in later years can be achieved successfully.
Changing Intrasynoptic Type Characteristics and Interannual Frequencies of Circulation Patterns Conducive to Lake-Effect Snowfall

AbstractUsing a temporal synoptic index, synoptic-scale atmospheric patterns suitable for lake-effect snow downwind of Lakes Erie and Ontario are identified and analyzed from 1950 to 2009. In respo...
Metal-Free Electrically Conductive Bioinspired Adhesive Polymers

The traditional electrically conductive adhesives (ECAs) include heterogeneous metallic and/or carbon-based fillers blended with the organic adhesive polymer matrix. However, those heterogeneous-bl...
Involving stakeholders to support sustainable development of the marine lobster aquaculture sector in Vietnam

Abstract This paper used a combination of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis and analytical hierarchy process to analyze the challenges and prospects for the sustainable development of marine lobster aquaculture in Vietnam. This analysis was based on the participation of four stakeholder groups including representatives at the provincial level, district level, and commune level and lobster farmers. The results show that stakeholders have a relatively positive perception about the sustainable development of marine lobster aquaculture in Vietnam because they believe the strengths and opportunities outweigh the weaknesses and threats. The suitable natural conditions in Vietnam were considered as the most important strength, while the many untapped markets and the support of the government for the sector are key opportunities for further developing marine lobster aquaculture. The increased lobster mortality and frequency of disease outbreaks were considered as the main weaknesses. In addition, the complex development of disease pressure and the reliance on the Chinese market were considered the most crucial threats. The findings of this study can be used by policymakers in Vietnam to further develop the marine lobster aquaculture sector.
Added sugar intake is associated with pericardial adipose tissue volume

AimThe purpose of this study was to determine the relationships of pericardial adipose tissue and visceral adipose tissue volume with added sugar and sugar-sweetened beverage intakes. We hypothesiz...
An Analysis of Engagement Levels While Playing Brain-Controlled Games

This paper presents a brain-controlled game that allows players to fly a virtual drone using their brain-waves, while the game measures their engagement levels using a BCI. The active BCI element in the game allows players to accelerate and decelerate the virtual drone by performing a motor imagery task (imagining a muscle movement). The passive BCI element processes the EEG signal from the players’ frontal lobe to calculate their engagement in the game. Optionally, the player can see their engagement level as a feedback in the game. This study aims to evaluate (1) the correlation between players’ engagement and performance in brain-controlled games, (2) users’ perception towards receiving feedback on their engagement levels, and (3) the impact of providing engagement level feedback on players’ engagement and performance. A within-subject study with 10 participants was conducted to explore such research questions. Results demonstrate a strong correlation between engagement and performance, measured by the time it took participants to complete each lap in the game. Higher engagement levels resulted in significantly better performance, while low engagement levels led to significantly worse performance. Additionally, qualitative data collected from participants demonstrate a positive attitude towards using engagement level feedback to improve their attention during gameplay.
Abscopal effect in pulmonary carcinoid tumor following ablative stereotactic body radiation therapy: a case report

The abscopal effect was described as early as the 1950s, when untreated tumors demonstrated a response after radiation therapy was delivered to an untreated, distant site. The mechanisms underlying this global response to otherwise localized therapy remain unknown, though there is increasing evidence that increased antigen expression following ablative radiotherapy may play a role. We report a case of a 69-year-old African American woman with a history of metastatic typical pulmonary carcinoid with multiple lung nodules who had a significant decrease in size of an untreated left upper lobe nodule after stereotactic body radiation therapy to an oligoprogressive left lower lobe lesion. To our knowledge, this report describes the first case of an abscopal effect in a typical pulmonary carcinoid. Further research is needed regarding the mechanisms responsible for this finding and the role of combining radiation therapy and cancer immunotherapy in patients with pulmonary carcinoid tumors.
Association of outpatient ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers and outcomes of acute respiratory illness: a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluate associations between ACE inhibitors (ACEis) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) and clinical outcomes in acute viral respiratory illness (AVRI). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort analysis of claims data. SETTING: The USA; 2018-2019 influenza season. PARTICIPANTS: Main cohort: people with hypertension (HTN) taking an ACEi, ARB or other HTN medications, and experiencing AVRI. Falsification cohort: parallel cohort receiving elective knee or hip replacement. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Main cohort: hospital admission, intensive care unit, acute respiratory distress (ARD), ARD syndrome and all-cause mortality. Falsification cohort: complications after surgery and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: The main cohort included 236 843 episodes of AVRI contributed by 202 629 unique individuals. Most episodes were in women (58.9%), 81.4% in people with Medicare Advantage and 40.3% in people aged 75+ years. Odds of mortality were lower in the ACEi (0.78 (0.74 to 0.83)) and ARB (0.64 (0.61 to 0.68)) cohorts compared with other HTN medications. On all other outcomes, people taking ARBs (but not ACEis) had a >10% reduction in odds of inpatient stays compared with other HTN medications.In the falsification analysis (N=103 353), both ACEis (0.89 (0.80 to 0.98)) and ARBs (0.82 (0.74 to 0.91)) were associated with decreased odds of complications compared with other HTN medications; ARBs (0.64 (0.47 to 0.87)) but not ACEis (0.79 (0.60 to 1.05)) were associated with lower odds of death compared with other HTN medications. CONCLUSIONS: Outpatient use of ARBs was associated with better outcomes with AVRI compared with other medications for HTN. ACEis were associated with reduced risk of death, but with minimal or no reduction in risk of other complications. A falsification analysis conducted to provide context on the possible causal implications of these findings did not provide a clear answer. Further analysis using observational data will benefit from additional approaches to assess causal relationships between these drugs and outcomes in AVRI.
Striatal networks for tinnitus treatment targeting.

Neuromodulation treatment effect size for bothersome tinnitus may be larger and more predictable by adopting a target selection approach guided by personalized striatal networks or functional connectivity maps. Several corticostriatal mechanisms are likely to play a role in tinnitus, including the dorsal/ventral striatum and the putamen. We examined whether significant tinnitus treatment response by deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the caudate nucleus may be related to striatal network increased functional connectivity with tinnitus networks that involve the auditory cortex or ventral cerebellum. The first study was a cross-sectional 2-by-2 factorial design (tinnitus, no tinnitus; hearing loss, normal hearing, n = 68) to define cohort level abnormal functional connectivity maps using high-field 7.0 T resting-state fMRI. The second study was a pilot case-control series (n = 2) to examine whether tinnitus modulation response to caudate tail subdivision stimulation would be contingent on individual level striatal connectivity map relationships with tinnitus networks. Resting-state fMRI identified five caudate subdivisions with abnormal cohort level functional connectivity maps. Of those, two connectivity maps exhibited increased connectivity with tinnitus networks-dorsal caudate head with Heschl's gyrus and caudate tail with the ventral cerebellum. DBS of the caudate tail in the case-series responder resulted in dramatic reductions in tinnitus severity and loudness, in contrast to the nonresponder who showed no tinnitus modulation. The individual level connectivity map of the responder was in alignment with the cohort expectation connectivity map, where the caudate tail exhibited increased connectivity with tinnitus networks, whereas the nonresponder individual level connectivity map did not.
Quantifying the magnitude of local tendon injury from electrosurgical transection.

Background Electrocautery is a common surgical technique and is often used during shoulder arthroplasty to elevate or transect the subscapularis tendon. The relative amount of tissue damage caused by cautery as opposed to sharp transection is not currently known. The purpose of this study was to examine local tissue damage resulting from electrocautery vs. sharp transection with a scalpel. We hypothesized that the electrosurgical unit would cause higher collateral tissue damage and cell death compared with sharp transection. Methods Twelve cadaveric ovine shoulders were randomized to either the electrosurgical or sharp transection group. The infraspinatus tendon was isolated, and a partial-thickness transection was made using either a monopolar electrosurgical device (Bovie) or No. 10 scalpel blade. Tendon explants were then visualized with confocal microscopy to evaluate tissue architecture. A live/dead assay was performed using microscopy imaging analysis software. Comparisons between Bovie and scalpel transection were made using the Mann-Whitney U test, and the cell death percentage at standardized distances from the transection site was compared between groups using a mixed-model analysis. Significance was defined at P Results The cellular and tendon fibril architecture was well maintained beyond the scalpel transection site, whereas Bovie transection disrupted the architecture beyond its transection path. The percentage of dead cells in the Bovie group (74.9% ± 31.2%) was significantly higher than that in the scalpel group (27.6% ± 29.9%, P = .0004). Compared with the transection site, the cell death percentage after Bovie transection significantly declined at 2.5 mm whereas that after scalpel transection significantly declined at 1 mm from the transection site. Conclusion There was a significantly higher dead cell percentage in the Bovie transection group, indicating extensive damage beyond the local incision site, compared with sharp transection. Electrosurgical transection of the ovine infraspinatus tendon ex vivo caused higher cell death and greater tissue architecture disruption compared with sharp scalpel transection.
Beta-Cyclodextrin/Steroid Complexation: Effect of Steroid Structure on Association Equilibria

Molecular associations of beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CyD) with four steroids (cortisone, hydrocortisone, progesterone, and testosterone) have been studied using phase-solubility and spectroscopic techniques. Phase solubility diagrams could be categorized as B type. The complexes are formed at the stoichiometric ratios of 1:2 (drug:beta-CyD). A mathematical model has been proposed to calculate the apparent stability constants. The results suggest that the inclusion of a steroid molecule into the first beta-CyD cavity is thermodynamically more favorable over the association of 1:1 complex with the second beta-CyD molecule except for cortisone, which exhibits anomalous behavior. A mechanism of complexation has been proposed based on the apparent stability constants and chemical structures of the steroids and beta-CyD. It suggests that complexation is first brought about by inclusion of the five-member cyclopentane ring of the steroid molecule into the first beta-CyD cavity. The 1:1 complex subsequently binds with the second beta-CyD to form the 1:2 complex. The association constants of steroid/beta-CyD complexes are of the following order: progesterone > cortisone > testosterone > hydrocortisone. The order of aqueous solubilities of the complexes is hydrocortisone > cortisone > testosterone > progesterone.
Adaptive PID control using filter-banks and frequency loop shaping

This paper addresses issues arising in the online adaptation of PID controller parameters. Employing a frequency loop shaping approach to define the control objective, it is possible to adapt the PID parameters directly with standard least squares algorithms. In addition to this, the use of filter-banks in the regressor leads to the approximate minimization of the H-infinity norm of the error operator. The practical implication of this observation is that PIDs can be reliably tuned, even in cases of large mismatch between the target and the feasible loop shapes. Numerical examples are included, illustrating the properties and the implementation of the algorithm.
Saturn's rings. II - Condensations of light and optical thickness of Cassini's division

Condensations of light have been observed when Saturn's rings are seen almost edge on, and the sun and the earth are on opposite sides of the ring plane. These condensations are associated with ring C and Cassini's division. If the relative brightness between the two condensations and the optical thickness of ring C are known, we can calculate the optical thickness of Cassini's division. Using Barnard's and Sekiguchi's measurements, we have obtained a range from .01 to .05 for the optical thickness of Cassini's division. A brightness profile of the condensations which agrees well with visual observations is also presented.
Regulation of gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis. Inhibition of pyruvate carboxylation in rat kidney mitochondria by malonate and malonyl CoA.

Abstract Rat kidney mitochondria in the presence of ATP, P i and magnesium ions, converted pyruvate and bicarbonate to malate, fumarate and citrate. Pyruvate carboxylase activity was estimated by measuring the incorporation of bicarbonate- 14 C into tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates. The addition of malonate decreased utilization of pyruvate and strongly inhibited bicarbonate- 14 C incorporation into the organic acids. This inhibition of bicarbonate- 14 C incorporation into organic acids in the presence of malonate was reversed by carnitine, oxalacetate, malate, fumarate, succinate and α-ketoglutarate, but not by citrate, isocitrate, aspartate, glutamate or acetylcarnitine. The ratio of concentration of carnitine to concentration of malonate determined the degree of reversal of this inhibition. Malonate-1- 14 C was metabolized by rat kidney mitochondria to acetyl CoA and 14 CO 2 . Carnitine stimulated malonate-1- 14 C decarboxylation presumably by removing acetyl CoA from the system and forming acetylcarnitine. In the presence of tricarboxylic cycle intermediates the incorporation of bicarbonate- 14 C into malate was greatly increased. The inhibition of 14 CO 2 incorporation into organic acids in the presence of malonate appears to be caused by malonyl CoA. Externally added malonyl CoA was shown to be a potent inhibitor of 14 C0 2 incorporation into organic acids. This inhibition by malonyl CoA was partially reversed by carnitine. The conversion of pyruvate to dicarboxylic acids is one of the key steps in the pathway of gluconeogenesis. The inhibition of this step by malonate may exercise regulatory effects on gluconeogenesis. It is postulated in this paper that changes in the ratio of concentration of acetyl CoA to malonyl CoA may play a regulatory role, since malonyl CoA is a key intermediate in the pathway of lipogenesis this mechanism may be of physiologic significance.
Measuring the inflation of the lod score due to its maximization over model parameter values in human linkage analysis.

A computer-simulation method is presented for determining and correcting for the effect of maximizing the lod score over disease definitions, penetrance values, and perhaps other model parameters. The method consists of simulating the complete analysis using marker genotypes randomly generated under the assumption of free recombination. It is applicable as a “post-treatment” to linkage analyses of any trait with an uncertain mode of inheritance and/or disease definition. When the method is applied to a linkage analysis of schizophrenia versus chromosome 5 markers, we find that, in this specific case, the P-value associated with a maximum lod score of 3 is equal to 0.0003. We also find that a lod score of 3.0 should be “deflated” by approximately 0.3 to 1 units, and, by tentative extrapolation, the observed lod score of 6.5 should be “deflated” by 0.7 to 1.5 units.
Knowledge-based analysis of functional impacts of mutations in microRNA seed regions

MicroRNAs are a class of important post-transcriptional regulators. Genetic and somatic mutations in miRNAs, especially those in the seed regions, have profound and broad impacts on gene expression and physiological and pathological processes. Over 500 SNPs were mapped to the miRNA seeds, which are located at position 2-8 of the mature miRNA sequences. We found that the central positions of the miRNA seeds contain fewer genetic variants and therefore are more evolutionary conserved than the peripheral positions in the seeds. We developed a knowledgebased method to analyse the functional impacts of mutations in miRNA seed regions. We computed the gene ontology-based similarity score GOSS and the GOSS percentile score for all 517 SNPs in miRNA seeds. In addition to the annotation of SNPs for their functional effects, in the present article we also present a detailed analysis pipeline for finding the key functional changes for seed SNPs. We performed a detailed gene ontology graph-based analysis of enriched functional categories for miRNA target gene sets. In the analysis of a SNP in the seed region of hsa-miR-96 we found that two key biological processes for progressive hearing loss 'Neurotrophin TRK receptor signaling pathway' and 'Epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathway' were significantly and differentially enriched by the two sets of allele-specific target genes of miRNA hsa-miR-96.
Exponential amplification of waves in the gravitational field of ultrarelativistic rotating body

The possibility is demonstrated of generation or exponentially depending on time amplification of waves in the metric of an ultrarelativistic rotating body.
Two-Stage Equilibrium Travel Demand Model for Sketch Planning:

This paper describes a two-stage equilibrium travel demand model. The unique feature of this model is that it takes time-of-day traffic counts instead of land use and demographic data as inputs to derive spatial and temporal travel demand patterns. The first stage of the model is a trip matrix estimator based on traffic count; the second stage is an elastic-demand network flow estimator, which recognizes latent demand shifts while performing mode split, time-of-day split, and traffic assignment in a multilevel equilibration. The main purpose of this paper is to describe model development, algorithm design, and software implementation experiences. An example application illustrates how the model is used to evaluate multiclass, multimode, and multiperiod network flow patterns for sketch planning purposes.