cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Peripartum cardiomyopathy: An epidemiologic study of early and late presentations.

Abstract Objective Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) can present during pregnancy and up to months post-delivery. Most large-scale epidemiologic studies have reported on cases occurring during pregnancy or the first few days postpartum (termPPCM). Limited information is available on PPCM in the later postpartum period (latePPCM). We studied the incidence, predictors, and hospital outcome of peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) in the prepartum and immediate post delivery period versus up to 3 months post-delivery. Methods We performed a secondary analysis of the 2013 Nationwide Readmissions Database, and compared the incidence, patient characteristics and in-hospital outcomes of PPCM during the peripartum and three-month postpartum period. All women with a discharge diagnosis of PPCM during a hospitalization for childbirth were included in the termPPCM group and those re-hospitalized within 3 month post-delivery with a new diagnosis of PPCM comprised the latePPCM group. Results There were 568 cases of PPCM, indicating an incidence of 1 per 2187 deliveries. Two thirds of those were latePPCM, and 75% of latePPCM cases occurred within 10 days of discharge. LatePPCM incidence was 1 per 208 deliveries in the highest risk group (age > 35, gestation diabetes and preeclampsia). Patients with termPPCM were more likely to be co-diagnosed with preeclampsia, to be anemic, and to be delivered by C-section. Conclusions Most cases of PPCM were diagnosed during a readmission, rather than during pregnancy or childbirth-related index hospitalization. It may be possible to identify latePPCM cases by pre-discharge screening in high risk women and institute early management to potentially decrease morbidity/mortality.
Phosphoglucomutase: III. PURIFICATION AND PROPERTIES OF PHOSPHOGLUCOMUTASES FROM FLOUNDER AND SHARK MUSCLE

Abstract Procedures are described for the isolation of the phosphoglucomutases of flounder and shark muscle. Like the rabbit muscle enzyme, these exhibit a molecular weight of about 63,000 by ultracentrifugal and phosphate analysis, require α-d-glucose 1,6-diphosphate and Mg++ for activity, are stimulated by preincubation with imidazoles and Mg++, and are phosphorylated by glucose 1,6-diphosphate and dephosphorylated by α-d-glucose 1-phosphate. Unlike rabbit muscle phosphoglucomutase, the flounder and shark enzymes are extremely labile below pH 5.0 and at pH 7.4 exhibit a significant level of glucose 1,6-diphosphatase activity. The activity of the flounder enzyme is doubled by formation of 1 mole of mercaptide of p-mercuribenzoate per mole of enzyme. Long after the reaction catalyzed by rabbit enzyme has come to thermodynamic equilibrium, the phosphate of glucose diphosphate fails to achieve isotopic equilibrium with that of the glucose monophosphates. The flounder P-glucomutase system behaves similarly, but isotopic equilibrium is achieved somewhat more rapidly than with the rabbit enzyme.
Remittances and Diaspora in Post-Conflict States: The Case of Liberia

Remittances have been an important source of income for many Liberian households in Liberia, other West African countries, and refugee camps both during the civil war and in its aftermath. The war that ended officially in 2003 left the country devastated. The physical infrastructure, economic framework and governance structures were barely existent. Hundreds of thousands of Liberians had left and/or fled the country while those who remained behind had no jobs, no skills, no education or prospects. Beyond sending remittances the diaspora has also been brainstorming ways in which to leverage funds for greater and larger-scale business and infrastructure investment initiatives. More recently the Liberian government has begun to design incentives for the diaspora to return and to aid in human capacity building, too. This paper aims to contribute an understanding of the size, channels and importance of remittances to Liberia in an effort to investigate the actual and potential impact of remittances in post-conflict states. Attention will also be paid to the extent to which the diaspora has contributed to peace building and reconstruction and how these efforts might continue to do so in the future.
Sperm Retrieval Techniques in Obstructive Azoospermia: MESA, PESA, and TESA

Advances in assisted reproductive technologies (ART), specifically intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and sperm retrieval (SR) techniques, allow azoospermic men to father biologic offspring. High success rates have been demonstrated in the cohort of men with obstructive azoospermia. Sperm may be retrieved from the testis or epididymis, for immediate use or cryopreservation in conjunction with ICSI. The choice of SR modality, source of sperm, and the decision to use fresh versus cryopreserved sperm depends largely upon the reproductive surgeon, the reproductive lab personnel, facility in which the sperm is retrieved and patient preferences. Currently there is no expert consensus on which SR modality or sperm source is superior, and it is recommended that decisions be made on a case-by-case basis. The following chapter will review the technical aspects of several SR modalities. In addition, a review of the pros and cons as well as the success rates of each procedure will be discussed.
Developmental, Genetic and Molecular Analyses of Lethal(1)Ogre, a Locus Affecting the Postembryonic Development of the Nervous System in Drosophila Melanogaster

Among the major sets of problems in developmental neurobiology are the definition of the mechanisms by which developing neurons become different from their non-neuronal brethren and from each other and the elucidation of the molecular bases by which the large numbers of cells in the nervous system find and identify one another, form the correct ensemble of connections and maintain appropriate connectivity for the life of the organism. Our laboratory has chosen to use the developing visual system in Drosophila as a model; at the current time, we have obtained a fairly extensive description of the overt aspects of development in the visual system of Drosophila, and we have even been able to specify the rules by which various subsets of this system interact with one another during ontogeny. Yet, we have little understanding of the subcellular and molecular phenomena which control these events.
Sulfur Oxidation in Chlorobium tepidum (syn. Chlorobaculum tepidum): Genetic and Proteomic Analyses

Chlorobium tepidum (syn. Chlorobaculum tepidum) has become the model system of choice for understanding the unique biological attributes of the green sulfur bacteria, the Chlorobiaceae. This chapter describes how genome sequence enabled genetic and proteomic approaches are being applied to understand pathways of anaerobic sulfur oxidation in C. tepidum. Reduced sulfur compounds are the sole source of exogenous reductant that C. tepidum utilizes to drive all anabolic pathways necessary for cellular growth, including carbon and nitrogen fixation. The stoichiometries of sulfur-compound conversions in batch cultures confirm that sulfide oxidation occurs via extracellular elemental sulfur. No intermediate is apparent for the oxidation of thiosulfate to sulfate, but thiosulfate oxidation appears to be stimulated when cells are grown autotrophically. Mutation of predicted sulfur oxidation genes leads to pleiotropic phenotypes that appear to affect the organization of photopigments in cells, suggesting that sulfur oxidation and light harvesting are tightly integrated processes in C. tepidum. In concert with genetic approaches, proteomics coupled with subcellular fractionation is being used to identify proteins that are potentially involved in the oxidation of extracellular elemental sulfur. Observations on the next generation of genetic techniques to augment those that currently exist in C. tepidum and to extend proteomic observations are presented throughout.
Do helpers increase reproductive success

Although several different hypotheses have been proposed to explain the evolution of helping behavior, most are based on the assumption that helping enhances the reproductive success of recipient breeders. I tested this assumption by removal experiments in the cooperatively breeding Florida scrub jay (Aphelocoma c. coerulescens). This species lives in permanently territorial social units containing a single breeding pair and none to six nonbreeders, which are usually offspring of the breeding pair and which usually act as helpers by feeding the nestlings and fledglings produced by the breeding pair. Although experimental removals of non-breeders in 1987–1988 had no significant effect on breeder survival, egg production, or hatching success, experimental groups suffered higher rates of predation on nestlings (1987) and lower rates of fledgling survival (both years) than did unmanipulated controls. As a result, experimental groups produced an average of only 0.56 independent juveniles, compared to 1.62 young for controls. Analysis of the factors contributing to nestling and fledgling mortality indicates that helping behavior per se (i.e., the aid that nonbreeders provide to dependent young), not the mere presence of nonbreeders, was responsible for the greater reproductive success observed in control groups. Because survival rates of allofeeders (i.e., those nonbreeders that provisioned dependent young) were virtually identical to those of non-allofeeders, the costs of helping behavior in this species appear to be small. Furthermore, nonbreeders are more likely to provision dependent young within their social unit when those young are closely related. I therefore conclude that nonbreeders increase their indirect fitness by serving as helpers and that helping behavior in the Florida scrub jay is a trait that has current selective utility. It remains debatable, however, whether helping in this species is an adaptation that has been shaped by the process of natural selection.
Cellulose nanocrystal surface modification via grafting-from sonogashira coupling of poly(ethynylene-fluorene)

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were grafted with poly(2-ethynylene-9,9-dihexyl fluorene) via Sonogashira cross-coupling chemistry to yield environmentally friendly, composite nanoparticles. CNCs were first surface functionalized with 4-bromobenzoyl chloride to provide aryl halide tethering sites for Sonogashira cross-coupling. Poly(ethynylene fluorene) was then grafted-from the bromide functionalized CNC (s-Br-CNC) surface. The intermediate product, s-Br-CNC, was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), validating the success of the esterification reaction and giving an approximate degree of substitution. The grafted product, g-PEF-CNC, was analyzed and validated using XPS, showing the expected trends in C1s deconvolutions with addition of solely carbon based polymer. Grafted chains were cleaved via acid hydrolysis and were revealed to be n = 2–4 short chain oligomers thru analysis by matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry. A number of the potential end group pairs were observed. As such, the authors have successfully demonstrated and analyzed a novel grafted composite nanomaterial based on renewable nanocellulose substrates and semiconductive conjugated polymers.
Innovation for Motivation: First-person presentations

Classroom innovation can involve finding unique ways to present material to students. Engaging students with the material will support their understanding of the broader implications of what they l...
Satisfiability Bounds for co-regular Properties in Interval-valued Markov Chains

We derive an algorithm to compute satisfiability bounds for arbitrary co-regular properties in an Interval-valued Markov Chain (IMC) interpreted in the adversarial sense. IMCs generalize regular Markov Chains by assigning a range of possible values to the transition probabilities between states. In particular, we expand the automata-based theory of co-regular property verification in Markov Chains to apply it to IMCs. Any co-regular property can be represented by a Deterministic Rabin Automata (DRA) with acceptance conditions expressed by Rabin pairs. Previous works on Markov Chains have shown that computing the probability of satisfying a given co-regular property reduces to a reachability problem in the product between the Markov Chain and the corresponding DRA. We similarly define the notion of a product between an IMC and a DRA. Then, we show that in a product IMC, there exists a particular assignment of the transition values that generates a largest set of non-accepting states. Subsequently, we prove that a lower bound is found by solving a reachability problem in that refined version of the original product IMC. We derive a similar approach for computing a satisfiability upper bound in a product IMC with one Rabin pair. For product IMCs with more than one Rabin pair, we establish that computing a satisfiability upper bound is equivalent to lower-bounding the satisfiability of the complement of the original property. A search algorithm for finding the largest accepting and non-accepting sets of states in a product IMC is proposed. Finally, we demonstrate our findings in a case study.
181. Predictive value of the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio in preecalmpsia with or without fetal growth restriction

Introduction Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific multisystemic disorders with an incidence of 2–5% worldwide. Placental deficient was thought to be the main reason for preeclampsia. Reduced uteroplacental blood flow can also cause fetal growth restriction (FGR). Hypothesis Evaluating serum soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), serum placental growth factor (PlGF) and the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio in preeclampsia with or without FGR can help clinicians to make decision. Methods 17 singleton pregnancies women was diagnosed as preeclampsia with (n = 5) or without FGR (n = 12) in third trimester (>28 weeks) from March to April 2018. Serum sFlt-1 and PlGF were estimated when they admitted. The sFlt-1, PlGF, and the maternal basic data were obtained. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee for Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center. Results The sFlt-1/PlGF ratio in preeclampsia with FGR group was significantly increased compared with another group (227.33 ± 80.51 vs.121.15 ± 55.80, P = 0.007). The mean systolic pressure (157 ± 9 vs. 142 ± 11 mmHg) and diastolic pressure (100 ± 6 vs. 92 ± 7 mmHg) were higher in FGR group (P Conclusion High serum levels of sFlt-1 and low serum levels of PlGF have been proposed as useful predictors for the subsequent development of preeclampsia. Abnormal placental implantation with endothelial dysfunction may also result in FGR. The sFlt-1 and PlGF are the inflammatory factors from placenta which may indicate the inflammation of maternal-fetal interface. Coincidence of the high ratio in these two obstetrical complications may suggesting that an inflammatory mechanism may have an important role in preeclampsia with FGR. The higher ratio might predict preeclampsia with FGR, which can influence clinical intervention.
Biomimetically Inspired Synthesis of Exotine A

Exotine A, which comprises an unusual coumarin–cyclohepta[b]indole ring system, has been synthesized for the first time in a one-pot process from known starting materials. The key step features a biomimetically inspired combination of three components to deliver exotine A and 11′-epi-exotine A in 43% yield and 17:1 diastereomeric ratio. Some mechanistic aspects of this reaction are discussed.
Cognitive ability in old age is predetermined by age 20 y.

One of the major scientific problems of the 21st century is determining how to maintain cognitive vitality in late adulthood and prevent age-related cognitive decline. There is considerable evidence that adults age 60 y and older have better cognition in late adulthood when they maintain an active lifestyle, engage in cognitively stimulating leisure activities, and have advanced education and occupations of high complexity. It appears that a lifetime of such engagement builds a neurocognitive reserve (1, 2) or creates additional neural circuitry that protects cognitive function in later years (3). Other studies have shown that an overall level of high cognitive ability (intelligence) is an important component of late-life cognitive resilience and may even delay a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease by months or years (4). In PNAS, longitudinal findings by Kremen et al. (5) challenge the role that enriching life experiences play in supporting cognition in late adulthood and indicate that cognitive function in old age is largely predetermined by general cognitive ability (GCA) measured in young adulthood. Others have reported that even adolescent GCA has high predictive value of GCA in late life (6). The Kremen et al. (5) study utilized data from American military recruits between 1965 and 1975 who were part of the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging (7). Available data included GCA scores at both an average age of 20 y and an average age of 62 y, as well as self-reported measures of job complexity, lifetime education, and lifetime engagement. In an initial mixed model, years of education, occupational complexity, and lifetime cognitive engagement significantly predicted GCA at age 62 y and predicted performance on six of seven individual cognitive measures (speed, reasoning, memory, etc.), thus replicating the effects of experience on cognition in late adulthood reported by others. (Note that … [↵][1]1Email: denise{at}utdallas.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Qur’anic terminology, translation, and the Islamic conception of religion

ABSTRACTA key question in the field of religious studies is the extent to which ‘religion’ as a concept ‘translates’ in various cultural contexts, with some arguing that it is a purely Western and ...
Update on Treatments for Adolescent Bulimia Nervosa

There are few systematic studies of treatment of bulimia nervosa (BN) in adolescents. Although family-based treatment has demonstrated preliminary evidence to support involvement of caregivers in treatment, there is significant opportunity for improvement in mitigating binge-eating and purging symptoms among adolescents afflicted with BN. When caregivers are unable to participate in treatment, there is evidence that BN-specific cognitive behavioral therapy approaches are helpful for some adolescents. Further research is needed to determine for whom, and under what conditions certain types of family involvement might be most effective in adolescent treatment of BN.
Caspase-2 promotes AMPA receptor internalization and cognitive flexibility via mTORC2-AKT-GSK3β signaling.

Caspase-2 is the most evolutionarily conserved member in the caspase family of proteases and is constitutively expressed in most cell types including neurons; however, its physiological function remains largely unknown. Here we report that caspase-2 plays a critical role in synaptic plasticity and cognitive flexibility. We found that caspase-2 deficiency led to deficits in dendritic spine pruning, internalization of AMPA receptors and long-term depression. Our results indicate that caspase-2 degrades Rictor, a key mTOR complex 2 (mTORC2) component, to inhibit Akt activation, which leads to enhancement of the GSK3β activity and thereby long-term depression. Furthermore, we found that mice lacking caspase-2 displayed elevated levels of anxiety, impairment in reversal water maze learning, and little memory loss over time. These results not only uncover a caspase-2–mTORC2–Akt–GSK3β signaling pathway, but also suggest that caspase-2 is important for memory erasing and normal behaviors by regulating synaptic number and transmission. Caspase-2 is constitutively expressed in neurons yet its physiological function is not known. Here, the authors report a role for Caspase-2 activity in synaptic plasticity via a reduction in dendritic spine density through cleavage of Rictor suggesting a mechanism to explain the impairments in cognitive flexibility observed in Caspase-2 knockout mice.
Self-Assembling Coiled-Coil Peptide Nanotubes with Biomolecular Cargo Encapsulation.

We report a coiled-coil trimeric peptide based on the known GCN4 zipper motif that self-assembles into nanotubes with diameters on the order of a few hundred nanometers to a micron. The dimensional...
Insights into the Genesis of a Selective and Coke-Resistant MXene-Based Catalyst for the Dry Reforming of Methane

We report the use of a multilayered vanadium carbide MXene (m-V2CTx) as a precursor for a robust oxy-carbide catalyst to convert CH4 and CO2 into syngas via dry reforming of methane (DRM). The in s...
Exploring perceptions and use of the patient portal by young adults with type 1 diabetes: A qualitative study.

Emerging adults have been raised in the digital age and are therefore prime candidates for using a patient portal to manage chronic conditions. The limited body of research both identifies the unde...
Contact Angle Measurements Using Sessile Drop and Micro-CT Data from Six Sandstones

Numerous sessile drop and micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) studies have been conducted to quantify geologic carbon storage formation wettability by measuring static contact angles (θ); however, the influence of pore geometry remains unknown. In this work, six sandstones (Bandera Brown, Berea, Bentheimer, Mt. Simon, Navajo, and Nugget) are used to measure θ using the two aforementioned experimental methods at identical testing conditions (45 °C and 12.41 MPa). The range of θ measured at in situ conditions (micro-CT) exceeds the range at ex situ (sessile drop method) conditions for all sandstones. However, when droplets with more representative in situ diameters are analyzed, θ averages show ex situ θ exceed those of in situ θ. Pore geometry does influence local θ, but the size of ex situ droplets relative to pore size appears to influence θ. This is important to consider for future sessile drop studies used for analysis of CO2 behavior in carbon storage reservoirs.
“Good job, but Bulgarian”: Identifying “Bulgarian-ness” through cultural discourse analysis

By using cultural discourse analysis and ethnography, naturally occurring talk and interviews were examined for local constructions of “Bulgarian-ness” in order to formulate explicit and implicit c...
Construction of a chromosome-scale long-read reference genome assembly for potato.

Background Worldwide, the cultivated potato, Solanum tuberosum L., is the No. 1 vegetable crop and a critical food security crop. The genome sequence of DM1-3 516 R44, a doubled monoploid clone of S. tuberosum Group Phureja, was published in 2011 using a whole-genome shotgun sequencing approach with short-read sequence data. Current advanced sequencing technologies now permit generation of near-complete, high-quality chromosome-scale genome assemblies at minimal cost. Findings Here, we present an updated version of the DM1-3 516 R44 genome sequence (v6.1) using Oxford Nanopore Technologies long reads coupled with proximity-by-ligation scaffolding (Hi-C), yielding a chromosome-scale assembly. The new (v6.1) assembly represents 741.6 Mb of sequence (87.8%) of the estimated 844 Mb genome, of which 741.5 Mb is non-gapped with 731.2 Mb anchored to the 12 chromosomes. Use of Oxford Nanopore Technologies full-length complementary DNA sequencing enabled annotation of 32,917 high-confidence protein-coding genes encoding 44,851 gene models that had a significantly improved representation of conserved orthologs compared with the previous annotation. The new assembly has improved contiguity with a 595-fold increase in N50 contig size, 99% reduction in the number of contigs, a 44-fold increase in N50 scaffold size, and an LTR Assembly Index score of 13.56, placing it in the category of reference genome quality. The improved assembly also permitted annotation of the centromeres via alignment to sequencing reads derived from CENH3 nucleosomes. Conclusions Access to advanced sequencing technologies and improved software permitted generation of a high-quality, long-read, chromosome-scale assembly and improved annotation dataset for the reference genotype of potato that will facilitate research aimed at improving agronomic traits and understanding genome evolution.
Welcoming in Dancers from All Traditions: De-Centering Modern/Contemporary Dance in Choreography Class.

Choreography classes rooted only in modern/post-modern/contemporary dance (hereafter referred to as contemporary dance 1 ), fail to provide racial equity to today’s college students. Dancers with b...
Effects of counterflow jet on the performance of a generic rocket

Abstract Effects of a jet emanating from the nose of a generic rocket in the opposite direction of the incoming freestream have been studied to determine the effects of the jet in reducing the drag and the heat loads on the rocket. The effects are comparatively evaluated for different jet exit Mach numbers from ideally expanded nozzles, designed using the method of characteristics, operating at a total temperature of 500 K and at total pressures with predetermined ratios of the freestream total pressure. Axisymmetric computations were conducted with the generic rocket flying at a Mach number of 6.0 and 40,000 ft altitude with zero-degree angle of attack. Results indicate that a jet generated by the Mach 1.5 nozzle, operating at a total pressure corresponding to 1/4th of the freestream total pressure, resulted in the best combined overall drag and temperature reduction. The area-averaged surface temperature and drag were reduced by 52%, and 22%, respectively, in comparison to the body without the flow control.
Diamond-Incorporated Flip-Chip Integration for Thermal Management of GaN and Ultra-Wide Bandgap RF Power Amplifiers

GaN radio frequency (RF) power amplifiers offer many benefits including high power density, reduced device footprint, high operating voltage, and excellent gain and power-added efficiency. Accordingly, these parts are enabling next-generation technologies such as fifth-generation (5G) base transceiver stations and defense/aerospace applications such as high-performance radar and communication systems. However, these benefits can be overshadowed by device overheating that compromises the performance and reliability. In response to this, researchers have focused on GaN-on-diamond integration during the past decade. However, manufacturability, scalability, and long-term reliability remain as critical challenges toward the commercialization of the novel device platform. In this work, a diamond-incorporated flip-chip integration scheme is proposed that takes advantage of existing semiconductor device processing and growth techniques. Using an experimentally validated GaN-on-SiC multifinger device model, the theoretical limit of the cooling effectiveness of the device-level thermal management solution has been evaluated. Simulation results show that by employing a $\sim 2-\mu \text{m}$ diamond passivation overlayer, gold thermal bumps, and a commercial polycrystalline carrier wafer, the power amplifier’s dissipated heat can be effectively routed toward the package, which leads to a junction-to-package thermal resistance lower than GaN-on-diamond high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs). Furthermore, simulation results show that this approach is even more promising for lowering the device thermal resistance of emerging ultra-wide bandgap devices based on $\beta $ -Ga2O3 and AlGaN, below that for today’s state-of-the-art GaN-on-diamond HEMTs.
Residually Finite Groups

Our object in this chapter is to discover groups which are residually finite: in particular we shall find that free groups and free products of residually finite groups are residually finite and that several significant types of soluble groups share this property. It soon emerges that groups of many disparate kinds are residually finite, so that the residually finite groups form a rather complex class. For a further account of the present state of the theory and for an estimate of its significance for other branches of mathematics the reader may consult the survey paper of Magnus [3].
The Developing Program of Integrated Control of Cotton Pests in California

During the years immediately following World War II, cotton pest control in California’s San Joaquin Valley was dominated by the organochlorine insecticides (e.g., DDT, toxaphene, endrin). The persistence and high toxicity of these materials made them effective killers of the two key pests, Lygus hesperus Knight and Heliothis zea (Boddie). As a result, normally only one or two treatments per season were needed to effect satisfactory pest control at relatively low cost.
A Review of “Artisanal Theology: Intentional Formation in Radically Covenantal Companionship”

Biting into a crusty slice of artisanal bread can be healthy and satisfying; it can also leave your gums a little bloody. In this pithy and personalist account of ministerial formation, Lisa Hess (...
MOLECULAR SIGNATURES OF SELECTION ON REPRODUCTIVE CHARACTER DISPLACEMENT OF FLOWER COLOR IN PHLOX DRUMMONDII

Character displacement, which arises when species diverge in sympatry to decrease competition for resources or reproductive interference, has been observed in a wide variety of plants and animals. A classic example of reproductive character displacement, presumed to be caused by reinforcing selection, is flower-color variation in the native Texas wildflower Phlox drummondii. Here, we use population genetic analyses to investigate molecular signatures of selection on flower-color variation in this species. First, we quantify patterns of neutral genetic variation across the range of P. drummondii to demonstrate that restricted gene flow and genetic drift cannot explain the pattern of flower-color divergence in this species. There is evidence of extensive gene flow across populations with different flower colors, suggesting selection caused flower-color divergence. Second, analysis of sequence variation in the genes underlying this divergence reveals a signature of a selective sweep in one of the two genes, further indicating selection is responsible for divergence in sympatry. The lack of a signature of selection at the second locus does not necessarily indicate a lack of selection on this locus but instead brings attention to the uncertainty in depending on molecular signatures to identify selection.
Estimation as a catalyst for numeracy: micro-interventions that increase the use of numerical information in decision-making

The utilization of available numerical information represents an important aspect of numeracy. Accordingly, we seek to develop decision-making scaffolds that increase the incorporation of numerical information into preferences. Two experiments contrast five techniques for presenting students with numerical information and prompting them to make decisions related to that information. The techniques are based on a method called EPIC (Estimate, Prefer, Incorporate feedback, and Change preference) from the Numerically-Driven Inferencing (NDI) paradigm. Results regarding post-feedback preferences indicate that having students estimate a quantity's value beforehand increases the impact on preferences when the quantity's true value is presented. However, having students state initial preferences does not yield an analogous effect. An attractive explanation for the estimation effect is that estimating diminishes hindsight bias, making information that diverges from expectations more surprising. Variants of the EPIC method may serve as "micro-interventions" that increase the impact of numerical data on preferences.
Singlet fission of hot excitons in π-conjugated polymers

We used steady-state photoinduced absorption (PA), excitation dependence (EXPA()) spectrum of the triplet exciton PA band, and its magneto-PA (MPA(B)) response to investigate singlet fission (SF) o...
Early risk factors for increased adiposity: a cohort study of African American subjects followed from birth to young adulthood

Background Obesity is an increasing concern in the United States. Effective prevention of obesity requires the risk factors to be well defined. African Americans have a high risk of obesity. Objective The objective of this study was to identify risk factors, present at birth, for increased adiposity in adulthood in an African American population. Design In this retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort study, anthropometric and socioeconomic variables were collected at birth. A representative sample of 447 African American subjects was followed up until young adulthood, when skinfold thickness was measured. Associations between the independent variables and increased adiposity (skinfold thickness above the 85th percentile) were explored by using unadjusted and adjusted analyses. Results Three variables measured at birth were independently associated with adiposity in young adulthood, explaining 12% of the variance. The odds ratios (with 95% CIs) of these variables for increased adiposity were 2.7 (1.2, 6.2) for female sex, 4.0 (1.4, 11. 2) for first-born status, and 1.15 (1.06, 1.25) for each unit increment in maternal prepregnancy body mass index (BMI; in kg/m(2)). After adjustment for these variables, birth weight for gestational age and socioeconomic variables were not associated with adiposity. Conclusions This cohort study of African American subjects was the first to identify first-born status as an independent risk factor for increased adiposity in adulthood in a US population. The results of the study strengthen previous reports of the effect of female sex and maternal BMI on adulthood obesity. Identification of risk factors early in life may help target prevention toward high-risk children and allow healthy lifestyles to be established before the onset of obesity.
Abstract 11580: Brachial Pulse Pressure Predicts Adverse Outcomes Including Heart Failure Hospitalizations in Women With Preserved Ejection Fraction and No Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease: A Report from the Women’s Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation

Introduction: Systemic arterial pulse pressure (PP) estimates pulsatile load and arterial stiffness and predicts cardiac events. The Women’s Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE) found that women with suspected ischemic heart disease (IHD) have increased cardiac event rates, particularly heart failure events, despite no obstructive CAD and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The long-term prognostic value of PP among women with suspected IHD has not been fully studied. Hypothesis: Brachial PP is an independent risk factor for adverse outcomes including heart failure events in women with suspected IHD, no obstructive CAD, and preserved LVEF. Methods: We investigated 549 women with no obstructive CAD from WISE with 10-year (median) follow up. The primary outcome (PO) was time to first occurrence of death, non-fatal MI, non-fatal stroke, or heart failure event. The secondary outcome (SO) was time to first occurrence of death or heart failure event. PP was dichotomized with ROC analysis to define optimal sensitivity and specificity in predicting the PO. KM survival analysis and Cox PH were used to compare freedom from outcomes in both PP groups and determine adjusted hazard ratios (HRs). Results: Baseline mean age was 56±11; 96(17%) were non-white; mean LVEF was 67±10, 89(16%) had DM. Optimal PP for predicting the PO was 62.5 mmHg, with AUC of 0.614. Event rates, adjusted HRs, and KM curves are shown. Conclusions: The increased event rate seen in women with suspected IHD, no obstructive coronary disease, and preserved LVEF can be further prognosticated using PP as an independent risk factor for adverse outcomes including death or heart failure events over the long term.
Journey to the Spirit Land

Journey to the Spiritual Lands. By Wallace W. Zane. 1999. New York: Oxford University Press.
Surgical implantation of steroids with antiangiogenic characteristics for treating neovascular age-related macular degeneration

Background Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is associated with rapid vision loss due to choroidal neovascularization (CNV), leakage, and scarring. Steroids have gained attention in their role for the treatment of neovascular AMD for their antiangiogenic and anti-inflammatory properties.
Special considerations for the male patient : Things I wish I knew when I started practice

This article is an introduction to dealing with the male patient in a facial plastic surgery practice. It combines experience, data from other sources, and personal opinions to assist especially the younger surgeon. Topics include trends involving males in society and in facial plastic surgery, physical and mental considerations, types of procedures, and types of personalities. It carries this subject forward to explore briefly more difficult personalities and unhealthy types of patients as well as a few possible scenarios that the surgeon might encounter.
Combined thermal and electrohydrodynamic patterning of thin liquid films

Both electric fields and temperature gradients can destabilize the surface of a thin liquid film and lead to the self-assembly of patterns composed of pillar-like structures. Such instabilities offer a relatively simple way to tailor the surface topography of coatings, which in turn can be used to influence coating appearance, texture, and functionality. The present work explores how the simultaneous application of an electric field and temperature gradient can be used to further influence thin-liquid-film instabilities. Both perfect and leaky dielectric materials are considered, and lubrication theory is applied to develop a system of nonlinear partial differential equations for the interfacial height and charge. Linear stability analysis of the lubrication equations shows that in perfect dielectric films, thermal effects tend to dominate the process, often rendering the electric field unimportant. However, in leaky dielectric films, both the thermal and electric fields play important roles and together can produce an increase in the growth rate and a reduction in the dominant wavelength of the instability. Nonlinear simulations of the lubrication equations show that the predictions of the linear theory hold even when the interfacial perturbations are no longer small. The effects of viscoelasticity are considered within the linear theory, and it is found that the growth rate of the instability, but not the length scale, depends on the rheological parameters. The findings of this work suggest that the simultaneous use of an electric field and temperature gradient will allow thin films to be patterned at length scales not accessible when only one of these destabilizing forces is used.
Application of similarity factor in development of controlled-release diltiazem tablet.

Controlled-release grade hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) or xanthan gum (XG) and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) were employed to prepare controlled-release diltiazem hydrochloride tablets. The similarity factor f2 was used for dissolution profile comparison using Herbesser 90 SR as a reference product. Drug release could be sustained in a predictable manner by modifying the content of HPMC or XG. Moreover, the drug release profiles of tablets prepared using these matrix materials were not affected by pH and agitation rate. The f2 values showed that only one batch of tablets (of diltiazem HCl, HPMC or XG, and MCC in proportions of 3.0:3.0:4.0) was considered similar to that of the reference product, with values above 50. The unbiased similarity factor f*2 values were not much different from the f2 values, ascribing to a small dissolution variance of the test and reference products. The amount of HPMC or XG incorporated to produce tablets with the desired dissolution profile could be determined from t...
Development of anxiety disorders in a traumatized pediatric population: a preliminary longitudinal evaluation.

Abstract Objective: The current study was conducted to determine if post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology predicted later development of non-PTSD anxiety disorders in children and adolescents victimized by interpersonal trauma. Methods: Thirty-four children with a history of interpersonal trauma and no initial diagnosis of anxiety disorder participated in the study. Children were assessed at time one (T1) and then 12–18 months later at time two (T2). At T1, the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for Children and Adolescents (CAPS-CA) and the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL) were used to evaluate children's PTSD symptoms and comorbid non-PTSD anxiety disorder diagnosis. At T2, the CAPS-CA and the K-SADS-PL were repeated. Results: The diagnosis of PTSD and PTSD symptoms in children exposed to interpersonal trauma at T1, particularly the symptoms associated with avoidance and constricted emotional expression (criteria C) as well as physiological hyperarousal (criteria D), predicted the development of other anxiety disorders at T2. Conclusion: Traumatized children with initial PTSD symptomatology may be at risk of later development of other anxiety disorders.
Stress-strain studies in cadaveric human tendon and an anomaly in the Young's modulus thereof.

As a part of a continuing effort to quantify certain information about the mechanical characteristics of parts of the human body, the investigators have made experimental measurements of the stress-strain characteristics of the tendons of three muscles of the human upper extremity. These results have been compared to their previous report concerning the tendon of the M. plantaris. One interesting, provocative and peculiar result was that significant differences in strain under load were observed. Those tendons which are apparently subjected to greater total force in normal body use were found to elongate more than those which are apparently not heavily loaded in normal body use, when tested under equal stresses; that is to say, Young's Modulus,E, for the tendons of M. flexor digitorum profundus and superficialis was found to be significantly smaller thanE for tendons of M. extensor digitorum communis and M. plantaris.
Cholangiocarcinoma : Spectrum of appearances on MR images using current techniques

Abstract This study describes the spectrum of appearances of cholangiocarcinoma on magnetic resonance (MR) sequences, including gadolinium-enhanced, fat-suppressed spoiled gradient echo images and MR cholangiography. Fifteen patients were included in the study. Histologic diagnosis was established in 11 patients by surgical resection (6 patients), percutaneous biopsy (4 patients), and open liver biopsy (1 patient). The final diagnosis was determined by correlation of the MR findings with cholangiographic studies and laboratory studies in 4 patients. MR studies were performed at 1.5 T, and the following sequences were obtained: T 1 -weighted spoiled gradient echo (SGE), T 1 -weighted fat-suppressed spin echo or SGE, T 2 -weighted fat-suppressed conventional or turbo spin echo, MR cholangiography, and gadolinium-enhanced T 1 -weighted fat-suppressed SGE images. The following determinations were made: tumor location, tumor extent, ductal dilatation, ductal wall thickness, signal intensity, enhancement pattern, and associated findings. Mass-like neoplasms were peripheral (6 patients), hilar (1 patient), and extrahepatic (2 patients). Circumferential tumors were hilar (2 patients) and extrahepatic (4 patients). All peripheral tumors were multifocal. Mass-like tumors were well-defined, rounded, and ranged from 1 to 14 cm in diameter. Circumferential tumors had less well-defined margins and measured from 3 to 15 mm in thickness. All mass-like tumors were moderately hypointense on T 1 -weighted images and mildly to moderately hyperintense on T 2 -weighted images. The circumferential tumors were iso- to moderately hypointense on T 1 -weighted images and iso- to mildly hyperintense on T 2 -weighted images. Mass-like tumors were generally well shown on non-contrast and immediate gadolinium-enhanced images, whereas circumferential tumors were poorly seen on non-contrast images and best shown on gadolinium-enhanced T 1 -weighted fat-suppressed images. The degree of enhancement ranged from minimal to intense on immediate gadolinium-enhanced images, with all tumors becoming more homogeneous in signal intensity on images obtained between 1 and 5 min following contrast administration. Tumor-containing lymph nodes greater than or equal to 1 cm in diameter were demonstrated in 11 out of 15 patients (73.3%). These were best shown on T 2 -weighted fat-suppressed images and gadolinium-enhanced fat-suppressed SGE images. MR cholangiography demonstrated the level of obstruction and degree of dilatation of the proximal biliary system in 5 out of 6 patients who underwent MR cholangiography. The spectrum of appearances of cholangiocarcinoma is demonstrable on MR images. Mass-like tumors are well shown on both pre- and post-gadolinium sequences. Circumferential tumors may cause minimally increased duct wall thickness and are most clearly shown on gadolinium-enhanced fat-suppressed SGE images obtained 1 to 5 min following gadolinium administration.
Small-angle x-ray scattering of high- and low-affinity heparin

Solution characterization of heparin with high affinity (HA) and low affinity (LA) for antithrombin III was performed using the methods of small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS), viscometry, and aqueous gel permeation chromatography (GPC). SAXS provided various topological parameters including the radius of gyration ([S2]1/2), radius of gyration of cross-section ([S2]q1/2), persistence length (a*), contour length (L), and mass parameters, e.g., overall molecular mass (Mr), and mass per unit length (Mq). The molecular weights of HA and LA pig mucosal heparins were found to be 14,900 and 11,500 and the respective radii of gyration were 40.1 and 33.6 A. The persistence lengths of HA and LA were 21.3 and 20.3 A, respectively. These parameters were compared to SAXS data of heparin [S. S. Stivala, M. Herbst, O. Kratky, and I. Pilz (1968) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 127, 795-802] fractionated according to molecular weight only. It was found that the various experimental values of this heparin lie somewhere in between those of HA and LA heparins. It appears that there are no appreciable differences in the physico-chemical properties, including conformation, among the heparins in H2O at 25 degrees C.
Classical interactions of 't Hooft monopoles

We find upper bounds on the interaction energies between two 't Hooft monopoles and between a monopole and an antimonopole. Our results may alter the confinement picture in the Georgi-Glashow model for certain small values of the Higgs mass parameter.