cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Professional Culture of Community Pharmacy and the Provision of MTM Services.

The integration of advanced pharmacy services into community pharmacy practice is not complete. According to implementation research understanding professional culture, as a part of context, may provide insights for accelerating this process. There are three objectives in this study. The first objective of this study was to validate an adapted version of an organizational culture measure in a sample of United States’ (US) community pharmacists. The second objective was to examine potential relationships between the cultural factors identified using the validated instrument and a number of socialization and education variables. The third objective was to examine any relationships between the scores on the identified cultural factors and the provision of MTM services. This study was a cross-sectional online survey for community pharmacists in the southeastern US. The survey contained questions on socialization/education, respondents’ self-reported provision of medication therapy management (MTM) services, and the organizational culture profile (OCP). Analyses included descriptive statistics, a principle components analysis (PCA), independent samples t-test, and multivariate ordinal regression. A total of 303 surveys were completed. The PCA revealed a six-factor structure: social responsibility, innovation, people orientation, competitiveness, attention to detail, and reward orientation. Further analysis revealed significant relationships between social responsibility and years in practice, and people orientation and attention to detail and pharmacists’ training and practice setting. Significant positive relationships were observed between social responsibility, innovation, and competitiveness and the increased provision of MTM services. The significant relationships identified between the OCP factors and community pharmacist respondents’ provision of MTM services provides an important starting point for developing interventions to improve the uptake of practice change opportunities.
The Second Visual System of The Tree Shrew

This review provides a historical account of the discovery of secondary visual pathways (from retina to the superior colliculus to the dorsal thalamus and extrastriate cortex), and Vivien Casagrande's pioneering studies of this system using the tree shrew as a model. Subsequent studies of visual pathways in the tree shrew are also reviewed, beginning with a description of the organization and central projections of the tree shrew retina. The organization and connectivity of second visual system components that include the retino-recipient superior colliculus, tecto-recipient pulvinar nucleus and its projections, and the tecto-recipient dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus and its projections are detailed. Potential functions of the second visual system are discussed in the context of this work and in the context of the behavioral studies that initially inspired the secondary visual system concept.
Compensating Differentials in Marriage Markets and more New Implications for Labor Supply Based on a Marshallian Marriage Market Analysis

Chapter 4 analyzed labor supply, assuming that there is only one type of man and one type of woman. The analysis here is at the micro level, in line with Chap. 3: it is assumed that there are many types of substitutable individuals participating in multiple markets for work-in-household (WiHo; defined in Chap. 2 and 3). A price mechanism based on market values of WiHo facilitates selection of spouses into marriages, assists individual household members in coordinating their time use decisions, and influences distribution of resources within the household. It is shown how individual characteristics such as age, race, and education may be associated with variation in WiHo prices and therefore labor supply. Characteristics of the self and the spouse are examined separately and implications for estimation methods are discussed. The model also calls for examination of the effect of laws and regulations affecting marriage market conditions. In the next chapter it is shown how this hedonic market model offers new insights on income and wage effects on labor supply. The sex ratio effects presented in Chap. 4 are also revisited.
Computationally feasible automated mechanism design: general approach and case studies

In many multiagent settings, a decision must be made based on the preferences of multiple agents, and agents may lie about their preferences if this is to their benefit. In mechanism design, the goal is to design procedures (mechanisms) for making the decision that work in spite of such strategic behavior, usually by making untruthful behavior suboptimal. In automated mechanism design, the idea is to computationally search through the space of feasible mechanisms, rather than to design them analytically by hand. Unfortunately, the most straightforward approach to automated mechanism design does not scale to large instances, because it requires searching over a very large space of possible functions. In this paper, we describe an approach to automated mechanism design that is computationally feasible. Instead of optimizing over all feasible mechanisms, we carefully choose a parameterized subfamily of mechanisms. Then we optimize over mechanisms within this family, and analyze whether and to what extent the resulting mechanism is suboptimal outside the subfamily. We demonstrate the usefulness of our approach with two case studies.
The intersection of nonlinear science, molecular biology, and condensed matter physics. Viewpoints

This conference, Nonlinear Excitations in Biomolecules (Les Houches, May 30 — June 4, 1994) has had a quite different purpose from the conventional scientific meeting; rather than focusing on a specific well developed topic or problems, the purpose here was to bring together scientists in three cultures — Molecular Biology, Condensed Matter Physics, and Nonlinear Science — as a first step toward addressing the question whether there are problems at the biomolecular level where new progress can be made through an interdisciplinary approach, particularly in theoretical and modeling methods.
Genotypes identified by genome-wide association analyses influence yearling pulmonary arterial pressure and growth traits in Angus heifers from a high-altitude beef production system

Abstract Reducing the prevalence of hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension (PH) remains a challenge to high-altitude beef production systems. Previous research and selection strategies have focused on the impact of bulls with PH in gain-test; however, little information is available on heifers that are typically developed in grazing systems. We hypothesized that indicator traits for PH in heifers are genomically associated with growth traits. The objectives of this study were to 1) identify SNP associated with yearling mean pulmonary arterial pressure (YPAP) and growth traits, 2) evaluate sequence variants common to YPAP and growth traits, and 3) identify underlying genes for QTL in Angus cattle. Yearling heifers (n = 1180) grazing in a high-altitude beef production system were measured for YPAP. Additionally, growth measures such as age of dam adjusted birth weight (BW), 205 d weaning weight (WW), 365 d yearling weight (YW), 365 d hip height (HH), and 160 d post-weaning gain (PWG) were also recorded. Isolated DNA from blood, hair, or blood card samples were analyzed using the Ilumina BovineSNP50 Beadchip. Genome-wide association analyses were conducted using an additive multi-locus mixed model with a 5% false discovery rate to account for multiple comparisons. Genotypes adjusted for FDR (P ≤ 1.00E−05; number of SNP) were associated with BW (2), YW (1), PWG (1), and HH (6), but no SNP were associated with YPAP or WW at this significance level. Associated SNP (P ≤ 1.00E−03; number of SNP) were identified for YPAP (37), BW (42), WW (31), YW (38), PWG (36), and HH (65). There was one SNP concordant with YPAP, YW, and HH, another with YPAP, YW, and PWG, and one SNP was concordant between YPAP and BW. Underlying genes within 1 kb of concordant SNP were SLC36A2 and CFAP58 and are involved in small amino acid transportation and cell cycle processes, respectively. Results suggested that 2 genomic regions may co-associate YPAP and growth traits. However, given these SNP accounted for
A case of cutaneous metastatic adenosquamous carcinoma of the cervix

Introduction: Cutaneous metastasis of cervical carcinoma is very rare, with a reported incidence of .1 to 2%. The adenosquamous carcinoma subtype has been reported the least. 3-5 We present a case report of ulceronodular cutaneous metastasis of adenosquamous carcinoma of the cervix. Case Description: A 50-year-old African American female with an eleven-year history of metastatic adenosquamous carcinoma of the cervix presented to the emergency department with an asymptomatic rash in her groin for one-month duration. On physical exam, there were hyperpigmented to violaceous papulonodules across the mons pubis and three ulcerated plaques of the left mons pubis. Punch biopsy was consistent with metastases of cervical adenosquamous carcinoma. No disease specific interventions were taken, and the patient passed away five weeks later. Discussion: Cervical cancer rarely metastasizes to the skin, with a reported incidence of .1 to 2%. Among the subtypes, cutaneous metastasis of cervical adenosquamous carcinoma has been reported the least. In a review of 1185 cases of cervical cancer , Imachi et al found that only 15 cases spread cutaneously, none of which were adenosquamous carcinoma. 5 Cutaneous metastases of cervical carcinoma predict a poor prognosis, with an average length of survival of three months. 6 Our patient developed cutaneous metastases eleven years after diagnosis, which is to our knowledge the longest reported interval from initial diagnosis to development of cutaneous metastases. Although rare, it is important to recognize cutaneous metastases of adenosquamous carcinoma of the cervix as it predicts a poor prognosis and treatment has not been shown to improve outcomes.
An updated review of the middle Eocene avifauna from the Geiseltal (Germany), with comments on the unusual taphonomy of some bird remains

Abstract The brown coal mines of the Geiseltal in Germany were among the most important middle Eocene fossil localities and constitute the reference sites for the Geiseltalian stage of the European Land Mammal Mega Zones. Here, an updated review of the Geiseltal avifauna is given. Thirteen species are represented by diagnostic bones and can be referred to avian higher-level taxa, but various indeterminable albeit distinct fossils indicate a higher diversity of the Geiseltal avifauna. The majority of the Geiseltal fossils belong to taxa, which are well known from early to mid-Ypresian fossil sites of Europe and North America. Some of the species from the Geiseltal are larger than their early Eocene relatives, but it remains elusive whether this indicates an evolutionary size increase in some avian lineages or reflects different palaeohabitats of the involved fossil sites. The Geiseltal avifauna exhibits some taphonomic peculiarities that have not yet been addressed. Most bird fossils consist of isolated bones or partial skeletons and here it is hypothesized that at least some of the fragmentary specimens represent feeding remains of crocodilians. For the first time, medullary bone, which is indicative of breeding females, is reported for birds from the Geiseltal. The comparative abundance of the coliiform species Eoglaucidium pallas is remarkable, and either this species was extremely abundant in the Geiseltal ecosystem or it had ecological preferences, which favored its preservation.
SARS-CoV2 in Different Body Fluids, Risks of Transmission, and Preventing COVID-19: A Comprehensive Evidence-Based Review

The world is combating a common and invisible enemy severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2), a highly transmissible virus responsible for serious respiratory illness coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). As with all respiratory viruses, public health measures are focused on contact tracing, isolation, and treatment of affected individuals, who have respiratory symptoms. However, it is spreading efficiently, and it can be explained from its stealth transmission from presymptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. Droplet and contact precautions are followed universally. Healthcare workers are at higher risk of acquiring infection and they are additionally required to follow airborne and eye protection. Recent studies indicate viral particles can be isolated from many body fluids including feces, saliva, semen, and tears, suggesting transmission could be possibly occurring through some of these routes as well. We have done an evidence-based review of all potential modes of transmission and discussed preventive measures to stop the spread. There is an urgent need for educating the healthcare professionals, governments, and public regarding other potential modes of transmission. Strict preventive measures need to be used to stop the spread.
Blunted PTH response to vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency and colorectal neoplasia risk.

Summary Background & aims In contrast to many observational studies, large-scale randomized trials do not support the protective role of vitamin D for the prevention of colorectal neoplasia. However, in previous studies, individuals with blunted parathyroid hormone (PTH) response to vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency (BPRVID), were not differentiated from those with high PTH response to vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency (HPRVID). Individuals with BPRVID are responsive to magnesium treatment, particularly treatment of magnesium plus vitamin D while those with HPRVID are responsive to vitamin D treatment. We prospectively compared these two distinct groups (i.e. BPRVID and HPRVID) for risk of incident adenoma, metachronous adenoma, and incident colorectal cancer (CRC) Methods Three nested case-control studies in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer (PLCO) Screening Trial. Results We found optimal 25(OH)D levels were associated with a significantly reduced risk of CRC, primarily among women. The associations between 25(OH)D and CRC risk significantly differed by PTH levels, particularly among women. Compared to individuals with optimal levels for both 25(OH)D and PTH, all others were at an elevated risk of incident CRC, primarily in women. We found those with BPRVID had 2.56-fold significantly increased risk of CRC compared to 1.65-fold non-significantly increased risk for those with HPRVID. Among women, we observed those with BPRVID had 4.79–6.25-fold significantly increased risks of incident CRC and adenoma whereas those with HPRVID had 3.65-fold significantly increased risk of CRC. Conclusions Individuals with BPRVID are at higher risks of incident adenoma and CRC compared to those with HPRVID, particularly among women.
Ultrasonic Measurements of Temperature Distribution in Extreme Environments: Results of Power Plant Testing

The most hardened insertion sensors do not perform reliably in extreme environmental conditions. We address this problem by developing an ultrasonic thermometry system for the measurements of segmental temperature distributions (MSTD) in solid materials and, specifically, across containments of energy conversion processes. The MSTD approach uses an echogenically segmented ultrasound propagation path, structured to contain engineered or naturally occurring echogenic features. In pulse-echo mode, these features produce a train of echoes in response to an external pulse of ultrasonic excitation created and acquired by a transducer located outside the extreme environment. The delays between the echoes encode the information on the temperature distribution in the corresponding segments of the ultrasonic propagation path, which we use to reconstruct an unknown temperature profile. This note describes the preliminary results and initial experience in applying the developed MSTD ultrasonic thermometry system to the measurements of temperatures in a utility-scale 500MW coal-fired boiler.
Numerical Study of Silicon PV Module for Reliability-enhanced Design under Thermal Cycling

The lifetime of solar cell modules is an important factor in the reduction of solar energy costs. To enhance the lifetime of silicon solar cell module under thermal cycling, numerical analysis and optimization are conducted on a conventionally designed solar cell module. A series of sensitivity studies with a numerical model reveals the thicknesses of Cu and Si should be reduced to enhance the lifetime under thermal cycling. The lifetime of the reliability-enhanced design is expected to increase by 159% compared to that of the conventional module.
Uncertainty-Based Adaptive Data Augmentation For Ultrasound Imaging Anatomical Variations

Data augmentation remains to be a simple and inexpensive method for generalizing across unseen domains. Current data augmentation methods for ultrasound imaging involve simple image transformations - rotations, flips, skews, and blurs - but are not able to adapt to the current state of the deep learning model. We present the first online adaptive data augmentation method that is able to generate synthetic training data on-the-fly, enabling the model to adapt to countless spatial deformations. Our proposed method leverages prior work on uncertainty quantification to understand the model’s weaknesses at any given stage. Our method is also able to then ”spot-augment” subsets of regions within the ultrasound image, all in a real-time manner. We also show that our proposed method is able to perform significantly better in out-of-true-training distributions, when compared against models trained on the same dataset.
An Imaging Overview of the Posterior Septum of the Knee and Trans-Septal Portal Procedure: Normal Anatomy, Indications, and Unique Imaging Considerations.

Abstract The posterior trans-septal portal technique is an arthroscopic surgery of the knee providing surgeons with the ability to fully visualize the posterior compartment. With this procedure, portals are placed at the posteromedial and posterolateral aspect of the knee. Visualization of the medial and lateral posterior compartments then allows working space for the creation of the intra-articular portal that is made by dividing the posterior septum. We provide an imaging overview of the posterior septum, the trans-septal portal technique, possible indications, and introduce how surrounding anatomy may warrant unique imaging considerations.
A Review of Neospora caninum in cattle

Neospora caninum is a protozoan similar to Toxoplasma and Sarcocystis species, and has become a commonly recognized cause of bovine abortion. Recent research has brought light on the epidemiology of N. caninum. Vertical transmission appears to be the primary method of infection, but horizontal transmission does occur and may be sufficient for maintenance of endemic infection within a herd. The coyote and domestic dog are definitive hosts for Neospora, and serologic studies show other wild canids can be infected as well. Herd control of infection may be attained by culling positive animals, preventing entry of positive animals and preventing likely routes of horizontal infection, although the economic value of these interventions requires further research.
Detecting coagulopathy in pediatric patients with post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage

Abstract Introduction Post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage (PTH) is a serious complication after a tonsillectomy. Utility of lab work at presentation for PTH was low. This study aims to determine the frequency and type of labs drawn at emergency department (ED) presentation and assess the incidence of uncovering a previously unidentified coagulopathy. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed on pediatric patients who were seen in the ED after tonsillectomy at a tertiary care children's hospital from 2017 to 2019. Exclusion criteria were the following: no tonsillar bleed, history of known coagulopathy, treated by outside provider, ≥18 years old. Lab work included complete blood count (CBC), prothrombin time (PT), partial thromboplastin time (PTT), and von Willebrand factor (VWF). Results 364/723 (50.3%) patients met inclusion criteria. 179/364 (49.2%) patients were male and 309/364 (84.9%) patients were Caucasian. Average age at surgery was 8.12 years (SD = 4.0) and average post-operative day at presentation was 6 days (SD = 2.1). Operative control of bleed was performed in 68/364 (18.7%) patients. 334/364 (91.8%) patients had labs drawn in the ED. 64/334 (19.1%) patients were anemic (hemoglobin (Hgb) 450,000), 10/334 (3.0%) had elevated PTT and 8/334 (2.4%) had elevated PT. Hematology was consulted in 14/364 (3.8%) patients of whom 6/14 were diagnosed with von Willebrand disease and 1/14 with factor VII deficiency. Aminocaproic acid was used in 8/364 (2.2%) patients due to elevated PTT in 3/8 and multiple episodes of bleeding in 5/8.3/364 (0.8%) patients needed a blood transfusion. No difference was found in incidence of abnormal lab work in patients who did and did not need operative control of bleed (p = .125). Of the 334 patients who had ED labs drawn, 7 (2.1%) had an uncovered coagulopathy. Conclusion Uncovering incidental coagulopathies is rare in patients who present with PTH. Though anemia was the most common abnormality noted, only a small percentage required transfusion, with all having abnormal vital signs. Thrombocytosis was the next common abnormality, and this can be seen in an inflammatory state. Developing algorithms is necessary to better guide appropriate lab work in patients who present with PTH and to provide optimal value of care to patients.
Investigating Carboxysome Morphology Dynamics with a Rotationally Invariant Variational Autoencoder

Carboxysomes are a class of bacterial microcompartments that form proteinaceous organelles within the cytoplasm of cyanobacteria and play a central role in photosynthetic metabolism by defining a cellular microenvironment permissive to $CO_2$ fixation. Critical aspects of the assembly of the carboxysomes remain relatively unknown, especially with regard to the dynamics of this microcompartment. We have recently expressed an exogenous protease as a way of gaining control over endogenous protein levels, including carboxysomal components, in the model cyanobacterium \textit{Synechococcous elongatus} PCC 7942. By utilizing this system, proteins that compose the carboxysome can be tuned in real-time as a method to examine carboxysome dynamics. Yet, analysis of subtle changes in carboxysome morphology with microscopy remains a low-throughput and subjective process. Here we use deep learning techniques, specifically a Rotationally Invariant Variational Autoencoder (rVAE), to analyze the fluorescence microscopy images and quantitatively evaluate how carboxysome shell remodelling impacts trends in the morphology of the microcompartment over time. We find that rVAEs are able to assist in the quantitative evaluation of changes in carboxysome location, shape, and size over time. We propose that rVAEs may be a useful tool to accelerate the analysis of carboxysome assembly and dynamics in response to genetic or environmental perturbation, and may be more generally useful to probe regulatory processes involving a broader array of bacterial microcompartments.
Revelation and Liberation

Despite African Americans’ long history of oppression, African American communities reflect significant strengths, derived in part from religion and religious beliefs.
Thermal and Electrothermal Instabilities in Semiconductors

Publisher Summary It is noted that many important features of a wide variety of solid-state devices result from situations, where a sufficiently high bias is applied so that the device either switches from one conductive state to another or oscillates between two different conductive states. Many of these phenomena are commonly classified as electronic instabilities. This chapter reviews the basic thermal and electrothermal instabilities that lead to breakdown, switching, or memory effects in semiconductor materials and devices. It discusses the thermistor, a device that essentially relies on the development of a temperature gradient induced by Joule heating in a material having proper variation of electrical conductivity with temperature. The thermistor can be stabilized at all of its I(Φ) points for proper set of circuit parameters. The chapter further discusses the general problem of heat flow in semiconductors with emphasis on thermally induced NDC, critical fields and temperatures, boundary conditions, and inhomogeneities. The chapter considers three specific configurations— namely, thin chalcogenide films, where critical electric field effects are important; VO2, where a critical temperature dominates; and second breakdown in transistors.
Amphetamine-Facilitated Poststroke Recovery

To the Editor: The poststroke recovery period represents a largely unexplored potential “window of opportunity” for therapeutic intervention. The studies by Stroemer and colleagues1 represent a significant contribution to our evolving understanding of the neurobiological processes underlying poststroke behavioral recovery and the potential mechanisms by which that recovery may be facilitated by treatment with amphetamine. These findings are of particular interest in view of other laboratory and clinically based reports. Several lines of evidence suggest that amphetamine’s effect on recovery is at least in part noradrenergically mediated. Pharmacological experiments have shown that centrally-acting α2-adrenergic receptor antagonists increase the rate of motor recovery,2 3 4 5 whereas the administration of an α2-adrenergic receptor agonist3 6 or selective α1-adrenergic receptor antagonists are detrimental.3 4 Furthermore, as referenced by Stroemer and colleagues,1 we found that pretreatment with a neurotoxin that depletes central norepinephrine ( N -(2-chloroethyl)- N -ethyl-2-bromobenzylamine) impairs motor recovery,7 a finding subsequently confirmed by others.8 Consistent with this result, intraventricular infusion of norepinephrine mimics the effect of amphetamine.9 The results of these pharmacological …
Premarital Counseling with Interchurch Couples

Abstract A significant number of marriages today arc interchurch, that is, marriages in which each spouse belongs to a different Christian church or denomination. The limited research on interchurch couples suggests that they are more at risk for divorce than same-church couples. A qualitative study and a national telephone survey were conducted by the Center for Marriage and Family at Creighton University to better understand interchurch marriages. Based on findings from these studies, clinical implications for premarital counseling with interchurch couples are presented. The findings suggest not only how to work with interchurch couples, but how religion can potentially impact all couples regardless of their denominational affiliation.
Indications for intervention during active surveillance of prostate cancer: a comparison of the Johns Hopkins and Prostate Cancer Research International Active Surveillance (PRIAS) protocols

Objective To analyse how patients enrolled in our biopsy based surveillance programme would fare under the Prostate Cancer Research International Active Surveillance (PRIAS) protocol, which uses PSA kinetics. Patients and Methods Since 1995, 1125 men with very-low-risk prostate cancer have enrolled in the AS programme at the Johns Hopkins Hospital (JHH), which is based on monitoring with annual biopsy. The PRIAS protocol uses a combination of periodic biopsies (in years 1, 4, and 7) and prostate-specific antigen doubling time (PSADT) to trigger intervention. Patients enrolled in the JHH AS programme were retrospectively reviewed to evaluate how the use of the PRIAS protocol would alter the timing and use of curative intervention. Results Over a median of 2.1 years of follow up, 38% of men in the JHH AS programme had biopsy reclassification. Of those, 62% were detected at biopsy intervals corresponding to the PRIAS criteria, while 16% were detected between scheduled PRIAS biopsies, resulting in a median delay in detection of 1.9 years. Of the 202 men with >5 years of follow-up, 11% in the JHH programme were found to have biopsy reclassification after it would have been identified in the PRIAS protocol, resulting in a median delay of 4.7 years to reclassification. In all, 12% of patients who would have undergone immediate intervention under PRIAS due to abnormal PSA kinetics would never have undergone reclassification on the JHH protocol and thus would not have undergone definitive intervention. Conclusions There are clear differences between PSA kinetics-based AS programmes and biopsy based programmes. Further studies should address whether and how the differences in timing of intervention impact subsequent disease progression and prostate cancer mortality.
Chorionic gonadotropin in the blood and urine during early pregnancy.

Abstract Since the development and use of biologic tests for pregnancy, there has been a considerable accumulation of uncoordinated data recording the time of appearance of chorionic gonadotropin in the urine and serum of women after fertilization. The appearance of this hormone has been variously recorded at "a few days after implantation of the ovum" 4, 13 to "two weeks after the expected but missed menstrual period." 3, 5, 14, 23 Browne and Venning dated the appearance of chorionic gonadotropin in the urine of women after fertilization at ten to thirteen days after the elevation of urinary pituitary gonadotropin associated with ovulation. 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 21 With such a paucity of accurate reports dealing with the time of the first appearance of chorionic gonadotropin in the urine and serum of pregnant women, there has been an accompanying lack of serial quantitative surveys of hormone levels during early pregnancy. In the few recorded cases, 6, 8, 16, 17, 20, 24, 25 serial assays were begun at forty to fifty days after the first day of the last normal menstrual period. Thus, there is a void in knowledge of the hormone levels between fertilization and the forty-day to fifty-day interval. The purpose of this investigation is to establish the time of first appearance of human chorionic gonadotropin in the urine and serum of women after fertilization and to determine quantitatively the concentrations of hormone throughout early pregnancy. In contrast to most previous reports, in which values are expressed in terms of one or another animal unit, this report will present values expressed in terms of international units. Although it is not possible to compare such values with previous ones, or for that matter to make comparisons among the previously reported values in terms of absolute amounts, the fluctuation curve of hormonal excretion can be compared relatively.
Atomistic quantum transport approach to time-resolved device simulations

Having access to time-resolved quantum transport data is beneficial for more accurate calculation of energy/delay device characteristics during turn on, for studying novel effects based on the wave function phase manipulation, and as an alternative research path to simulating dissipation and nonlocal scattering in real time. We present a time-resolved version of the quantum transmitting boundary method that relies on the efficient algorithms developed previously for the steady state version. Our method in principle can handle arbitrary time-dependent bias at gate and current-carrying lead terminals, where leads are limited to rigid spatial potential, and arbitrary atomistic geometries in the semi-empirical tight-binding basis. Using our method in the wide-band approximation, therefore relaxing the numerical complexities of energy scattering, we present the time-resolved results for important device quantities and discuss the limitations of the wide band approximation. We also discuss the potential of this method for parallelization by showing the computation time versus number of processes scaling results for multiple levels of parallelization.
Time-Dependent Pattern Formation for Two-Layer Convection

This article is a review of double-layer convection in which the pattern formation arises due to a competition between the bulk motions in each fluid (see Figure 1). An instability takes place when the temperature difference between the upper and lower walls reaches a threshold value, and the response of the two-layer system depends on the properties of the constituent fluids. Our motivation is the search for patterns formed in non-equilibrium fluid dynamical systems which exhibit time-dependence at or near the onset of a pattern. Such a time-dependent state is predicted for the two-layer Rayleigh-Benard system and is accessible experimentally as well as theoretically. We expect to see oscillatory and spatio-temporal chaotic behavior. The presence of the interface and the coupling between the fluids in this model problem may provide an understanding of generic behaviors in related applications, such as the modeling of the earth’s mantle as a two-layer convecting system [3, 11], and liquid encapsulated crystal growth [19].
Identification of Bordetella pertussis infection by shared-primer PCR.

A shared-primer PCR method for the detection of infection was developed by using primers derived from DNA sequences upstream of the structural genes for the porin proteins of Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella parapertussis. This method resulted in a 159-bp PCR product specific for B. pertussis and a 121-bp DNA fragment specific for B. parapertussis and allowed for the simultaneous detection of these pathogens. The PCR procedure was shown to be very specific since no PCR product was obtained from 36 non-Bordetella bacterial DNAs. Nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPAs) from children suspected of having pertussis were evaluated by the PCR method, culture, and the Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell assay, which detects pertussis toxin. B. pertussis was cultured from 119 of 205 NPAs assayed, and the presence of pertussis toxin was detected in 69 of the NPAs by the CHO cell assay. When ethidium bromide staining was used to detect PCR products, 100 NPAs gave positive results by shared-primer PCR; 94 of these NPAs were also positive by culture. The result indicated a sensitivity of 79% for PCR when culture was used as the standard. The sensitivity of PCR was increased to 95% when a digoxigenin immunoblot system was used. An additional 20 NPAs from patients with suspected pertussis that were culture negative also gave positive results by PCR. The specific and sensitive PCR method described here should be useful for both the clinical diagnosis of pertussis and case identification in vaccine trials. Images
Examining the effect of patient body size on 2D and 3D PET

482 Objectives: PET image quality deteriorates with increasing patient body mass due to a combination of greater image noise and reduced lesion contrast. For BGO systems, it has been shown that 3D acquisition is associated with a more significant deterioration than 2D. The objective of this study was to determine whether this was also the case for an LYSO scanner with improved 3D performance. Methods: The NEMA NU 2-2001 image quality phantom was used to assess 2D and 3D performance with and without an additional 10 kg of tissue-equivalent padding material. Paired images were acquired in each mode using an interleaved protocol (2D#1/ 3D#1/ 2D#2/ 3D#2) for both levels of attenuation, over a range of activity concentrations. All data were acquired on a GE Discovery RX: LYSO detectors, 425-650 keV, 6.5 ns, randoms from singles, 2D OSEM (2i, 21s, 5 mm post filter) and 3D OSEM (2i, 21s, 3 mm post filter). Image statistical quality (SNR) was measured for each acquisition mode and attenuation level by calculating both the mean and the difference between corresponding background pixels in the paired images. Results: Hot sphere recovery coefficients were significantly (p=0.002) greater for 3D compared to 2D with the standard phantom. With the padded phantom there was no significant difference (p=0.45) indicating matched contrast recovery between 2D and 3D. Image SNR in 3D divided by 2D was 1.59 ± 0.02 for the standard phantom and 1.71 ± 0.01 for the padded phantom indicating substantially lower noise in 3D for both phantom sizes. Conclusions: Although image noise deteriorated with increasing patient body mass, 3D acquisition did not lead to a greater noise deterioration than 2D for this LYSO scanner. Reduced contrast recovery in 3D for large patients was compensated by a slightly higher resolution reconstruction while still maintaining the noise advantage of 3D.
TAR loop-dependent human immunodeficiency virus trans activation requires factors encoded on human chromosome 12.

Abstract The trans-activator response region (TAR) RNA in the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and HIV-2 long terminal repeat forms stem-loop secondary structures in which the loop sequence is essential for trans activation. We investigated how the HIV trans-activation mechanism encoded on human chromosome 12 relates to the TAR RNA loop-dependent pathway. DNA transfection experiments showed that trans activation in human-hamster hybrid cells with the single human chromosome 12 and human T-cell lines was highly dependent on the native sequences of the HIV-1 TAR loop and the HIV-2 5' TAR loop. In nonhuman cell lines or hybrid cells without chromosome 12 that supported trans activation, the cellular mechanism was independent of the HIV-1 TAR loop and the response to mutations in the HIV-2 TAR loops differed from that found in human T-cell lines and human-hamster hybrid cells with chromosome 12. Our results suggest that the human chromosome 12 mechanism interacts directly with the TAR RNA loop or indirectly by regulating TAR RNA-binding proteins.
Gender Differences in Campaign Messages: The Political Advertisements of Men and Women Candidates for U.S. Senate:

In order to see whether men and women emphasize different messages in their campaigns, I examine the televised political advertisements of 38 candidates for the U.S. Senate between 1984 and 1986. In addition, I look at patterns of campaign coverage to determine whether the press distinguish between male and female candidates. Since a candidate's message will be most persuasive if that message is echoed by the press, gender differences in press treatment can have electoral consequences. The results of this study show that male and female senatorial candidates adopt campaign strategies that are similar on certain dimensions and strikingly different on others. Male and female candidates both prefer to focus on policy matters in their candidate-oriented appeals, although they rarely take specific stands on issues. Yet there are important gender differences in the advertisements of male and female candidates and these differences correspond to the candidates' stereotypical strengths. Men tend to concentrate on...
The TramTrak biopsy.

Background. A comparison of diseased areas of skin with adjacent normal skin is often useful in making a diagnosis. Fusiform incisional biopsies have been suggested as a means to this end. Objective. To describe a more effective alternative method for obtaining incisional biopsies. Methods. Text and photographs are used to demonstrate the technique and effectiveness of what we call the “TramTrak” biopsy. Results. This technique provides superior tissue samples with acceptable cosmetic results. Conclusion. The TramTrak biopsy has proven to be a versatile tool and a significant improvement over fusiform incisional biopsies.
Increase in Near-Surface Temperature Simulation Skill due to Predictive Soil Moisture in a Numerical Seasonal Simulation under Observed SST Forcing

Abstract Two sets of 12-yr eight-member ensemble integrations were run with the Experimental Climate Prediction Center’s (ECPC) seasonal forecast model (SFM) to investigate the sensitivity of near-surface temperature skill to evolving soil moisture. The first ensemble had evolving soil moisture, which was fully interactive with the atmospheric component of the model. The second ensemble had soil moisture fixed to the monthly climatological value. Several regions showed an increase in skill in the evolving soil moisture ensemble, including northeastern Australia, southeastern Africa, Europe, northern Brazil, Western Australia, northwestern Russia, Argentina, western Canada, and Indo-China. A survey of these regions showed that most had sensitivity to soil moisture following a peak rainy season, and of those, most also had a high soil moisture time-lag correlation (soil moisture memory) at that time. In a few of the regions high year-to-year soil moisture variability was an additional potential source of so...
The Impact of the Model of the Environment in Exergy Analyses

The values of absolute exergy and exergetic efficiency depend on the assumed values of the reference states, which are essentially a model of the environment of the processes and components considered. The environmental model plays an important role in any optimization process that uses any form of exergy-based analysis. This paper examines the influence of eleven previously proposed models for the environment on the absolute values of the exergy and on the exergetic efficiencies, associated with the operation of three different power plants. a methane cogeneration plant, a coal-fired plant, and a dual-flash geothermal power plant. It is observed that although there are some common characteristics in most of the values obtained from all the models, the absolute exergies and exergetic efficiencies calculated using some of these models deviate substantially from those obtained with the others. The reasons for these deviations are also examined here.
Amino acid receptor sites in the facial taste system of the sea catfish Arius felis

1. The amino acid sensitivity and specificity of the facial taste system of the marine catfish, Arius felis, is characterized electrophysiologically. 2. The facial taste system of Arius felis responded to all 28 amino acids tested, but was highly sensitive to only a few. In general, acidic amino acids and neutral amino acids with short side chains were more effective than imino, basic and neutral amino acids with long side chains. 3. A reciprocal cross-adaptation protocol used to characterize the receptor sites identified at least some relatively independent receptor sites for L-arginine, L-histidine, L-proline, L-alanine, glycine, D-alanine and L-glutamate. 4. Of the 7 amino acids that were indicated to have relatively independent receptor sites, the median electrophysiological threshold for L-alanine, the most stimulatory, and L-proline, the least stimulatory compounds, were 10 nM and 10,000 nM, respectively. The integrated facial taste response did not saturate at test amino acid concentrations up to 10 mM. 5. The generalized depression in responsiveness to test stimuli observed during amino acid adaptation is proposed to be a result of the co-distribution of sensitivity at the level of single taste cells rather than high cross-reactivity of the respective amino acid receptor sites for the test stimuli.
YELLOW JACKETS MAY BE AN UNDERESTIMATED COMPONENT OF AN ANT-SEED MUTUALISM

Abstract Yellow jackets (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) are attracted to the typically ant-dispersed seeds of trilliums and will take seeds from ants in the genus Aphaenogaster. To determine if yellow jacket, Vespula maculifrons (Buysson), presence interferes with seed foraging by ants, we presented seeds of Trillium discolor Wray to three species (A. texana carolinensis Wheeler, Formica schaufussi Mayr, and Solenopsis invicta Buren) of seed-carrying ants in areas where vespids were present or excluded. We found that interspecific aggression between yellow jackets and ants is species specific. Vespid presence decreased average foraging time and increased foraging efficiency of two of the three ant species studied, a situation that might reflect competition for a limited food source. We also found that yellow jackets removed more seeds than ants, suggestive that vespids are important, albeit underestimated, components of ant-seed mutualisms.
On the meaning and use of kurtosis.

For symmetric unimodal distributions, positive kurtosis indicates heavy tails and peakedness relative to the normal distribution, whereas negative kurtosis indicates light tails and flatness. Many textbooks, however, describe or illustrate kurtosis incompletely or incorrectly. In this article, kurtosis is illustrated with well-known distributions, and aspects of its interpretation and misinterpretation are discussed. The role of kurtosis in testing univariate and multivariate normality; as a measure of departures from normality; in issues of robustness, outliers, and bimodality; in generalized tests and estimators, as well as limitations of and alternatives to the kurtosis measure [32, are discussed.
Vegetation history of northcentral Alaska: A mapped summary of late-quaternary pollen data

Abstract Fossil pollen data, as illustrated by isopoll and isochrone maps, document the complex late Quaternary history of tundra and boreal forest development in northcentral Alaska. Major plant taxa behaved independently over time, resulting in substantial differences in the vegetation history of eastern and western regions. Major vegetation changes are in general agreement with GCM simulations and confirm the importance of the continental ice sheet and insolation variations in determining late Quaternary climatic trends. Herb-dominated tundra characterized the vegetation between 18 and 14 ka BP, with mesic graminoid tundra in lower elevations of western areas and more xeric, sparse tundra communities in the east and at higher elevations. Moist Betula tussock tundra rapidly replaced the western herb tundra ca. 14 ka BP. However, Betula shrubs expanded more slowly in the east, establishing relatively dry shrub tundra as the predominant regional vegetation by ca. 12 ka BP. River valleys and south-facing slopes supported Populus woodlands between 11 and 9 ka BP, but shrub tundra continued to dominate most upland sites. Alnus shrubs first expanded in the southwestern Brooks Range between 10 and 9 ka BP, spreading rapidly throughout the entire region between 8 and 7 ka BP. Picea glauca populations also expanded between 10 and 9 ka BP, but from source areas in northwestern Canada. The P. glauca forests were most abundant in riparian settings, but isolated stands probably also established in the shrub tundra. P. glauca reached the central Brooks Range by ca. 8 ka BP, followed by an apparent population decline between 8 and 7 ka BP. P. mariana became the dominant tree species ca. 6 ka BP, when it invaded non-riparian P. glauca forests in eastern and central areas and moist shrub tussock tundra in the west. The modern distribution of communities in northcentral Alaska was achieved between 6 and 4 ka BP.