cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of Fluorescent Carbon

Water insoluble fluorescent carbon particles were prepared by covalently attaching a BODIPY fluorophore to the surface. The fluorescence wavelength is not dependent on excitation wavelengths. Preliminary results on using the fluorescent carbon particles for the study of micro/nanofluidics are included.
The Role of Servant Leadership and Transformational Leadership in Academic Pharmacy

A variety of changes are facing leaders in academic pharmacy. Servant and transformational leadership have attributes that provide guidance and inspiration through these changes. Servant leadership focuses on supporting and developing the individuals within an institution, while transformational leadership focuses on inspiring followers to work towards a common goal. This article discusses these leadership styles and how they may both be ideal for leaders in academic pharmacy.
Using Static Analysis for Automated Assignment Grading in Introductory Programming Classes (Abstract Only)

Student experience in introductory computer science classes can be enhanced by applying static analysis techniques to automatically grade assignments. At Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), introductory computer science classes (using Python) exceed 650 students in size. As resources are limited, it is infeasible to have teaching staff individually examine each student's answer for small in-lecture exercises; however, qualitative data regarding student code independent from execution is still valuable (and in some cases required) to assess progress. When static analysis utilities were made available to instructors and integrated with automatic assignment testing, instructors were able to judge student performance and provide feedback at a scale that would otherwise be infeasible. There are clear advantages to applying static analysis techniques in comparison to less sophisticated methods (e.g. regular-expression based search). For one, students are unable to subvert grading by placing certain keywords within comments or string literals. Static analysis can also be applied to easily grade students on patterns that would be nontrivial to detect using a more naive method, for example in enforcing a rule that all member variables of a C++ class must be private, or verifying that a function takes the appropriate number and type of arguments.
Factors influencing children’s use of urban green spaces:

The purpose of this study was to investigate patterns and factors related to 6- to 12-year-old children’s and their parents’ green space use behaviours in Cayyolu neighbourhood of Ankara, Turkey. D...
Using multi-disciplinary optimization and numerical simulation on the transiting exoplanet survey satellite

The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is an instrument consisting of four, wide fieldof- view CCD cameras dedicated to the discovery of exoplanets around the brightest stars, and understanding the diversity of planets and planetary systems in our galaxy. Each camera utilizes a seven-element lens assembly with low-power and low-noise CCD electronics. Advanced multivariable optimization and numerical simulation capabilities accommodating arbitrarily complex objective functions have been added to the internally developed Lincoln Laboratory Integrated Modeling and Analysis Software (LLIMAS) and used to assess system performance. Various optical phenomena are accounted for in these analyses including full dn/dT spatial distributions in lenses and charge diffusion in the CCD electronics. These capabilities are utilized to design CCD shims for thermal vacuum chamber testing and flight, and verify comparable performance in both environments across a range of wavelengths, field points and temperature distributions. Additionally, optimizations and simulations are used for model correlation and robustness optimizations.
NiAu Single Atom Alloys for the Non-oxidative Dehydrogenation of Ethanol to Acetaldehyde and Hydrogen

Gold is examined here as an alternative to copper for the selective dehydrogenation of ethanol to acetaldehyde and hydrogen. Despite its high selectivity, gold is only active at temperatures higher than 250 °C for this reaction. We demonstrate that addition of a small amount of Ni on either supported or unsupported Au surfaces induces resistance to sintering, along with a beneficial effect on the catalytic activity. NiAu alloys prepared here with Ni as the minority component to the limit of atomic dispersion in the gold surfaces, catalyze the reaction beginning below 150 °C. A significant decrease of the apparent activation energy from 96 ± 3 kJ/mol for the monometallic Au to 59 ± 5 kJ/mol for the alloy was found. The Ni dispersion and concentration as a function of gas environment was followed by in situ DRIFTS and by XPS. The stability of the catalyst morphology was investigated through post-reaction microscopy imaging and long-term stability tests under reaction conditions. As shown via dynamic reaction experiments, acetaldehyde and H2 were selectively produced up to 280 °C. A small drop of selectivity at higher temperatures is attributed to the formation of Ni clusters, as proven by CO-DRIFTS on the used sample. Comparison with samples of higher Ni loading, where Ni clusters are formed, clearly shows that they catalyze the undesired full decomposition of ethanol to CO, CH4, and H2.
Health Mindset and Health Outcomes for Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes

Background: Health mindset theory is a novel approach to the study of health outcomes in pediatric populations. Health mindsets have been found to influence how individuals perceive illness and have been linked to health outcomes in adolescents with T1D. Specifically, individuals with a “fixed” mindset of health view illness more negatively and have worse outcomes than those with a “growth” mindset who believe that health can be improved through effort. Methods: A cohort of adolescents with T1D was followed across the transition from pediatric to adult care to assess differences in their health outcomes over time. We predicted that having a growth mindset would be a protective factor for young adults as they take greater control over their health care. Results: Ninety-one participants aged 12-19 with T1D were recruited, with 70 transitioning to adult care during the study period. 61% had a growth mindset while 39% had a fixed mindset of health. Overall, average A1c after transition was lower for participants with a growth vs. a fixed mindset. The most notable difference was found for participants who had the highest A1c before transition (>10%). In this group, growth-mindset adolescents showed a significant improvement in A1c levels compared to those with a fixed mindset (p Conclusion: In this study of adolescents with T1D, having a growth mindset was linked to better glycemic outcomes after transitioning to adult care. Improvement in A1c was greatest for those young adults with a growth mindset who had the poorest glycemic control before transition. This suggests that health mindset might interact with changes in age or maturity level, particularly for young adults, and so may prove to be a powerful target for efforts to improve health maintenance in this population. Disclosure L. Nally: None. C. Mueller: None.
Early Concept Learning in Children

Traditionally it has been assumed that children do not begin to form concepts until late in the second year and that these consist of concrete, basic-level notions such as dog or car. This view tended to confound concept learning with language acquisition, and is in decline because of new experimental research in infancy using nonverbal tests. The new research shows that during the first year infants form global and rather abstract concepts such as animal, vehicle, and furniture. It is thought that these concepts are defined in terms of knowledge about the roles that objects take in events. They allow infants to generalize from their limited experiences and make inductive inferences about how objects behave. Typically these early global concepts show little differentiation in the first year of life, but nevertheless are the foundation of the hierarchically organized adult conceptual system.
Dramatic Response to Concurrent Anti‐PD‐1 Therapy and Radiation in Resistant Tumors with Sarcomatoid Differentiation

A substantial fraction of patients demonstrate resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors, which limits their use. Use of radiation concurrently with checkpoint inhibitors has been shown to boost immune responsiveness, resulting in significant tumor regression in patients with metastatic melanoma. However, it is unknown whether radiation could play a role in reversing the inherent resistance to checkpoint inhibition in certain tumor types. Most trials testing this concurrent approach exclude such modestly responsive tumors and pursue checkpoint inhibition using anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 antibody (anti-CTLA-4, ipilimumab). The efficacy of anti-programmed-death-1 (anti-PD-1) therapy when used concurrently with radiation is less known but remains an attractive option due to less autoimmune toxicity compared with CTLA-4 inhibition. In this first reported experience, we have safely and effectively combined anti-PD-1 therapy (nivolumab) concurrently with radiation to treat two patients with relapsed sarcomatoid renal carcinoma and heavily pretreated pleomorphic sarcoma. Both patients experienced a dramatic response that was durable.
Visualizing Individual RuBisCO and its Assembly into Carboxysomes in Marine Cyanobacteria by Cryo-Electron Tomography

Abstract Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic organisms responsible for ~ 25% of the organic carbon fixation on earth. A key step in carbon fixation is catalyzed by ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO), the most abundant enzyme in the biosphere. Applying Zernike phase-contrast electron cryo-tomography and automated annotation, we identified individual RuBisCO molecules and their assembly intermediates leading to the formation of carboxysomes inside Syn5 cyanophage infected cyanobacteria Synechococcus sp. WH8109 cells. Surprisingly, more RuBisCO molecules were found to be present as cytosolic free-standing complexes or clusters than as packaged assemblies inside carboxysomes. Cytosolic RuBisCO clusters and partially assembled carboxysomes identified in the cell tomograms support a concurrent assembly model involving both the protein shell and the enclosed RuBisCO. In mature carboxysomes, RuBisCO is neither randomly nor strictly icosahedrally packed within protein shells of variable sizes. A time-averaged molecular dynamics simulation showed a semi-liquid probability distribution of the RuBisCO in carboxysomes and correlated well with carboxysome subtomogram averages. Our structural observations reveal the various stages of RuBisCO assemblies, which could be important for understanding cellular function.
Psychosocial Issues and Lifestyle Changes for the Renal Patient

This article provides an overview of the psychosocial issues faced by those with renal disease. The article discusses the physiologic connection between anxiety, depression, and pain-symptoms commonly seen in renal disease and other chronic illnesses. The application of integrative medicine or nonallopathic medicine and its role in the management of anxiety, depression, and pain are presented. Also presented is evidence surrounding several frequently used nonallopathic modalities appropriate for incorporation into a comprehensive management regimen for renal patients to reduce symptom burden. The article concludes with a discussion on the role of palliative care in treatment decisions for renal patients.
Initial orbit determination using Doppler shift of Fraunhofer lines

Techniques for tracking objects in low Earth orbit include line-of-sight angle measurements and range measurements using RADAR or laser reflection. However, active ranging techniques are less effective for higher orbits because of the greater signal loss from distant targets. In this paper, using computer simulation, we show how incorporating measurements of the Doppler shift of Solar Fraunhofer lines can improve initial orbit determination. Results indicate that for Doppler measurement errors of less than 5 m/s, prediction accuracies for some orbital configurations can exceed Gooding’s angles-only method, while using only two observations of the target.
Tackling Grand Challenges: Community Engagement and Collective Impact in Public Problem Solving.

In recent years, grand challenge initiatives have emerged nationally with the goal of addressing large, multidisciplinary public problems. The advent of university-led grand challenge initiatives offers an important opportunity to reflect on how institutions of higher education design, implement, and orient externally relevant activities at a time of public skepticism. With a focus on public problem solving, grand challenge initiatives offer a way to re-engage the public’s imagination and faith in higher education, depending on what these initiatives reflect about institutional values, practices, and work. We use this reflection opportunity to review early approaches to university-led grand challenge initiatives. We then propose that two frameworks should merge explicitly into grand challenge initiatives to guide public problem solving: community engagement and collective impact. Finally, we offer the establishment of a grand challenge initiative at the University of Denver (DU) as an example of the integration of community engagement and collective impact frameworks into the organization and implementation of institution-wide, publicly-engaged work.
Evolving institutions for collective action by selective imitation and self-interested design

Abstract Human behavior and collective actions are strongly affected by social institutions. A question of great theoretical and practical importance is how successful social institutions get established and spread across groups and societies. Here, using institutionalized punishment in small-scale societies as an example, we contrast two prominent mechanisms - selective imitation and self-interested design - with respect to their ability to converge to cooperative social institutions. While selective imitation has received a great deal of attention in studies of social and cultural evolution, the theoretical toolbox for studying self-interested design is limited. Recently Perry, Shrestha, Vose, and Gavrilets (2018) expanded this toolbox by introducing a novel approach, which they called foresight, generalizing standard myopic best response for the case of individuals with a bounded ability to anticipate actions of their group-mates and care about future payoffs. Here we apply this approach to two general types of collective action – “us vs. nature” and “us vs. them” games. We consider groups composed by a number of regular members producing collective good and a leader monitoring and punishing free-riders. Our results show that foresight increases leaders' willingness to punish free-riders. This, in turn, leads to increased production and the emergence of an effective institution for collective action. We also observed that largely similar outcomes can be achieved by selective imitation, as argued earlier. Selective imitation by leaders (i.e. cultural group selection) outperforms self-interested design if leaders strongly discount the future. Foresight and selective imitation can interact synergistically leading to a faster convergence to an equilibrium. Our approach is applicable to many other types of social institutions and collective action.
Innate Arthroscopic & Laparoscopic Surgical Skills: A Systematic Review of Predictive Performance Indicators Within Novice Surgical Trainees

Objective To query the literature for predictive factors for performance on arthroscopic and laparoscopic surgical simulators in novice surgical trainees. These predictive factors may prove a valuable tool in identifying certain innate potential to becoming a future skilled surgeon that could benefit both surgical residency candidates and program directors alike, while also improving patient care. Design Systematic Review. Results The initial searches yielded 249 articles. After screening titles/abstracts and implementing inclusion and exclusion criteria, 36 studies were included in the final systematic review. Conclusions Current literature suggests that video game experience/frequency, psychomotor and visuospatial aptitude, and perceptual ability are among the most promising predictive indicators of baseline simulator performance. Study limitations include utilization of different standards for characterizing predictive factors. Future studies should aim to utilize standard guidelines for accurate quantification of innate predictive factors. Future research should also focus on utilizing standardized simulator platforms and aptitude tests to allow for more accurate cross-study comparisons and meta-analyses with larger sample sizes.
Hydromorphone population pharmacokinetics in pediatric surgical patients

Background Hydromorphone is an opioid agonist used for pediatric analgesia. Due to lack of data, pediatric dosing (based on adult pharmacokinetic models) is not optimal. Aim This study characterizes hydromorphone population pharmacokinetics in pediatric surgical patients. Methods In this prospective observational study, 34 children (4-18 years, bodyweight 23-89.6 kg) received multiple intravenous hydromorphone boluses followed by postoperative hydromorphone patient-controlled analgesia. Arterial blood samples were collected before and at 3, 10, 30, and 90 (and few samples at 1350) minutes after the first dose. Hydromorphone concentrations were measured by validated LC-MS/MS assay. Nonlinear mixed-effects modeling was used for pharmacokinetic model development. The final population pharmacokinetic model was evaluated by visual predictive check and bootstrap analysis. Monte Carlo simulations based on the final pharmacokinetic model determined optimal patient-controlled analgesia parameters to achieve a target of 20 ng/mL (as the median effective analgesic concentration), using minimum effective analgesic concentration of 4 ng/mL as a proxy for patient-controlled analgesia dose demand, and not exceeding the defined safe upper threshold of 40 ng/mL. Results Hydromorphone pharmacokinetic profiles were adequately described by a two-compartmental model with first-order elimination. Bodyweight was found to be a significant covariate for hydromorphone clearance. Allometrically scaledpharmacokinetic parameter estimates (per 70 kg), systemic clearance (0.748 L/min), volume of distribution (33 L), peripheral clearance (1.57 L/min), and peripheral volume of distribution (146 L) were similar to reported adult parameter estimates. Sex, race, age, and type of surgery were not identified as significant covariates. To identify optimal patient-controlled analgesia dosing parameters, we simulated several initial loading doses, demand doses, and lockout intervals. Our simulations support an initial patient-controlled analgesia loading dose of 15 µg/kg followed by a demand dose of 6 µg/kg with lockout intervals of 20 minutes. Conclusions After intravenous hydromorphone, plasma pharmacokinetic profiles in children undergoing different surgeries were well described by a two-compartment population allometric pharmacokinetic model using bodyweight as the size descriptor. Model informed simulations identified patient-controlled analgesia parameters to inform initial settings, with adjustments as needed based on observed individual effects.
School Discipline as a Consequence of Violent Victimization in Adolescence: Understanding the Mediating Roles of Head Injury and Behavior.

Pathways from violence to head injury and poor long-term outcomes have been found among numerous populations, however, have not yet been widely examined with youth exposed to violence. Traumatic br...
Trends in the Use of Cardiac Assist Devices in Heart Failure Patients with Cardiogenic Shock

Introduction Currently, the most frequently used mechanical assist device for cardiogenic shock is the intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP). IABPSHOCK II trial in 2012 failed to show any benefits, therefore, the use of an IABP was downgraded to a Class IIA recommendation in the 2013 AHA/ACC guidelines. With recent innovations, the use of percutaneous ventricular assist devices (pVADs) is becoming common. We have looked at the recent trends in the use of pVADS and IABP in patients of heart failure with cardiogenic shock. Methods Data from national inpatient from the year 2002 to 2016 was used for temporal trends. ICD 9 and ICD 10 codes were used to identify patients of heart failure with cardiogenic shock and the use of heart assist devices. Pearson Chi-square was used for categorical variables and the t-test was used for continuous variables. Results We identified 319, 696 patient encounters. Median age was 68 (interquartile range 58-78) years. Mortality was very high at 27.0% (86,360). 30.8% (98,570) patients underwent left heart catheterization. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was done in 14.4% (45,914) patients. In 4.4%(13,977) external Left ventricular assist device (LVAD), in 3.0% (9525) percutaneous Ventricular assist devices (pVADs), in 20.3% (64,807) intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) and in 9.3 (29,861) vasopressors were used. There has been an increasing trend in the use of pVADs while a decreasing trend was noticed in the use of IABP. Vasopressin and LVADs have shown a variable trend (Figure). Conclusion Use of IABP has decreased while the use of pVADs has increased over the years in patients with cardiogenic shock.
A Novel Transdermal Application for Clearing Skin Colonization by Candida auris

BACKGROUND. Candida auris has demonstrated the ability to colonize the skin of hospitalized patients, possibly contributing to nosocomial spread. OBJECTIVE. The objective was to determine whether two novel transdermal agents could clear skin colonization established by C. auris METHODS. A murine skin colonization model was first optimized and then used to test fungal burden reduction following treatment with 1% terbinafine or 1% clotrimazole in a proprietary Advanced Penetration Technology formulation (APT™). RESULTS. Both treatments significantly reduced fungal burden compared to control groups. CONCLUSION. These novel agents show promise as a topical means of preventing skin colonization by C. auris.
Index of Suspicion in the Nursery

A female neonate born at 40 weeks’ gestation presents with failure to void for 48 hours. The mother is an 18-year-old primiparous female who had no significant past medical history or pregnancy complications. Results of prenatal blood tests and ultrasonographic screenings were unremarkable. Maternal screening documented B-positive blood type, rubella immune, negative syphilis screen, negative hepatitis B surface antigen, and positive group B streptococcal screen with adequate treatment during the antepartum period. The infant was delivered via spontaneous vaginal delivery with Apgar scores of 8 and 9 at 1 and 5 minutes, respectively. The infant was transferred to the newborn nursery for routine newborn care. Initial vital signs in the newborn nursery were: Her initial glucose measurement was 47 mg/dL (2.6 mmol/L). Other than macrosomia, her initial physical examination findings were within normal limits, including normal results of a head, eyes, ears, nose, and throat examination. The lungs were clear to auscultation. Cardiac examination revealed a regular rate and rhythm without murmurs. The abdomen was soft, with normal, active bowel sounds and no palpable masses. Genitourinary examination revealed normal external female genitalia and a normal-appearing urethral opening. The back and anal examinations revealed no pits, hair tufts, dimples, or vertebral anomalies. The infant had normal proximal and distal tone, with normal primitive and deep tendon reflexes. She did well throughout her first postnatal day, with her vital signs remaining within normal limits and her glucose values ranging from 59 to 67 mg/dL (3.3 to 3.7 mmol/L). She breastfed well every 2 to 3 hours and passed five meconium stools within her …
Insights from chemical systems into Turing-type morphogenesis.

In 1952, Alan Turing proposed a theory showing how morphogenesis could occur from a simple two morphogen reactiondiffusion system [Turing, A. M. (1952) Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. A 237, 3772. (doi:...
Plume Dispersion of Dilute Suspensions: A Model of Barge Overflow Adapted for Use in a Personal Computer

A practical method was developed to estimate the areal extent of the plume associated with the overflow of dredged material during barge filling operations in shallow waters. The predictive model is based on the Okubo-Pritchard relationship for horizontal diffusion; it solves the transport equation which governs the distribution of total suspended solids or dissolved species. The model runs in a Personal Computer and provides the spatial distribution of particulate concentrations in the plume from minimum information on local hydrography, the intensity of advective and dispersive processes and the characteristics and discharge rate of the dredged material. The extent of the plume is defined as the isoline of acceptable concentration of a specified material. The rate of decay of the plume once the overflow terminates is also computed.
Applications of the Method of Differential Inequalities in Singular Perturbation Problems

Publisher Summary The maximum principle, a very important special case of the method of differential inequalities, is well known for its applicability in singular perturbation problems. The technique of differential inequalities is been effectively utilized to give an elegant, unified and comprehensive treatment of some classical singular perturbed nonlinear second order boundary value problems. The chapter illustrates the versitility and applicability of differential inequalities in singular perturbation problems by studying the model nonlinear singular perturbation problem whose solutions exhibit a wide variety of interesting behavior. But, one or more solutions of the reduced problem may be required to approximate the solution y, and the transition may occur in an interior boundary (shock) layer. The chapter discusses the principle existence and comparison theorem, the model problem, Nagumo theorem, and various theorems.
Current prospects for the treatment of clinical sepsis.

OBJECTIVES: To review the role of antimediator therapy in the inflammatory cascade associated with sepsis, and to review the status of animal and clinical studies being conducted on novel therapies for septic shock. DATA SOURCES: Information presented at the 22nd Educational and Scientific Meeting of the Society of Critical Care Medicine on June 9-13, 1993 in New York City was reviewed, along with supportive documentation from the English language literature. STUDY SELECTION: Controlled animal studies that provide evidence for the effectiveness of antiendotoxin and anticytokine therapies. The preliminary results of selected clinical trials are also presented. DATA EXTRACTION: This review focuses on data describing the potential role of mediator antagonists in the treatment of septic shock. DATA SYNTHESIS: Information concerning the effectiveness and tolerability of these therapies has been integrated into a description of emerging therapies for septic shock. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical trials of antiendotoxin antibodies have not shown them to have therapeutic benefit. New agents that neutralize or antagonize the cellular effects of endotoxin may provide an alternative means to inhibit endotoxin effects during severe Gram-negative infections. Anti-interleukin-1 and antitumor necrosis factor-alpha therapies have demonstrated efficacy in animal models, but the results have been inconsistent in human trials. Preliminary results from clinical trials of cytokine antagonists suggest that these therapies may be effective in the most severely ill patients. Further clinical trials will be required to determine the therapeutic role of these agents in septic shock.
Evidence for an Altered Operator Specificity: Catabolite Repression Control of the Leucine Operon in Salmonella typhimurium

A mutation, GD-1, in the leucine operon imposed unusual growth characteristics upon a leucine auxotrophic strain bearing the leucine operator mutation, leu-500. The strain with the GD-1 mutation was able to grow on a minimal salts medium when citrate was the sole carbon source, but required leucine when glucose was present. Tests with a large number of carbohydrates suggest that in the strain bearing the GD-1 mutation the leucine biosynthetic enzymes are under catabolite repressor control. Recombination studies indicate that the GD-1 mutation is a secondary alteration of the leucine operator at or very close to the site of the leu-500 mutation. Mutations at the supX locus (previously termed su leu 500 and located on the chromosome between the cysteine B and tryptophan gene clusters) result in elimination of the catabolite repression effect. The data are interpreted as an indication that the GD-1 and leu-500 mutations alter the leucine operator with respect to its specificity of response to repressors.
Economic Transformation and Urban-Rural Disparity in China, 2002-2008

The year 2008 marked the 30th anniversary of China's beginning on its path of economic transformation. During the past three decades, a series of reform policies have been carried out to liberalize the economy and attract foreign investments. Rapid economic growth is accompanied by rising inequality. The Gini Coefficient of China increased from 0.23 in 1980 to 0.47 in 2005, according to official statistics (NBS). This disequalizing trend coincides with the initial stage of the debated Kuznets curve in which inequality of income distribution first increases during urbanization because of the difference between returns to industries and agriculture; then decreases as a result of the spill-over effect of macroeconomic growth. Question remains whether China's inequality has reached the top of the U-curve and started the down-sloping trend of inequality or has yet to experience more acute inequality. This paper chiefly focuses on urban-rural inequality, especially urban-rural income inequality in China from 2002 to 2008, a recent time period that has been relatively less researched, with regard to intra urban and intra rural inequality, to analyze the trend of China's inequality. It also addresses emerging factors that can potentially reshape China's landscape of inequality such as rural-to-urban migration and policy responses.
Logistic Regression in Practice

This article deals with the use of logistic regression to model data, where the response variable is binary and there are potentially numerous explanatory or predictor variables. Methods of estimating the coefficients in the model and procedures for hypothesis testing are considered. The correspondence of the coefficients of the logistic regression model to the odds ratio is noted along with methods for computing point estimates and confidence intervals for the odds ratio. Interpretation of coefficients for dichotomous, polytomous, and continuous independent variables is carefully developed. Confounding and effect modification are easily dealt with through the use of this modeling technique. All these concepts are illustrated through the analysis of low birth weight data. Keywords: binary response; logit transformation; maximum likelihood; likelihood ratio test; odds ratio; confounding; effect modification
Did the JOBS Act Benefit Community Banks? A Regression Discontinuity Study

This study examines the effect of section 601(a)(2) of the Jumpstart Our Small Business (JOBS) Act of 2012, which modified the threshold for unlisted banks and bank holding companies (BHCs) to deregister under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 from 300 to 1,200 shareholders of record. This change in the cutoff permits utilizing the quasi-experimental technique of regression discontinuity to identify the causal effect of Exchange Act deregistration on the performance of banks and BHCs that took advantage of the statutory change. Using an original dataset consisting of 187 community banks and a novel application of comparative interrupted time series analysis to regression discontinuity, I estimate the local average treatment effect of deregistration on compliers. Consistent with theory and qualitative evidence that the JOBS Act was beneficial for smaller banks, deregistration caused $1.27 higher net income and $3.38 lower pretax expenses per $1 of average assets, and $1.24 million greater assets per employee. However, deregistered banks also had $2.35 lower pretax income and $1.95 lower equity capital per $1 of assets.
Pharmaceutical Care of Biotechnology: Distribution, Pharmacoeconomics, Product Evaluation, and Specialty Practice Considerations:

Providing biotechnology pharmaceutical care poses unique challenges for pharmacists. Biotechnology products often have special requirements for storage, dispensing, and administration which have tr...
Shaping the Chaos: Carmen Martin-Gaite and the Never-Ending Tale

Carmen Martin-Gaite is among the most active writers working in Spain today. She has won numerous awards for her fiction and is well known also for her essays and scholarly works.' In addition to her recent writing of a novella-length fairy tale, El Castillo de las tres murallas (1981), she has currently been involved with Spanish television, writing the script for the highly-acclaimed four-part series on the life of Saint Teresa, and preparing a prize-winning documentary on her native city of Salamanca.
Activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) leads to reciprocal epigenetic regulation of FoxP3 and IL-17 expression and amelioration of experimental colitis.

Background Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a transcription factor of the bHLH/PAS family, is well characterized to regulate the biochemical and toxic effects of environmental chemicals. More recently, AhR activation has been shown to regulate the differentiation of Foxp3+ Tregs as well as Th17 cells. However, the precise mechanisms are unclear. In the current study, we investigated the effect of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), a potent AhR ligand, on epigenetic regulation leading to altered Treg/Th17 differentiation, and consequent suppression of colitis. Methodology/Principal Findings Dextran sodium sulphate (DSS) administration induced acute colitis in C57BL/6 mice, as shown by significant weight loss, shortening of colon, mucosal ulceration, and increased presence of CXCR3+ T cells as well as inflammatory cytokines. Interestingly, a single dose of TCDD (25 µg/kg body weight) was able to attenuate all of the clinical and inflammatory markers of colitis. Analysis of T cells in the lamina propria (LP) and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), during colitis, revealed decreased presence of Tregs and increased induction of Th17 cells, which was reversed following TCDD treatment. Activation of T cells from AhR+/+ but not AhR -/- mice, in the presence of TCDD, promoted increased differentiation of Tregs while inhibiting Th17 cells. Analysis of MLN or LP cells during colitis revealed increased methylation of CpG islands of Foxp3 and demethylation of IL-17 promoters, which was reversed following TCDD treatment. Conclusions/Significance These studies demonstrate for the first time that AhR activation promotes epigenetic regulation thereby influencing reciprocal differentiation of Tregs and Th17 cells, and amelioration of inflammation.
Inhibition of in vitro pituitary gonadotropin secretion by 17β-estradiol in the frog Rana pipiens

Abstract We tested the effects of low concentrations of 17β-estradiol (E 2 ) on the in vitro pituitary responsiveness to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in frogs ( Rana pipiens ). We first showed that the pH indicator phenosulfonpthalein (phenol red. PR) at levels normally used in the culture medium did not significantly affect pituitary basal or GnRH-stimulated gonadotropin secretion in male glands, as may occur in mammals. Incubation of male glands with E 2 at 10 pg/ml for 24 hr in medium lacking PR did not alter basal follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) or luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion, but significantly attenuated responsiveness of both gonadotropins to GnRH (0.2, 1, and 5 ng/ml); E 2 did not affect responses at the highest dose of GnRH (25 ng/ml). GnRH responsiveness of female pituitaries was also inhibited by E 2 at all doses of GnRH; 1 ng/ml E 2 had greater effects than did 10 pg/ml. The present results demonstrate that E 2 at concentrations commonly found in the circulation of both sexes have a consistent direct inhibitory effect on FSH and LH secretion at the level of the pituitary.
Early Ad-2 transcription units: only promoter-proximal RNA continues to be made in the presence of DRB.

Abstract The nucleoside analog 5,6-dichloro-1-β-D-ribofuranosylbenzirnidazole (DRB) causes premature termination of adenovirus type 2 (Ad-2)-specific RNA chains close to their initiation sites late in virus infection of HeLa cells ( N. W. Fraser, P. B. Sehgal, and J. E. Darnell, 1978 , Nature (London) 272, 590–593). The same phenomenon appears to occur for most of the early Ad-2 transcription units as well. In the presence of DRS, [3H]uridine continued to be incorporated into short 4 S to 10 S RNA that hybridized to DNA restriction fragments previously shown to contain promoter sites for RNA synthesis (rightward reading) SmaI j (0.0–3.0), EcoRI D (75.9–83.10; and leftward reading EcoRl C (89.7–100), EcoRI F (70.7–75.9). In addition a smaller amount of pulse-labeled RNA was found to hybridize to Smal f (11.6–18.2) (leftward reading) than in the above regions and labeling of a portion of this RNA also resisted DRB treatment. Finally the region from 3.0–11.1 (SmaI e) may contain one or more early rightward reading promoter sites. It is also possible that this region contains a DRB-resistant transcription unit. Since the accumulation of promoter-proximal labeled RNA chains in DRB could be observed after a 10-min [3H]-uridine label, the drug may be useful in allowing accumulation of promoter-proximal RNA sequences for analysis.
Cross-correlation of fetal cardiac and somatic activity as an indicator of antenatal neural development

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we wanted to model the emergence of coupling between fetal cardiac and somatic activity in normal and at-risk fetuses. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred six fetuses of uncomplicated pregnancies were longitudinally monitored at 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, and 38 weeks of gestation by using a fetal actocardiograph and computerized data collection. Twenty-six fetuses of complicated pregnancies were also included. Statistical time series analysis techniques were used to examine the relation between fetal movement and fetal heart rate. RESULTS: A linear increase was found in the magnitude of the cross-correlation function between fetal movement and fetal heart rate as gestation advanced, with coalescence around a peak lag of 5 seconds by 32 weeks. Fetuses that delivered before term evidenced accelerated fetal movement and fetal heart rate coupling, whereas fetuses affected by deleterious conditions showed a decline in developmental trajectory. CONCLUSIONS: The cross-correlation between fetal cardiac and somatic activity is an indicator of neuroregulation in human fetuses. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;185:1421-8.)
Coordinate behavior of orotate phosphoribosyltransferase and orotidylate decarboxylase in developing mouse liver and brain.

Abstract A large body of data has accumulated in recent years supporting the view that orotate phosphoribosyltransferase and orotidylate decarboxylase exist as a bifunctional enzyme complex in adult mammalian tissues. This paper presents evidence that such a complex also occurs in mouse liver and brain, regardless of the developmental stage of the animal. Orotate phosphoribosyltransferase and orotidylate decarboxylase activities remained coordinate in fetal, neonatal, immature and adult liver and brain. In addition, these two enzymes routinely cosedimented during centrifugation of cell-free extracts in sucrose gradients. The sedimentation coefficient of the enzyme complex did not change significantly during mouse development. However, the liver complex exhibited a sedimentation coefficient (5.0 ± 0.2) that differed from that of the brain complex (4.3 ± 0.1)
Statistical modeling of harvestable kinetic energy for wearable medical sensors

Energy Harvesting (EH) refers to the process of capturing and storing energy from external sources or ambient environment. Kinetic energy harvested from the human body motion seems to be one of the most convenient and attractive solution for wearable wireless sensors in healthcare applications. Due to their small size, such sensors have a very limited battery power supply, which necessitates frequent recharge or even sensor replacement. Energy harvesting can prolong the battery lifetime of these sensors. This could directly impact their everyday use and significantly help their commercial applications such as remote monitoring. In this paper, our aim is to estimate the amount of harvestable energy from typical human motion. To simplify the measurement process, we focus on the amount of kinetic energy harvested from the human forearm motion. We provide statistical analysis of measurements taken from 40 test subjects over a period of 8 hours during the day. Using this information and knowing the operational architecture of the harvesting device, the distribution of harvestable energy can also be determined. Our objective is to study whether kinetic energy generated by typical human forearm motion could be a promising supplemental energy resource that prolongs the operational lifetime of wearable medical sensors.
BLOOD DISORDERS AND CARDIAC MORPHOGENESIS

An epidemiologic study of congenital heart disease (CHD) is in progress in the Baltimore-Washington area of 85,000 annual births. Infants with CHD are studied in comparison to a representative sample of the birth cohort. Family histories of 696 cases and 908 controls reveal heritable blood disorders (HBD) in 1% of CHD infants and/or parents, including hemophilia, von Willebrand's disease (v. W's), spherocytosis, thalassemia and sickle cell disease (SCD); only SCD occurred in 2 controls. Additional cases gathered from pediatric cardiologists and the literature suggest that transposition of the great arteries and valve lesions are predominant with HBD. An etiologic association is biologically plausible: cyanotic and acyanotic CHD occur with various coagulopathies and with familial fibrinogen and coagulation factor deficiencies; v. W's is linked with mitral valve prolapse and teleangiectasias.
Insect pollination in the New Zealand mountain flora

Abstract A wide variety of lepidopterans, bees, flies, and beetles visit the flowers of most species of New Zealand montane plants. Of the 82 plant Species which were well-collected, 4 species (Pterostylis sp., Pratia macrodon, Mazus radicans, and Dracophyllum acerosum) exhibited specialised pollination relationships with an insect order; 3 species (Cyathodes fraserii, Microris unifolia, and Thelymitra venosa) are not apparently visited by insects; and the remaining 7S species are visited by a variety of insects in 2 or more orders. Introduced plant species in the Composite family are visited predominantly by introduced bumblebees. Bees in the genera Lasioglossum and Leioproctus are abundant flower visitors. The most common lepidopteran flower visitors are in the families Noctuidae, Geometridae, and Pyralidae, and the genus Lycaena. Dipterans, in particular tachinids and syrphids, are numerically the most abundant flower visitors, and visit a wide range of species. The syrphid Melangyna novaezelandiae vis...
Factorization of Period Integrals

Abstract We show that for certain quadratic extensions E / F of number fields the period integral of a cusp form of GL (3, E ) over the unitary group H 0 in three variables is a product of local linear forms.
Sexual functioning among endometrial cancer patients treated with adjuvant high-dose-rate intra-vaginal radiation therapy.

Purpose We used the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) to investigate the prevalence of sexual dysfunction (SD) and factors associated with diminished sexual functioning in early stage endometrial cancer (EC) patients treated with simple hysterectomy and adjuvant brachytherapy. Methods and Materials A cohort of 104 patients followed in a radiation oncology clinic completed questionnaires to quantify current levels of sexual functioning. The time interval between hysterectomy and questionnaire completion ranged from 5 years. Multivariate regression was performed using the FSFI as a continuous variable (score range, 1.2-35.4). SD was defined as an FSFI score of Results SD was reported by 81% of respondents. The mean (± standard deviation) domain scores in order of highest-to-lowest functioning were: satisfaction, 2.9 (±2.0); orgasm, 2.5 (±2.4); desire, 2.4 (±1.3); arousal, 2.2 (±2.0); dryness, 2.1 (±2.1); and pain, 1.9 (±2.3). Compared to the index population in which the FSFI cut-score was validated (healthy women ages 18-74), all scores were low. Compared to published scores of a postmenopausal population, scores were not statistically different. Multivariate analysis isolated factors associated with lower FSFI scores, including having laparotomy as opposed to minimally invasive surgery (effect size, −7.1 points; 95% CI, −11.2 to −3.1; P P =.040), and short time interval ( P =.059). Conclusions The rate of SD, as defined by an FSFI score
Acetaminophen inhibits cytochrome c redox cycling induced lipid peroxidation.

Cytochrome (cyt) c can uncouple from the respiratory chain following mitochondrial stress and catalyze lipid peroxidation. Accumulating evidence shows that this phenomenon impairs mitochondrial respiratory function and also initiates the apoptotic cascade. Therefore, under certain conditions a pharmacological approach that can inhibit cyt c catalyzed lipid peroxidation may be beneficial. We recently showed that acetaminophen (ApAP) at normal pharmacologic concentrations can prevent hemoprotein-catalyzed lipid peroxidation in vitro and in vivo by reducing ferryl heme to its ferric state. We report here, for the first time, that ApAP inhibits cytochrome c-catalyzed oxidation of unsaturated free fatty acids and also the mitochondrial phospholipid, cardiolipin. Using isolated mitochondria, we also showed that ApAP inhibits cardiolipin oxidation induced by the pro-apoptotic protein, tBid. We found that the IC50 of the inhibition of cardiolipin oxidation by ApAP is similar in both intact isolated mitochondria and cardiolipin liposomes, suggesting that ApAP penetrates well into the mitochondria. Together with our previous results, the findings presented herein suggest that ApAP is a pleiotropic inhibitor of peroxidase catalyzed lipid peroxidation. Our study also provides a potentially novel pharmacological approach for inhibiting the cascade of events that can result from redox cycling of cyt c.