cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In-situ TEM study of the aging micromechanisms in a BaTiO3-based lead-free piezoelectric ceramic

Abstract Aging and fatigue are the two main concerns regarding the performance reliability of piezoelectric ceramics. Compared with fatigue, less efforts have been made towards clarifying the micromechanisms of aging. In this report, we employ electric field in-situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to directly visualize the domain structure evolution during fatigue and the subsequent aging process in the 0.5Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3–0.5(Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3 (BZT–BCT) polycrystalline ceramic. The macroscopic aging behaviors, including the development of internal bias field (Ebias) and the degradation in switchable polarization (2Pr), are correlated with the microscopic domain wall clamping and domain disruption resulted from the redistribution of oxygen vacancies driven by depolarization field.
Uniformization in Several Complex Variables

In this chapter we survey the current state of the theory of uniformization in several complex variables. In the case of one complex variable the uniformization theorem says that a simply connected Riemann surface is either the Riemann sphere ℙ1, or the open unit disk Δ or the Gaussian plane ℂ. The theory of uniformization in the higher-dimensional case attempts to find a suitable analog of it in the case of several complex variables. In the case of several complex variables the analog of ℙ1 is the Hermitian symmetric manifold of compact type. That means the complex projective space ℙ n , the hyperquadric\(\sum _{v=0}^{n+1}z_{v}^{2}=0\)in ℙ n+1 the Grassmannians, etc. The analog of Δ is the bounded symmetric domain. That means the open ball in ℂ n , the set of all m × n matrices A with I — AA t negative definite (with no symmetry conditions on A, or with the additional condition of skew-symmetry or symmetry on A), etc. The analog of ℂ is simply ℂ n . The problem is the following: when is a given complex manifold biholomorphic to a Hermitian symmetric manifold of compact type, a bounded symmetric domain, or the complex Euclidean space? In the case of Riemann surface the property of simple connectedness is sufficient to narrow it down to ℙ1, Δ, or ℂ. The topological condition of compactness separates ℙ1 from Δ andℂ. To distinguish between Δ and ℂ, one needs conditions such as curvature assumptions. In the case of higher dimension is it possible to characterize the symmetric spaces by topological or curvature or other conditions? Such a characterization is also known by the name of rigidity or strong rigidity, which means that it is not possible to deform the manifold or find a different one under such conditions.
Lake levels in a discontinuous permafrost landscape: Late Holocene variations inferred from sediment oxygen isotopes, Yukon Flats, Alaska

ABSTRACTDuring recent decades, lake levels in the Yukon Flats region of interior Alaska have fluctuated dramatically. However, prior to recorded observations, no data are available to indicate if s...
Integrating Care and Critical Reflection in Women’s Leadership Development Programs

Women’s leadership development programs (WLDPs) have been suggested as programmatic additions for achieving gender-equity in organizational contexts. These programs are conceptualized as transformative learning spaces affording women the opportunity to explore uncritically examined assumptions and create new perspectives of themselves as leaders. This paper explains how these types of transformative learning environments are predicated on dialogue that encourages critical reflection in the context of caring relationships. Recognizing that women may arrive in leadership programs with varied capacities for both relational learning and critical reflection, this paper seeks to explore the communication practices needed to create the dialogic conditions of care and critical reflection. It outlines the results of a qualitative study that examined critical incidents of dialogue in a women’s leadership development program to demonstrate the ways in which facilitators communicate to create these conditions. The results suggest how taking a communication perspective on dialogue may increase a facilitator’s capacity to integrate care and critical reflection.
Repartnering Following Gray Divorce: The Roles of Resources and Constraints for Women and Men

The doubling of the gray divorce rate (i.e., divorce at age 50 or older) over the past few decades portends growth in later-life repartnering, yet little is known about the mechanisms undergirding decisions to repartner after gray divorce. Using data from the 1998-2014 Health and Retirement Study, we examined women's and men's likelihoods of forming a remarriage or cohabiting union following gray divorce by estimating competing risk multinomial logistic regression models using discrete-time event history data. About 22 % of women and 37 % of men repartnered within 10 years after gray divorce. Repartnering more often occurred through cohabitation than remarriage, particularly for men. Resources such as economic factors, health, and social ties were linked to repartnering, but constraints captured by the contours of the marital biography were also salient, underscoring the distinctive features of union formation in later life.
Can the Presence of Autonomous Vehicles Worsen the Equilibrium State of Traffic Networks

It is known that autonomous vehicles are capable of maintaining shorter headways and distances when they form platoons of vehicles. Thus, deployment of autonomous vehicles can result in roadway flow capacity increases in traffic networks. Consequently, it is envisioned that their deployment will boost the overall capacity of the network. In this paper, we consider a nonatomic routing game on a traffic network with inelastic (fixed) demands for the set of network O/D pairs, and study how replacing a fraction of regular (i.e. nonautonomous) vehicles by autonomous vehicles will affect the network total delay, under the assumption that the vehicles choose their routes selfishly. Using well known US bureau of public roads (BPR) traffic delay models, we show that the resulting Wardrop equilibrium is not necessarily unique even in its weak sense for networks with mixed autonomy. We derive the conditions under which the total network delay is guaranteed to not increase as a result of increasing the ratio of autonomous vehicles. However, we also show that when these conditions do not hold, counter intuitive behaviors might occur: the total delay can grow by increasing the fraction of autonomous vehicles in the network. In particular, we prove that for networks with a single O/D pair, if the road degree of capacity asymmetry (i.e. the ratio between the road capacity when all vehicles are regular and the road capacity when all vehicles are autonomous) is homogeneous, the total network delay is 1) unique, and 2) a nonincreasing continuous function of network autonomy fraction. We show that for heterogeneous degrees of capacity asymmetry, the total delay is not unique, and it can further grow when the fraction of autonomous vehicles increases. We demonstrate that similar behaviors may be observed in networks with multiple O/D pairs.
Wild Bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) of the Ossipee Pine Barrens

The pine barrens of the American Northeast is a globally rare and endangered landscape. The handful of pine barrens remaining in the Northeast provide valuable habitat to many threatened and endangered plant and animal (including insect) species, yet little is known about the bee fauna in this habitat. Here we present the results of the first faunal bee survey of the Ossipee Pine Barrens (OPB) in New Hampshire. We collected over 800 specimens from pan and sweep samples representing 95 species. We documented 1 species, Megachile mucida, for the first time in the state of New Hampshire and recorded 4 introduced species. In addition to general surveying, we surveyed landscapes with 4 different types of management for the OPB. Landscapes that incorporated both burning and mowing after burning into the management regime supported bee communites that had significantly greater abundance than all other treatments and greater species richness than all other landscapes, though not signficantly higher than those that were mowed without burning.
Automatic Planning of Whole Breast Radiation Therapy Using Machine Learning Models.

Purpose: To develop an automatic treatment planning system for whole breast radiation therapy (WBRT) based on two intensity-modulated tangential fields, enabling near-real-time planning. Methods and Materials: A total of 40 WBRT plans from a single institution were included in this study under IRB approval. Twenty WBRT plans, 10 with single energy (SE, 6MV) and 10 with mixed energy (ME, 6/15MV), were randomly selected as training dataset to develop the methodology for automatic planning. The rest 10 SE cases and 10 ME cases served as validation. The auto-planning process consists of three steps. First, an energy prediction model was developed to automate energy selection. This model establishes an anatomy-energy relationship based on principle component analysis (PCA) of the grey level histograms from training cases’ digitally reconstructed radiographs (DRRs). Second, a random forest (RF) model generates an initial fluence map using the selected energies. Third, the balance of overall dose contribution throughout the breast tissue is realized by automatically selecting anchor points and applying centrality correction. The proposed method was tested on the validation dataset. Non-parametric equivalence test was performed for plan quality metrics using one-sided Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test. Results: For validation, the auto-planning system suggested same energy choices as clinical-plans in 19 out of 20 cases. The mean (standard deviation, SD) of percent target volume covered by 100% prescription dose was 82.5% (4.2%) for auto-plans, and 79.3% (4.8%) for clinical-plans (p>0.999). Mean (SD) volume receiving 105% Rx were 95.2 cc (90.7 cc) for auto-plans and 83.9 cc (87.2cc) for clinical-plans (p=0.108). Optimization time for auto-plan was less than 20 seconds while clinical manual planning takes between 30 minutes to 4 hours. Conclusions: We developed an automatic treatment planning system that generates WBRT plans with optimal energy selection, clinically comparable plan quality, and significant reduction in planning time, allowing for near-real-time planning.
Cellular Ca2+ dyshomeostasis in the liver in endotoxic shock.

Cellular Ca2+ homeostasis is understood to be maintained by three membrane systems viz. the plasma membrane, the inner mitochondrial and the endoplasmic reticular membranes. Each of these membranes possesses distinctive Ca2+ transport processes by means of which it regulates cytosolic Ca2+ concentration.1 While Ca2+ mobilization into the cytosolic compartment subsequent to cell activation plays an important role in the elicitation of various normal cellular responses, an inappropriate elevation of intracellular Ca2+ causes cell damage. Although the precise mechanism of cell damage remains to be understood, it could result from Ca2+ induced activation of cytolytic processes2,3 and altered regulation of enzymes required for cellular metabolism and ion transport.4,5 Several studies have implicated altered cellular Ca2+ regulation in cell damage within various organ systems of animals in septic and endotoxic shock.6,7,8 In our laboratory, we have evaluated alterations in the regulation of hepatic intracellular Ca2+ in endotoxic animals. These evaluations included measurements of (1) cellular Ca2+ efflux and its modulation by norepin- ephrine, (2) Ca2+ uptake by endoplasmic reticulum, and (3) cytoplasmic exchangeable Ca2+. In addition, cytosolic free Ca2+ concentrations were measured under basal and hormone stimulated conditions.
Singular solutions for the constant Q-curvature problem

Abstract This paper is devoted to the construction of weak solutions to the singular constant Q-curvature problem. We build on several tools developed in the last years. This is the first construction of singular metrics on closed manifolds of sufficiently large dimension with constant (positive) Q-curvature.
Systemic Effects of Steroids Following Epidural Steroid Injections

Systemic absorption of corticosteroids occurs following epidural administration. Central steroid response, including sleeplessness, flushing, and non-positional headache, insomnia, hiccups, flushing, and increased radicular pain, represents some of the most common immediate or delayed adverse event related to epidural steroid injections (ESI). The systemic effects of corticosteroids themselves likely represent the most commonly encountered complications that result from ESI. These include hyperglycemia, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis suppression, decreased bone mineral density, and others. This narrative review is an up-to-date summary of the literature related to adverse events following ESI which are attributable to the systemic effects of corticosteroids.
Investigation and Response to an Outbreak of Dengue: Island of Hawaii, 2015-2016:

Objectives:From September 2015 through March 2016, Hawaii had the largest outbreak of locally transmitted dengue since 1944. We report on the Hawaii Department of Health’s (HDOH’s) investigation, f...
“How did you get to this number?” Stakeholder needs for implementing predictive analytics: a pre-implementation qualitative study

Objective Predictive analytics are potentially powerful tools, but to improve healthcare delivery, they must be carefully integrated into healthcare organizations. Our objective was to identify facilitators, challenges, and recommendations for implementing a novel predictive algorithm which aims to prospectively identify patients with high preventable utilization to proactively involve them in preventative interventions. Materials and methods In preparation for implementing the predictive algorithm in 3 organizations, we interviewed 3 stakeholder groups: health systems operations (eg, chief medical officers, department chairs), informatics personnel, and potential end users (eg, physicians, nurses, social workers). We applied thematic analysis to derive key themes and categorize them into the dimensions of Sittig and Singh's original sociotechnical model for studying health information technology in complex adaptive healthcare systems. Recruiting and analysis were conducted iteratively until thematic saturation was achieved. Results Forty-nine interviews were conducted in 3 healthcare organizations. Technical components of the implementation (hardware and software) raised fewer concerns than alignment with sociotechnical factors. Stakeholders wanted decision support based on the algorithm to be clear and actionable and incorporated into current workflows. However, how to make this disease-independent classification tool actionable was perceived as a challenge, and appropriate patient interventions informed by the algorithm appeared likely to require substantial external and institutional resources. Stakeholders also described the criticality of trust, credibility, and interpretability of the predictive algorithm. Conclusions Although predictive analytics can classify patients with high accuracy, they cannot advance healthcare processes and outcomes without careful implementation that takes into account the sociotechnical system. Key stakeholders have strong perceptions about facilitators and challenges to shape successful implementation.
Microstructure and mechanical properties of nanoscale Cu/(Ta50Nb25Mo25) multilayers

Abstract Nanoscale Cu/(Ta50Nb25Mo25) multilayers comprised of medium entropy alloy Ta50Nb25Mo25 and pure Cu are found to exhibit similar length-scale-dependent deformation mechanisms as metallic multilayers with elemental individual layers, i.e., confined layer slip at layer thickness of tens of nanometers and shear localization at several nanometers. The hardness of the nanoscale Cu/(Ta50Nb25Mo25) multilayers is higher as compared to the pure element FCC/BCC multilayers due to the extra solid solution strengthening contribution in the BCC layer. The synergy between the size effect and solid solution strengthening mechanism is discussed. This is an early report of the multi-component multilayers, which serves to provide directions for developing novel multilayer materials.
Why do I teach? A mixed-methods study of in-service teachers’ motivations, autonomy-supportive instruction, and emotions

Abstract The overreliance on quantitative methods in teacher motivation studies has limited our understanding of the content and function of teachers’ motivations. Through teacher interviews (n = 16; 100% White; 63% female; 2–21 years of experience) and surveys (n = 124; 96% White; 57% female; 0.5–40 years of experience), this study used mixed-methods approaches to explore what motivates teachers to teach and how those motivations relate to teachers’ autonomy-supportive instruction and teaching emotions. Findings revealed that teachers who intrinsically valued their content area fostered more understanding, linked social utility value to positive emotions, and associated their teaching ability with favorable instructional and emotional outcomes.
Morphology and seebeck coefficients of electrodeposited Bi2Se3 films grown onto Au(111)/Si substrates

Abstract Polymorphism in Bi2Se3 allows it to be tuned for unique electrical, thermal, and optical properties. The commonly reported rhombohedral structure is a topological insulator, a narrow gap semiconductor with a bandgap of 0.2–0.3 eV, and has been widely studied for thermoelectric applications. The alternative orthorhombic structure is a semiconductor with a larger bandgap of 0.9–1.2 eV. The opportunity to fabricate a mixture of these orthorhombic and rhombohedral structures provides a chance for materials engineering to optimize its electrical and thermal properties. Here we report the morphology and the Seebeck coefficient of mixed-phase, Se-rich, n-type Bi2Se3 films prepared by electrodeposition using an acidic bath. Post-nucleation formation of smooth films was observed to be followed by the emergence of crystals and continued growth through the coalescence of the newly formed crystals. The room temperature Seebeck coefficients of the films were also observed to vary as a function of the film thickness, increasing from -90 µV/K (0.74 µm thickness) to a maximum of -184.4 µV/K (1.84 µm thickness) and gradually decreasing to -100.8 µV/K (5.72 µm thickness). Analysis of XRD patterns for the Bi2Se3 films showed that the thickness dependence of Seebeck coefficients was related to the transition from pure rhombohedral to a mixture of orthorhombic and rhombohedral phases. The thickness dependent Seebeck effect was further discussed by the computational study of the Bi2Se3 band structures and Seebeck coefficients of pure rhombohedral and pure orthorhombic structures.
Relation of Bariatric Surgery to Inpatient Cardiovascular Outcomes (from the National Inpatient Sample)

Approximately one in 3 patients in the United States are obese. There is a strong association between obesity and an increased rate of cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related mortality. Bariatric surgery (BS) has emerged as an effective strategy to achieve reduction of excess weight. Our study aims to explore the relationship between BS and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) among obese hospitalized patients in the United States. This is a retrospective study of all obese adult patients with BMI ≥35 kg/m2 (n= 1,700,943) in the National Inpatient Sample between 2012 and 2016. Differences in the clinical characteristics of obese patients with a history of BS versus obese patients without a history of BS were analyzed as well as the association between BS and MACE after adjusting for CVD risk factors. Among 50,296 obese patients with a history of BS (2.96%), the mean age was 53 ± 12 years with the majority being female (75.32%) and Caucasian (71.85%). Multivariate analysis revealed that obese patients with a history of BS had a1.6-fold decrease odds of MACE compared with patients without BS (OR 0.62; 95% CI, 0.60 to 0.65; p <0.001). In conclusion, this study illustrates that among obese patients with BMI ≥35 kg/m2, history of BS was associated with a significantly lower odds of inpatient MACE, after adjusting for CVD risk factors.
The Role of Mindfulness and Relaxation in Improved Sleep Quality Following a Mind–Body and Activity Program for Chronic Pain

Poor sleep quality is prevalent among individuals with chronic pain and contributes to increased physical and emotional dysfunction. However, treatments that improve sleep quality among individuals with chronic pain are scant. A previously developed mind–body activity program for chronic pain has been shown to be feasible and associated with improvements in pain and physical and emotional function. Using secondary data analysis, the purpose of this study was to understand whether participants also experienced significant and sustained improvements in sleep quality over time and whether these improvements were explained by change in two core treatment targets, relaxation and mindfulness. Participants with heterogenous chronic pain (N = 82) were randomized to a mind–body activity intervention with (GetActive-Fitbit; n = 41) or without (GetActive; n = 41) a Fitbit device. Sleep quality was measured with the PSQI, mindfulness with the CAMS-R, and relaxation with the relaxation subscale of the MOCS-A. Mediation was tested via mixed models analysis. Both intervention groups experienced significant and comparable improvements in sleep quality from baseline to post-treatment, which were sustained through a 3-month follow-up. Mindfulness and relaxation also improved significantly over time, and these improvements were associated with improved sleep quality. Mindfulness and relaxation fully mediated improvement in sleep quality (medium to large effect sizes). Results suggest that, despite not targeting sleep directly, the mind–body activity program holds promise for sustainably improving sleep quality among patients with chronic pain. Targeting mindfulness and relaxation may facilitate these improvements.
Collaboration and the Criteria for Success: A Case Study and a Proposed Framework for Analysis:

There is a voluminous literature devoted to identifying factors that affect the success of collaborative processes. Our first research goal was to develop a list of 13 elements of effective collabo...
FDICIA v. Dodd-Frank: Unlearned Lessons About Regulatory Forbearance?

Regulatory forbearance was widely blamed for increasing losses to deposit insurance funds in the 1980s. As part of the legislative response, Congress created a system of Prompt Corrective Action and expanded the grounds for appointing the FDIC receiver of a bank – changes partially intended to limit regulators’ ability to forbear. The recent financial crisis similarly evidenced regulatory forbearance, but Congress did not have the same determination to limit regulatory forbearance. As an afterthought, Congress created a system of early intervention called Early Remediation for systemically important financial companies. Instead of developing a comprehensive system like it did for Prompt Corrective Action, Congress requires the Federal Reserve to create the Early Remediation system. The Federal Reserve is now empowered to create a system that is completely discretionary and relies on the same regulatory judgment that failed in the recent crisis. A system of subjective early intervention is no different from regulators’ safety and soundness authority and will not limit regulatory forbearance or prevent its catastrophic consequences. In a similar vein, Congress created a system of orderly liquidation for systemically important financial companies that uses a closure rule that is prone to regulatory forbearance. Without a congressional limit on regulatory forbearance, we are reliant on market discipline to check regulatory forbearance even though it can cause the same systemic consequences that the Dodd-Frank Act failed to address. We can only hope that, in order to prevent another financial crisis, the regulators who are implementing the Federal Reserve-created Early Remediation system are conscious of the consequences of their inaction.
Single molecule mechanical manipulation for studying biological properties of proteins, DNA, and sugars

For over 20 years there has been immense biological insight gained using single molecule mechanical measurements to understand properties of biomolecules. This review outlines the field of single molecule mechanics studies and focuses on the manipulation of proteins, DNA, and sugars by single molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The methods and examples of SMFS by AFM are illustrated using recent advances in protein science including titin elasticity, mechanical unfolding and refolding of α-helical repeat proteins, mechanoenzymatics of thioredoxin and titin kinase, and intermolecular interactions of P-selectin complexes. The possibilities of SMFS to investigate the mechanics of other biopolymers like double- and single-stranded DNA and forced-induced conformational changes in sugars are also discussed. Finally, SMFS and its application to biological processes, like DNA replication, packing and transcription, and DNA methylation are illustrated. These measurements provide a unique and integral part of the development of our knowledge of biochemistry and molecular mechanics. For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website. Conflict of interest: The authors have declared no conflicts of interest for this article.
Competitive approaches to new product development: A comparison of successful organizations in an unstable economic environment

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide practitioners of management with a sense of how collaborative team integration processes and new product development (NPD) processes were required in order to be reasonably successful in the current economic recession.Design/methodology/approach – The four relatively large Pittsburgh‐based general service and/or manufacturing‐oriented companies, most with global operations and reach capabilities, were selected and reviewed for the principles of the strategic, financial, informational, and operational viewpoints.Findings – Even conservative companies found that more radical approaches to NPD, such as product newness and uncertainty in new product innovation/production, may remove, not increase, barriers to incremental and/or radical manufacturability. This is especially true in firms that make proper use of the managerial connectivity provided by proper use of limited resources, which are enhanced by the timeliness of good strategies.Practical implications ...
Constraints in Graph Drawing Algorithms

Graphs are widely used for information visualization purposes, since they provide a natural and intuitive representation of complex abstract structures. The automatic generation of drawings of graphs has applications a variety of fields such as software engineering, database systems, and graphical user interfaces. In this paper, we survey algorithmic techniques for graph drawing that support the expression and satisfaction of user-defined constraints.
A study on the consistency of features for on-line signature verification

A lot of different features have been proposed for on-line signature verification. By using these features, researchers implicitly believe they have high consistency as well as high discriminatory power. However, very little work has been done to measure the real consistency of these features. In this paper, we propose a model for consistency measure. Experiments were conducted to compare a comprehensive set of features commonly used for on-line signature verification.
Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome: prognostic utility of quantitative diffusion-weighted MR images.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The recently described posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) classically consists of reversible vasogenic edema in the posterior circulation territories, although conversion to irreversible cytotoxic edema has been described. We hypothesized that the extent of edema has prognostic implications and that diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI) can help predict the progression to infarction. METHODS: Twenty-two patients with PRES and 18 control subjects were examined with isotropic DWI. Nineteen regions of interest (ROIs) were systematically placed, and apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) were computed and correlated with T2 and DWI signal intensity in each ROI. RESULTS: T2 signal abnormalities were always present in territories of the posterior circulation. Anterior circulation structures were involved in 91% of patients. ADC values in areas of abnormal T2 signal were high. More extensive T2 signal abnormalities were seen in patients with a poor outcome than in patients who recovered. In six patients (27%), areas of high DWI signal intensity were seen with ADC values that were paradoxically normal, which we called pseudonormalized. Abnormal T2 signal intensity and high ADC values surrounded these areas. Follow-up images in two patients showed progression to infarction in pseudonormalized regions. CONCLUSION: Vasogenic edema in PRES involves predominantly the posterior circulation territories, but anterior circulation structures are also frequently involved. The extent of combined T2 and DWI signal abnormalities correlate with patient outcome. High DWI signal intensity and pseudonormalized ADC values are associated with cerebral infarction and may represent the earliest sign of nonreversibility as severe vasogenic edema progresses to cytotoxic edema.
A generalized filter structure for IIR adaptive filters

In this paper a generalized structure for IIR adaptive filtering is presented. The structure uses both the training and desired signals for its inputs, to generate the synthetic signal which minimizes the mean square of a given error measure. The structure is shown to be linear in all its adaptive coefficients, and hence a unique minimum is available for the error surface under consideration. Also, it is shown that other IIR and IIR-like structures are special cases of the one introduced here. The limitations of this filter structure are discussed, and computer simulations of adaptive algorithms which use this structure are also presented.
A clinical report on six cases of amelogenesis imperfecta.

Abstract Six cases of amelogenesis imperfecta, of which two show hypoplasia and four show hypocalcification of the enamel, have been described. Both these forms of amelogenesis imperfecta may occur with or without a family history, and the deciduous dentition may or may not be affected. The low rate of caries incidence and the absence of any other ectodermal defects are to be noted. The effects of wear and staining from the mouth in hypocalcification have been described. Some of the cases described show unusual individual variations within this classification; one case shows arrested eruption, and this has been discussed.
Differential roles for the C-terminal hexapeptide domains of NS2 splice variants during MVM infection of murine cells

The MVM NS2 proteins are required for viral replication in cells of its normal murine host, but are dispensable in transformed human 324K cells. Alternate splicing at the minor intron controls synthesis of three forms of this protein, which differ in their C-terminal hexapeptides and in their relative abundance, with NS2P and NS2Y, the predominant isoforms, being expressed at a 5:1 ratio. Mutant genomes were constructed with premature termination codons in the C-terminal exons of either NS2P or NS2Y, which resulted in their failure to accumulate in vivo. To modulate their expression levels, we also introduced a mutation at the putative splice branch point of the large intron, dubbed NS2(lo), that reduced total NS2 expression in murine A9 cells such that NS2P accumulated to approximately half the level normally seen for NS2Y. All mutants replicated productively in human 324K cells. In A9 cells, NS2Y(-) mutants replicated like wildtype, and the NS2(lo) mutants expressed NS1 and replicated duplex viral DNA like wildtype, although their progeny single-strand DNA synthesis was reduced. However, while NS2P(-) and NS2-null viruses initiated infection efficiently in A9 cells, they gave diminished NS1 levels, and viral macromolecular synthesis appeared to become paralyzed shortly after the onset of viral duplex DNA amplification, such that no progeny single-strand DNA could be detected. Thus, the NS2P isoform, even when expressed at a level lower than that of NS2Y, performs a critical role in infection of A9 cells that cannot be accomplished by the NS2Y isoform alone.
Characteristics of the First Two Years of Applicants to a New Emergency Medicine Residency Program

Abstract Background To the best of our knowledge, no study has compared the effect of using the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) on applicant pool characteristics for a new emergency medicine (EM) residency program. Objective We sought to compare applicants in an EM residency program’s first year, in which the ERAS is not typically used, to applicants in year 2 (using ERAS). Methods We reviewed the applications to the new University of Utah EM residency program for the entering classes of 2005 (year 1) and 2006 (year 2). Results In total, 130 and 458 prospective residents applied during year 1 and year 2, respectively. Applicants using and not using ERAS were similar in average Step 1 score (211.8 vs. 212.4, respectively; p = 0.791), previously failed Step 1 or Step 2 attempt (12.1% vs. 11.0%, respectively; p = 0.729), previous failure to match in a residency program (8.6% vs. 4.6%, respectively; p = 0.083), previous residency training (18.8% vs. 14.9%, respectively; p = 0.288), and the percent who had completed an EM clerkship (95.3% vs. 93.0%, respectively; p = 0.342). Applicants not using ERAS were more likely to have been remediated in medical school (13.2% vs. 4.2%; p p = 0.024). Applicants using ERAS were more likely to have a SLOR match estimate of “very competitive” (38.2% vs. 54.1%; p = 0.004). Applicants were similar in having attended a “top tier” medical school (44.5% vs. 41.3%, p = 0.508). Conclusion Despite significantly fewer applicants, those applying without the use of ERAS to a new EM residency program were generally comparable to the applicant pool that did permit the use of ERAS. The larger number of applicants the second year likely reflects the use of ERAS.
The Lipolytic Activity of Bovine Mammary Gland Tissue

Summary Data have been presented which show the tissue from bovine mammary glands which have not been developed by pregnancy contain only traces of an active lipase. Tissue which has been developed by pregnancy contains significant amounts of this enzyme. Data have been reported indicating the actively secreting gland tissue has an acid reaction with the secretory cell areas of the lactating glands showing the highest hydrogen ion concentration. Some experiments which show positive evidence for a recombination of free fatty acids by means of lipolytic tissue enzymes of the bovine mammary gland have also been reported.
See, Now They Vanish: Third-Person Perfect Auxiliaries in Old and Middle Czech

This article argues that Czech retained a semantic distinction between the expression of current relevance/emphasis and a neutral preterit in third-person compound preterit forms until the late sixteenth century. The distinction was expressed by the presence (expressing current relevance/emphasis) vs. absence (neutral preterit) of third-person auxiliaries. The hypothesis is based on data from two late fourteenth-century narratives ( Asenath and The Life of Adam and Eve ) and from letters written by or to Czech women from 1365 to 1615. The results of statistical analyses are presented as support for the hypothesis, and it is suggested that the continued distinction between current relevance/emphasis and a neutral preterit in the third person is in part responsible for the fact that the two-way use of imperfective verbs never became a major usage pattern in Czech, in contrast with Russian, where the tense system was reduced relatively early.
Identification and characterization of a nuclease activity specific for G4 tetrastranded DNA.

Abstract We have identified a nuclease activity that is specific for G4 tetrastranded DNA. This activity, found in a partially purified fraction for a yeast telomere-binding protein, binds to DNA molecules with G4 tetrastranded structure, regardless of their nucleotide sequences, and cleaves the DNA in a neighboring single-stranded region 5' to the G4 structure. Competition with various G4-DNA molecules inhibits the cleavage reaction, suggesting that this nuclease activity is specific for G4 tetrastranded DNA. The existence of this enzymatic activity that reacts with G4 DNAs but not with single-stranded or Watson-Crick duplex DNAs suggests that tetrastranded DNA may have a distinct biological function in vivo.
Parabolic Orbits in the Planar Three Body Problem

It is not known whether there exist oscillatory and capture orbits in the planar 3-body problem. Sitnikov [6] proved such orbits exist for the restricted 3-body problem. Alekseev [I] extended this work and related it to the existence of homoclinic orbits. McGehee and Easton ]3] studied a model problem closely related to the planar 3-body problem and proved the existence of oscillatory and capture orbits near certain orbits biasymptotic to an invariant 3-sphere. The goal of this paper is to construct an invariant 3-sphere “at infinity” in the planar 3-body problem and to prove that the stable and unstable manifolds of this sphere are Lipschitz manifolds. To complete the study of oscillatory and capture orbits one must investigate the way in which the stable and unstable manifolds of the 3-sphere intersect each other. This is a difficult question which is not treated here. However, using methods of Melnikov and using one of the masses as a perturbation parameter such an investigation might be possible. The stable manifold theorem which is proven here is not standard since the invariant 3-sphere is not hyperbolic. Geometric methods of McGehee [ 4 ] are extended and applied to obtain the theorem. A special case of the system of equations that we study has the form J, =x: dY)lX, + E,(x, Y)L f, = 4 dY>l-x* + E,(x, Y)L (0.1) 4’ =
Emerging therapies for triple-negative breast cancer

SUMMARY Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) lacks expression of the estrogen, progesterone and HER2 receptors and is a clinical problem representing 15–20% of diagnosed breast cancers. TNBC is over-represented among premenopausal, African–American women and among women with incurable disease. Tremendous efforts in the preclinical and clinical setting are dedicated to developing more effective, targeted agents to treat this aggressive disease. Promising therapies, including inhibitors of the EGF receptor, VEGF receptor and PARP, have not had the desired success, potentially due to heterogeneity within TNBC. Ongoing preclinical work is focused on inhibition of Chk1, HDAC and the PI3K and/or mTOR pathways.
After-Class Versus In-Class Data Collection: Validity Issues

Abstract After a brief review of some of the many concerns that have already been associated with the use of college student volunteers as participants in psychological studies, another potential problem—the divergent nature of students who volunteer for after-class versus in-class data collection—is introduced in this article. More than 560 volunteers were tested either in or after class, using the Constructive Thinking Inventory (CTI; Epstein, 1993) as the primary dependent measure. A variety of significant differences were found between the group tested in class and the group tested after class, raising new validity issues about studies that would consider these groups as part of the same population. Specific differences between these groups are discussed both as a general warning to researchers and in comparison with previous findings about the nature of college student volunteers.
Entropy-driven surface segregation in block copolymer melts.

Surface segregation in thin films of symmetric polyolefin diblock copolymers containing a lamellar microstructure, cast on a variety of substrates, has been investigated. In all cases, the conformationally smaller block preferentially segregated to both the solid and air interfaces even though the surface energy of the solid substrate always exceeded that of the block copolymer. These results indicate an entropically driven surface segregation effect that we attribute to block conformational asymmetry.
MLL5, a homolog of Drosophila trithorax located within a segment of chromosome band 7q22 implicated in myeloid leukemia

Proteins encoded by Polycomb and Trithorax-group (Pc-G and Trx-G) genes regulate developmental fates by maintaining or repressing HOX gene expression, respectively. In a search for candidate myeloid leukemia tumor suppressor genes from a approximately 2.5 Mb commonly-deleted segment within chromosome band 7q22, we identified a novel human Trithorax (Trx) family member named MLL5. Trx-G genes encode proteins that modulate transcriptional programs through protein-protein interactions that are mediated by PHD and SET domains, and by binding to DNA via A-T hooks and methyltransferase homology motifs. MLL5 is a homolog of the Drosophila gene CG9007; it encodes a 6.5 kb mRNA that is expressed widely. MLL5 includes a SET domain and a single PHD finger, but lacks A-T hooks and methyltransferase homology domains that are found in MLL. The leukemia cell line RCV-ACV-A carries a heterozygous missense mutation within the PHD domain; however, no mutations within the MLL5 coding region were detected in primary leukemias. MLL5 is a novel mammalian Trx-G gene that might modulate transcription by protein association.
Identification and quantification of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline, 2-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline, and 6-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline as in vivo constituents of rat brain and adrenal gland.

Abstract The identification and quantification of three 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carbolines as normal constitutents of rat brain and adrenal gland, using combined gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric techniques, are reported. Qualitative analyses of these tissues led to the identification of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline (THBC), 2-methyl-THBC (2-MTHBC) and 6-methoxy-THBC (6-MeOTHBC), as determined by observed peak retention times, mass fragments and ion mass ratios. Quantitative analyses, using deuterated internal standards, gave the following results: THBC (ng/g wet wt) in brain = 17.5 ± 4.86, adrenal = 500.3 ± 163. 6-MeOTHBC (ng/g wet wt) in brain = 35.6 ± 16.6, adrenal = 1113.7 ± 300. Mechanisms for the formation of these β-carbolines as well as their possible function in vivo are discussed.
Visions for required postgraduate year 1 residency training by 2020: a comparison of actual versus projected expansion.

Study Objective. To explore the feasibility of expanding postgraduate year (PGY) 1 residency training as proposed by the American College of Clinical Pharmacy and American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Design. Prospective survey analysis. Data Source. The ASHP Online Residency Directory was used to obtain PGY1 residency program data from June 2007-June 2008. A four-item questionnaire was developed to survey future residency growth in identified PGY1 programs. Measurements and Main Results. Survey data were aggregated to project future residency growth in the “next few years” (range 2–4 yrs). Estimates of Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) graduates to 2020 were used to calculate PGY1 residency positions and average annual growth rates required if 24% (scenario 1), 75% (scenario 2), and 100% (scenario 3) of pharmacy graduates pursue PGY1 residencies. Projected growth from the survey was compared with required growth under the scenarios, as well as with actual PGY1 growth from June 2007-June 2008. A subset analysis of college-affiliated and Veterans Affairs (VA) PGY1 programs was performed. The survey response rate was 57%. The PGY1 positions were projected to increase by 8.3%/year in the next few years or 4193 positions by 2020 if 8.3% growth is sustained. Required average annual growth rates for scenarios 1–3, respectively, were 4.8%, 14.4%, and 17%. Projected growth rates were sufficient to achieve only scenario 1 in which 24% (percentage of pharmacists estimated to practice in health systems) of graduates pursue PGY1 residencies. The actual PGY1 growth rate from 2007–2008 was 9.9%. The VA positions actually grew at 12.5% and college-affiliated positions grew at 8.3% over this period, whereas VA projection for growth was 4.8% and college-affiliated projection was 9.6%. Conclusion. Having sufficient PGY1 residency positions available for all Pharm.D. graduates by 2020 would require at least a 17% average annual growth rate, whereas survey respondents predicted 8.3%. Actual residency growth in 2008 (9.9%) exceeded survey projections. Study data suggest that the ASHP aspiration to have all graduates who pursue health-system pharmacy careers complete a PGY1 residency is achievable. Higher percentages, 75% or 100%, are only partially achievable. Continued growth of college-affiliated residencies and sustained growth in the VA system are important to achieving residency growth goals.
Right-sided vagus nerve stimulation inhibits induced spinal cord seizures.

We have previously shown that left-sided vagus nerve stimulation results in cessation of induced spinal cord seizures. To test our hypothesis that right-sided vagus nerve stimulation will also abort seizure activity, we have initiated seizures in the spinal cord and then performed right-sided vagus nerve stimulation in an animal model. Four pigs were anesthetized and placed in the lateral position and a small laminectomy performed in the lumbar region. Topical penicillin, a known epileptogenic drug to the cerebral cortex and spinal cord, was next applied to the dorsal surface of the exposed cord. With the exception of the control animal, once seizure activity was discernible via motor convulsion or increased electrical activity, the right vagus nerve previously isolated in the neck was stimulated. Following multiple stimulations of the vagus nerve and with seizure activity confirmed, the cord was transected in the midthoracic region and vagus nerve stimulation performed. Right-sided vagus nerve stimulation resulted in cessation of spinal cord seizure activity in all animals. Transection of the spinal cord superior to the site of seizure induction resulted in the ineffectiveness of vagus nerve stimulation in causing cessation of seizure activity in all study animals. As with left-sided vagus nerve stimulation, right-sided vagus nerve stimulation results in cessation of induced spinal cord seizures. Additionally, the effects of right-sided vagus nerve stimulation on induced spinal cord seizures involve descending spinal pathways. These data may aid in the development of alternative mechanisms for electrical stimulation for patients with medically intractable seizures and add to our knowledge regarding the mechanism for seizure cessation following peripheral nerve stimulation. Clin. Anat. 20:23–26, 2007. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.